10 Tips for Staging Your Home to Sell

Are you planning to put your house on the market this spring? In order to sell as quickly as possible and get your asking price or above, these tried and tested staging tips are essential for making your home stand out:

1. Stop buyers in their tracks with curb appeal

Potential homebuyers often do a quick drive-by first. In order to help lure them inside, consider power washing your siding and walkways, mowing the lawn, and applying fresh sod and mulch where needed. Adding brightly colored flowers in pots and in the ground and repainting/staining the porch can also make your home’s exterior more attractive. One other tip, keep your outdoor lights on at night in case potential buyers drive by at that time.

2. Indoors, be sure your house sparkles

From spotless counters and scrubbed grout to polished wood floors and steamed carpets, making your house sparkle is one of the best ways to entice buyers. You may even want to consider hiring a cleaning service to come in and professionally clean your house and all the windows. Bathrooms and kitchens are especially important – they need to be clean, hygienic, and blemish-free!

3. Say goodbye to clutter

Getting rid of clutter is a must, even if it requires using offsite storage. By whisking away excess furnishings, your house will end up looking much larger. Clear counters, cupboards, and closets of anything unnecessary or unsightly.

4. Light your rooms to show them off

Proper lighting can make your home warm and welcoming. When staging your home, make sure you have the correct wattage in your lamps and fixtures – aim for a total of 100 watts for each 50 square feet. For maximum effect, it’s best to have three types of lighting: ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, under-cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall).

5. Paint rooms neutral colors

Bold wall colors are a definite no-no when it comes to selling your home. Consider painting rooms a fresh neutral color to help tone down any dated finishes. Although all- white is extremely popular today, it can be a little sterile. Consider all shades of off-white, such as very light grays, blues and greens, which can create a sophisticated and alluring backdrop. Remember, you are getting your house camera-ready for the all-important online photographs – today’s buyers will not even consider visiting a home unless they love the look of the rooms online.

6. Brighten up your home with fresh flowers and produce

A bowl of lemons or basket of apples on the counter can really add cheer to a kitchen. You can also place orchids and potted plants, or even fresh cut flowers from your backyard, around the house. Fall foliage can warm up your decor in autumn, and holly branches with berries look great in winter.

7. Put a new face on your kitchen…

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms to update in your home before putting it on the market. If you can’t afford new cabinets, then consider getting new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. While you may need to update your appliances there may be more cost-effective options, such as getting a new front panel for your dishwasher instead of replacing it.

8. …And do the same for your bathrooms

Having your tile professionally painted can make a bathroom look like it’s brand new. And just a few of the right accessories – such as rolled-up towels, decorative baskets, and scented candles – can create a polished look and make buyers feel like they’re in a spa.

9. Create furniture groupings in your living and family rooms

When staging your home, reposition sofas and chairs into cozy and comfortable conversational groups, and place pieces so that there’s easy traffic flow. In addition to making the spaces more user-friendly, this will also open up the rooms and make them seem larger.

10. Aim for a serene bedroom setting

You can create a relaxing and inviting bedroom setting with beautiful linens and soft colors that will be attractive to homebuyers. Add decorative pillows along with a blanket folded at the foot of the bed for extra appeal.

Fiona Dogan is a Licensed Realtor® in the Rye office of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. She is a Westchester Five Star Real Estate Agent, Platinum Award winner, and an Accredited Buyer Representative. For more information, please contact Fiona Dogan at: fiona.dogan@juliabfee.com or visit her website at www.fionadogan.com.