When it comes to selling a home, staging is important. First impressions matter to potential buyers, and a well-staged home is often more appealing.
Here are a few examples of some common home staging mistakes.
Not decluttering your home
Too much furniture or clutter does not allow buyers to get a true sense of the space available in your home. Always declutter and arrange furniture so buyers can visualize how they might use each space.
Unkept or dirty homes
This is home staging 101. A messy or dirty home will turn buyers away the minute they walk in the door. Before listing your home for sale, do a deep clean of the entire home. Before each showing, do a quick tidy, sweep/vacuum floors and put away items like dishes, laundry or toys.
The wrong paint colours
While many buyers are willing to put in some work to make a home their own, others are looking for move-in ready. Colours that appeal to your personal style may not be appealing to potential buyers. It is best to keep wall colours in neutral shades. Freshly painting your house is often a great selling feature as well.
Not enough depersonalization
This point has been made above, but it can’t be stressed enough - potential buyers are trying to visualize themselves living in your home. Store the majority of your personal photos, items or trophies out of sight. A few personal touches are needed however, to add character to the home.
Too many knick-knacks
While decor pieces add a nice touch to a room, too many can overwhelm the space. If you are collector, you may want to store and safeguard valuable collections. Also, be aware that rooms filled with theme-centric knick-knacks may create sensory overload and be a turn off for some buyers.
Unpleasant or strong smells
Try to avoid cooking foods with strong odours prior to a showing. It’s also a good idea to remove garbage from inside your home the day of a showing. If you own pets, check your spaces for any lingering odours. Try to also avoid using strong smelling sprays, candles or scents. The fragrant touches you’re trying to add for atmosphere may not appeal to all buyers.
Not staging your cupboards or closets
Potential buyers will open every door in your house, so decluttering and staging also applies to closets and cupboards. Clean, sort and organize your entrance closets, bedroom closets, kitchen cupboards, bathroom cabinets, pantries and storage rooms for the best overall impression.
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