If you’re selling your home, it’s important to make a great first impression with potential buyers. So, try these home staging tips to make the most of your showings. From interior decor to landscaping, the little details can make a big difference.
7 Home Staging Tips to Nail Your Sale
- Depersonalize
- Declutter
- Optimize lighting
- Choose a scent
- Set the table
- Increase your curb appeal
- Complete renovations
1. Depersonalize
One of the first things you need to do to stage your home is depersonalize. Take all your family pictures off the walls and remove any type of religious, political, or personal odds and ends that make your home feel lived in. Prospective buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your house. Additionally, stick to a neutral color scheme when it comes to the decorative accents you leave out.
Pro Tip: Selling during the holidays? You don’t have to miss out on decking your halls. Try these neutral winter decor ideas.
2. Declutter
Unless you’ve already moved into your next home, you still have to live in your current one while keeping it showing-ready. A deep clean every time your real estate agent brings someone over might not be sustainable, but at the very least you should maintain a decluttered environment. Decluttering can make your home appear bigger than it is, and generally help potential buyers envision how they might use the space. Before you list your home, move extra items to a temporary storage unit (or get rid of them altogether to speed up packing).
3. Optimize lighting
Lighting influences our mood more than we realize. In terms of home staging tips, the amount of light plays a big factor in whether somebody buys a home. A well-lit home can feel larger, cleaner, and more inviting when it’s being shown. To stage your home for sale, replace old light bulbs, clean your windows, open the blinds, and embrace the natural light.
4. Choose a scent
This one’s especially important if you have pets (or kids for that matter). If your home is carpeted, consider getting it replaced or deep cleaned before you list your house. You can sprinkle some baking soda to neutralize carpet odors as well. If you want to add a scented candle or oil diffuser to the mix, just make sure you choose something that’s not too overpowering.
5. Set the table
Don’t worry, there’s no cooking required for this home staging tip. You’re showing your home, not hosting a dinner party. However, setting the table is a welcoming touch that can make your house feel more like home—and help a potential buyer picture their own family living there. You can skip the cutlery, but a seasonal centerpiece on the dining room table is never a bad idea.
6. Increase your curb appeal
When you’re selling your home, first impressions matter. That’s why curb appeal is important to consider when staging. At the very least, make sure your lawn is manicured and the exterior of your home is clean. If you’re selling during the holiday season, keep your outdoor decor neutral. Some warm-toned white string lights are always a winner. A flashing neon tableau of Santa gracing the nativity scene with his presence, on the other hand? Save it for next year.
7. Complete renovations
You don’t want to invest a large amount of money into a home just to sell it. Still, it’s important to finish up any ongoing projects before listing. Some common repairs include leaky faucets, damaged screens, and clogged drains. Anything that could deter a potential buyer from loving your home should be fixed. If you’re not sure which repairs to prioritize, check out our breakdown of what NOT to fix when selling your home.
Bonus home staging tips
Before you go, we’ve got a few more tips on how to stage your home for sale.
- Mount mirrors on your walls to amplify light and space
- Don’t shove everything in your closets, as buyers will likely be checking these spaces
- Give each room a purpose (that guest bedroom/home gym/office’s days are numbered)
- Incorporate house plants throughout
Your home can’t be everything to everyone, so don’t stress too much about incorporating every single piece of staging advice out there. Remember that these are just ideas, not requirements. The overall goal is simple: Help buyers see the potential in your home.
From interior decor to landscaping, the little details can make a big difference when staging your home for sale.
