Town & Country, Inc. Realtors® · (731) 668-7000 · Jackson, Tennessee 38305

Use These 8 Tips When Staging Your House

After all the hard work to make your house saleable, you don't want the house to sit on the market for any longer than necessary. Staging a house is one method to make your house more attractive to a potential buyer, but only if done correctly and with some forethought.

Research has shown that homes sell approximately 32% faster when they have been staged. The homes also sell for 3% to 10% more. Those numbers tell us that staging your home is one of the most important things you can do to increase the selling price, and decrease the time spent on the market for sale.

Simply put, homes that are staged look good, sell faster, and for more money, and that is why staging the home is highly recommended.

Staging is the process where furniture, accessories, window treatments, etc. are arranged in each room of the house to give the lookers something to look at. More precisely, staging allows the potential home buyer to better picture what their furniture and accessories will look like in the space, plus it shows off the space too. Both of these help sell the house faster and for more money.

The home that most buyers eventually buy is the home that was chosen largely by emotion, and to separate your house from other houses, it needs to be staged. Staging is all about emotions.

Staging is important because when a buyer walks into a home, most know within the first three seconds whether that home "feels" right to them. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.

Selling your home, and living in your home are two separate items. You don't live in a home the same way you sell it. Your home should be ready to show each and every day your home is on the market.

Also, remember that staging your home is not personal, it's business. We are trying to sell your home quicker and for money, and the suggestions we make have been proven to make your home more appealing to the majority of house hunters.

8 tips to follow prior to placing your home on the market:

  1. Don't Clutter: Although your houme may not appear cluttered to you, it may look cluttered to potential buyers. Don't take staging to a new and unfortunate level by adding too many items. Simple and elegant is always best when placing furniture and other accessories. Also, be sure to use the appropriate size furniture for the room. You don't want to place a four cushion sofa in a smaller room where a love seat would fit better.
  2. Emphasize Features: Be sure to use accessories effectively around any "wow features" in your home. If the fireplace is awesome, don't accessorize too much around it, but do add a few items to complement it. Don't place larger items like couches and chairs near any "wow features".
  3. Plants: Adding some plants is a great way to add some color and personality to a house. Be sure the plants are not too large or too small for the space.
  4. Curb Appeal: Make sure the yard and other outside elements are neat and clean. Adding some colorful flowers can really add some life to an otherwise boring front yard. Power spraying the driveway, sidewalks and other areas is a great way to get a new look from an older item. Make sure the mailbox looks nice and is straight and that the doorbells are working properly. Also, the front door should be a color that gets noticed from the road. A front door with a color that pops from the rest of the house can really draw attention from the road.
  5. Clean: Make sure all of the windows are spotless inside and out. Make sure the gutters are clean. Any older appliances should be thoroughly cleaned. Vacuum and sweep all floors. Clean all the light fixtures and make sure the sinks, tubs and showers are spotless. Also check for spider webs and dead insects around the windows and doors.
  6. Fresh Air: One of the worse things a buyer can experience when looking at your house is if they walk in and instantly notice a foul odor or the temperature is too warm or too cold. When homes set on the market for a while, they tend to get a stuffy smell since there may not be the day to day activities at the house letting fresh air in. Before showing the house, make sure the temperature is OK and the stuffiness and any odors have been removed.
  7. Music: Playing some appropriate music in the background is also a good idea. Be sure the music is on very low and is appropriate for all ages. Imagine the music you hear when you are at the doctor's office or other kind of waiting room. The music should be pleasant and not overwhelming at all. Also, make sure the choice of music is not sad sounding. You don't want your house to sound like a funeral home. An upbeat selection of tunes is best. You could make your own CD of songs that you select and then play that CD. This way you are assured of the type of music that will be heard.
  8. Lighting: The appropriate lights in the right places can dramatically increase the comfort level and look of your house. Accent lights can attract a buyers eye to a specific area and can give the room a sense of elegance as well. Do not turn on ceiling fan lights unless totally necessary since this type of light is generally too broad and harsh. Accent lighting is much better.

You can have a professional staging company do it, or you can do-it-yourself, and I will more than happy to offer staging advice. Be sure to keep in mind at all times when staging your house that simple is good and too much stuff in the wrong areas can be very bad. Make the home warm and inviting and your house will appeal to more buyers.

Town & Country, Inc. Realtors® is a registered trademark licensed to Town & Country, Inc. Realtors®. Town & Country, Inc. Realtors® is licensed in the State of Tennessee. Each Town & Country, Inc. Realtors® office is independently owned and operated.

Katie Hale is a Realtor® with Town & Country, Inc. Realtors®, 1944 Hwy 45 ByPass, Jackson TN 38305, (731) 668-7000.

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