How Sellers can Stage Their Home in Less than 1 Hour
Selling a house is not something homeowners should take lightly. It can take time to get the home ready, to find the right real estate agent, and to get the property listed. Even though every homeowner should spend a good amount of time prepping for a sale, life has other ideas. Sometimes showings are unexpectedly scheduled and the house is not staged.
For any last-minute showings try these quick staging tips to win over any buyer who walks through.
Taking Only a Few Minutes
Start in the bathroom as this is easily the worst place to ignore dirty items and extra items scattered around. Make sure that old toilet bowl brush is hidden, get rid of that plunger, do a quick clean of the toilet, and put down the lid. Clear off the counters and be sure to open the curtains.
Sellers will want to make sure that the curtains or blinds are open throughout the house. This helps to bring in more natural light and makes the house feel more open.
And on the way out the door grab the excess recycling and garbage. Nothing is worse than walking into a house and being able to smell their garbage from another room.
A Little More Time
Focus on the countertops in every room. Tables and countertops often collect junk. Excess papers, change, random items from the floor all end up on the table. Get everything back into its rightful place and be sure to arrange items like appliances in an appealing manner.
Some people like their house hot and some like it cold. Buyers do not want to be sweating as they walk through the house but be sure not to freeze them out of the door either. Set the temperature to an ambient level.
Do a quick sweep of the house and pick any items up off the floor, stairs, or those hanging across chairs. People drop items in odd places when they are comfortable in a home but buyers do not want to trip over that pile of laundry in the hallway.
Half-Hour to Get Ready
Look for any items that hold a personal story. Even though that macaroni art on the fridge is adorable, it has no room in a home showing. Personal items distract buyers and should be hidden away.
Clean any items that are visibly dirty. A quick sweep and mop of the house is a good idea for those that do not want to wear shoes. Be sure to use a gentle cleaner so the home is not filled with a harsh chemical smell.
Turn on lamps, ceiling lights, or other sources of light if the room lacks windows. No buyer wants to wander around a house searching for light switches to be able to see a few feet in front of them. Clean off any mirrors in the house. Mirrors help to reflect light and make a room look larger. But a dirty mirror will only make a buyer think about what else is dirty.
Plenty of Time to Prep
With a little more time to prep, it is time to think about the large items in a room. Most living rooms are strategically arranged so everyone can see the television. While this can often be a focal point of a room it is best to arrange furniture to look through a large window or even around the fireplace.
Run through that to-do list. Any small issues that can be fixed within a few minutes need to be taken care of. There is no need for a buyer to see an issue that could have easily been fixed. These problems only make doubt grow in a buyer’s mind.
Staging a home takes more than an hour. Professional staging can be expensive and time-consuming. But for homeowners that cannot spend the time or money for professional staging, there are options for quick fixes. Making a home look its best is important to impress the buyers who are going to walk through.