It seems like home staging is all the rage, but professional staging hasn’t really hit the Lansing area yet. Even without a pro there is a lot of basic staging you can do on your own. These 9 tips I just saw from Lowe’s are a good place to start.
9 Tips for Staging Your Home on Your Own:
- First impressions count. Roll out the red carpet for potential homebuyers by sprucing up your entryways, especially the one on a lockbox. Welcome mats, planters filled with seasonal flowers, and clutter-free foyers and hallways set the stage.
- Sell the space, not your stuff. Remember that the goal of a successful showing is to make a prospect feel at home – like it’s theirs, not yours. Put away your extensive personal collections. Less is more: open up your space so prospects can actually see what they’re buying.
- Paint and elbow grease work wonders. Fresh paint and a thorough cleaning will give you the greatest “bang for your buck.” Remember that neutral walls are your best bet when staging a home for sale. Lowe’s has all the right shades to make your home more inviting. Check out fun tools like the Lowe’s Paint Visualizer.
- Go with the flow. Arrange furniture for easy traffic flow. Consider placing a major piece of furniture at an angle, such as a couch or desk. Angles add interest and can create a more open feel.
- See the light. Move lamps to dark corners and arrange window treatments so that natural light floods your rooms. Brighter is better, and your rooms will look larger.
- Go green. Live plants can add decorative flair, without spending a bundle. Plants and cut flowers have a way of warming up a room.
- Don’t forget the outdoors, especially this time of year. If you have a porch, deck or patio, clean the furniture and replace worn cushions. Breath new life into your deck with a fresh finish.
- Make the kitchen sparkle. De-clutter the countertops by removing toasters, food processors and other non-decorative items. If you have a breakfast table or counter, put out a couple of table settings complete with place mats, napkins and dinnerware.
- Warm up an empty home. If your home is vacant, consider renting furniture for key rooms, but don’t go overboard.
I know this is an extensive list, but doing these things is actually important. If you’re a seller and you can’t commit to everything on the list I’d suggest prioritizing by doing 3, 1, 2 and then 5. After completeing those four steps you can move on to the rest.
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