Are you planning on hosting an open house?
Preparations lead to great staging, and great staging is the key to selling your home. Use these strategies for a successful event!
CREATE GREAT CURB APPEAL
Buyers definitely judge a book by its cover, so ensure your home’s exterior is warm and welcoming with great curb appeal. Take a good look at your home from across the street and evaluate the appearance. You’ll want to make adjustments prior to your event, such as trimming overgrown shrubbery, refreshing paint on the front door, and washing siding. If your mailbox is dinged up or worn, replace it. Plant some flowers and buy a new welcome mat. Create a symmetrical, balanced entryway with pairs of potted plants, lanterns, or rocking chairs. Ensure your landscaping is attractive and manicured, and draw attention to your home’s windows with fresh paint, window boxes, or shutters. Know that anything that appears tired or unkempt will give home shoppers the impression your home is neglected, and that’s the last thing you want.
UNCLUTTER YOUR INTERIOR
Your home’s interior should be as spacious and impersonal as possible. Aim to make it less “you” and easier for home shoppers to envision themselves living there. Apartment Therapy suggests only displaying the bare essentials in every room and opting for a palette that is neutral and light. If your home’s walls are bold colors or every room is a different palette, it’s time to paint. Choose white or a fresh, neutral tone. Simplify the decor in every room, removing excess furniture and other belongings. Ideally furniture, window coverings, and linens should be beige or ivory. In bathrooms, aim for the feeling of a spa, with fluffy towels, minimal colors, and matching accessories.
IMPROVE LIGHTING
Good lighting makes rooms appear bigger and more inviting. Clean your windows and open all your shades, blinds, and curtains. You want to let in as much natural light as possible for your open house. If you have heavy drapes, replace them with something light and airy. Some professionals recommend allowing natural light into every room, and you may want to add extra lights if some corners are dark. If a room feels cramped or dim, Real Simple suggests adding a mirror to open it up.
IDENTIFY EVERY ROOM
None of your rooms should be empty, and none of them should be catch-alls. Rooms without furniture appear smaller, since it’s harder for buyers to envision items in the space with nothing to gauge it against. Rooms that are a little of everything are confusing. Opt for one purpose for every room and display it well, whether it’s a home gym, reading room, or sewing space.
CLEAR THE WAY
Each room should offer an obvious traffic pattern, and your home should feel easy to navigate. It helps a home feel comfortable and more open. Arrange your furniture in a manner that makes it clear to potential buyers how the space flows.
SHOW OFF ASSETS
Does your home offer a beautiful kitchen? Is the view to die for? Are there gorgeous hardwood floors hidden under carpeting? Whatever your home’s best features are, make sure you draw attention to them. Don’t cover great floors and views with your furnishings and accessories. Along those same lines, some professionals note dramatic artwork or unusual furniture can be what stays in people’s minds after viewing a home. Don’t distract shoppers from the best assets your property offers.
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
With a little planning, your open house will be successful. Stage your home to appear clean, well-maintained, open, and fresh. Ensure your decor isn’t distracting and that it allows buyers to envision themselves living in your home. You’re sure to enjoy a spectacular open house event, thanks to your great staging!
