You already know the importance of home staging when it comes to selling your home. Decluttering, thorough cleaning and removing personal items are all of our first steps when we get ready to stage our homes. Anything and everything about how your home looks, feels, and even smells can influence a buyer’s decision as to whether or not to put an offer in on your home, so everything from proper lighting to cleaning product scents can affect how well your home is staged.
The process of getting your home ready to sell can be a long and labor intensive one, especially if you have lived in the home for many years. You might even be tempted to take a few shortcuts during this process to get your property on to the market faster. We understand the temptation, but please make sure you avoid some of these shortcuts when prospective buyers will be viewing your home.
Overlooking the Lighting
You put so much work in getting your home ready to sell, don’t keep all of that effort hidden in poor lighting! Natural light is your best friend when it comes to staging your home, especially in smaller rooms. Take the time to open curtains and blinds every morning, especially if showings may occur while you are gone for the day. Trim any trees or shrubs that block the sun’s rays from shining in your windows, and make sure those windows are squeaky clean!
Too Trendy Paint
Do you need to paint all of your walls sterile white before putting your home on the market? No, of course not. In fact, many buyers prefer to see a palette of colors rather than a blank slate when viewing a home. However, nothing is quite as strong a turnoff upon initially entering a home as loud paint colors that may not match a buyer’s personal style. If your home has too many brightly colored rooms, a fresh coat of paint in neutral tones would be wise before listing your home. The colors you choose should complement your pared down furnishings and any tasteful art and decor remaining on your walls.
Too Bland Paint
Believe it or not, you can go too far in the other direction when toning down the paint colors in your home. Keep in mind that anyone viewing your home will be viewing many different properties during the course of their home search. You want to make sure yours stands out as memorable, and too many identical rooms in neutral colors likely won’t cut it. So how do you find the happy medium and hold a buyer’s interest without being too shocking with your color choices? Splashes of color here and there are enough to draw buyers’ eyes without distracting them from the overall look and feel of your home. Try painting one accent wall in a room a brighter color than the other walls to achieve this effect.
Don’t Forget to Deodorize!
It’s not always easy to know what your house smells like since you are likely use to the scent, and it’s highly unlikely that your home’s smell is unpleasant. However, everyone’s nose is different and any strong scents should be avoided while your home is on the market. Make sure your home smells fresh and clean by opening windows for little while each morning and/or evening, and using lightly scented candles and air fresheners in simple scents like orange or vanilla. And don’t skip the basement when deep cleaning and deodorizing, especially if there are rooms there that you rarely enter. A prospective buyer may be looking for a basement they can use daily, and a musty scent won’t exactly entice them to consider your home.