Cost-Effective Ways to Stage Your Home During the Selling Process

The process of selling your home can be daunting but if you take it step by step, it’s not as difficult as it seems. One part of selling your house is staging. Staging sounds expensive but there are inexpensive ways to stage your house. Before you put your home on the market, consider doing one of these staging tips. Home staging impacts a buyer’s interest, helps your home sell faster, and sells for more money. Follow these tips to sell your home in no time,

Cleaning

Simply cleaning is an easy way to get ahead in the selling process. Not only is it cost-effective, but it makes an impact on buyers. You should also consider deep cleaning during this process. Deep cleaning includes scrubbing bathroom grout, removing limescale buildup with vinegar, and wiping down baseboards. You probably already have the supplies you need to get a deep cleaning job done so no worries about going out and buying extra supplies. Don’t forget to clean out the closest while you’re at it. Remove as many items as possible, make sure any clothes left behind are hung neatly, and that the floors are clear. This will allow buyers to see what kind of storage they will have and closets can be a major selling point.

Decluttering

Another essential part of staging is decluttering, which can be done while you clean. One tip that many real estate companies suggest is to keep flat surfaces clear. It is okay to keep some items on desks and tables, such as a candle or lamp. While you are decluttering, remove as many personal items as possible. You will want to put family pictures away and personal collections to create less clutter. This also allows buyers the opportunity to envision their own belongings in the room without distractions.

Engage the Senses

Using fresh scents in the home is another easy way to stage your house and create a welcoming environment for buyers. As a homeowner, you become accustomed to everyday smells such as pet and cigarette odors. There are cost-effective ways to be rid of these odors. For example, you can sprinkle baking soda on the furniture and carpet, leave it overnight, and then vacuum it the next day. There are other options such as washing your windows, steam cleaning carpets, and washing walls with gentle soap and a soft sponge. Once you have gotten rid of odors, feel free to set up a diffuser with a nice scent such as lavender or vanilla.

Hide Evidence of Pets

Along with pet odors, there may be other signs of your pet that need to be taken care of before buyers come to tour your house. There may be scratch marks or chewed-up furniture. You can take care of this on a budget by treating carpet stains with an easy mixture of vinegar, water, baking soda, peroxide, and detergent. Repair scratches with a hardwood repair kit found at most major hardware stores. Consider boarding your dogs or finding somewhere else for your pets to stay while showing your home. Even though potential buyers may have pets of their own, they don’t want to be reminded of your pets.

Use Natural Lighting

Using natural light costs next to nothing and can be easily done by removing window coverings. Sunlight simply brightens up your space and will accentuate all the hard work you’ve put in to properly stage your home. If there is not a lot of natural light, make sure to update all the light bulbs. Use soft white bulbs to mimic natural light and avoid harsh lighting. Extraspace.com suggests using “daylight” bulbs in kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices. These bulbs give off a blue hue that mimics natural light. Lighting can also make smaller spaces seem larger. Another way to make a room look larger is to use mirrors. For instance, you can stage your living room with a large mirror at eye level near a light source or cover the wall behind the sink in the bathroom with a mirror the length of the room. This creates the illusion of more square footage without busting your budget.

Use What You Have

Using what you already have to stage your home is one way to save money. Strategically rearrange your furniture. Open up traffic flow throughout the home and make sure that no room feels claustrophobic. Remove especially bulky pieces of furniture that take up more space than necessary. If you have older furniture, consider purchasing coverings to cover up wear and tear. This is cheaper than purchasing completely new furniture. You can also use home goods and décor that you have already purchased. Place embroidered towels in the bathrooms for a nice touch and set your dining table with the good dishes you received as a housewarming or wedding gift. Although you may not use these items often, using them to stage your home gives new life to the space.

We wish you the best of luck in selling your home. If you need a real estate agent or have questions about the selling process, please contact us @ 423-821-5551