There are plenty of questions home sellers have, but one which recurs frequently is the matter of staging. You can potentially sell your home much sooner if you devote time to staging and preparation. Having a well-staged open house takes planning and effort, but the results can be worth it. Here are five areas that may maximize your home’s appeal.
Make Your Home Neutral
When buyers view a house, they see it through the prism of their future. Family photographs or drawings can disrupt that. Stage your home with an emphasis on neutrality. Take down personal items, whether they're on walls or attached to your refrigerator.
Consider packing up and storing some of your belongings, such as books, surplus clothing and furniture that might be too obstructive for an open house. Paint walls a neutral color and add fresh ambience with scents. Try avoiding air fresheners, as their appeal can be subjective. Instead, opt for some understated oil diffusers. The right scent can really help shape the atmosphere you're looking to create.
Subtly Embellish
A neutral setting allows a potential buyer to visualize their home, but that doesn't mean your house should be devoid of human touch. Embellishments like flowers, or even fresh produce in the kitchen, can bring a home to life.
Even baking can cultivate both a delightful scene of life and an appealing aroma. This can be quite engaging for a viewer, as seeing these elements of home life may further nourish the imagination. Other decorations can add to the appeal as well. Artwork along staircase walls, candles in rooms or plants in bathrooms can all offer striking perspectives.
Create Space
Any home can appear open and inviting. It may involve rearranging furniture pieces, or creative use of lighting, but the effort can pay off. Just as with creating a neutral space, this will involve removing unnecessary items. If your kitchen is filled with appliances, it's not going to feel as accessible.
The same applies to storage areas, like closets and attics. By removing clutter, you may amplify your home's sense of space, and make it more inviting. When it comes to furniture, try to keep them off walls and organized so that they complement each other. For instance, living room pieces away from walls may create walkways and an illusion of extra space.
Spruce Up Rooms
Having an open house is the perfect opportunity to revitalize rooms. Consider hiring a professional cleaner to give them a thorough scrub. Plan ahead and vacuum every day as the open house approaches, and make sure windows are immaculate. They will be an essential light source and grime will be noticed. Replace anything that shows wear and tear, such as rugs and carpets.
It might also be prudent to add luxury to your bedding. Cushions, quilts and other accessories can evoke comfortable sumptuousness. Practically, do maintenance before the open house. Faucets that leak, cracks in flooring or walls, or faulty lighting can be an immediate turn off for a buyer. If repairs aren't effective, then replace what cannot be mended.
Let There Be Light
Ambience is essential to an open house. The right atmosphere can be a deciding factor in the impression it makes. Light can be critical. This doesn't have to break the bank, either. You can add new fixtures if necessary, but getting higher-wattage bulbs can make a noticeable difference. If you do opt for extra lights and an open house can never have enough well-placed lamps, choose contemporary designs. Thankfully, these can be affordable while still being stylish. If your budget is tight, however, you could use spray paint to give older lamps a nice new sheen.
Staging and planning for an open house can be the perfect opportunity to freshen up your home. While it will take effort, it doesn't have to break the bank to make your property picture perfect. In doing so, you can demonstrate to a potential buyer that you have been an attentive and diligent homeowner and give your property the best chance of selling.
Author
Suzie Wilson is an interior designer with more than 20 years experience. What started as a hobby (and often, a favor to friends) turned into a passion for creating soothing spaces in homes of every size and style. While her goal always includes making homes look beautiful, her true focus is on fashioning them into serene, stress-free environments that inspire tranquility in all who enter. The Ultimate Guide to Prepping Your Home for an Open House is filled with tips, tricks and other advice based on Suzie’s years of experience in interior home design that will set you up for success.
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