Selling your house can be quite the feat, but what if there was a way to make the process a lot smoother? Effective home staging tips and tricks – the art of preparing your house in a way that entices potential buyers to make an offer. And while it may seem like a bit of a hassle, home staging has been proven to help you get a better price when selling your house. Plus, it can be a lot of fun!

What is home staging?

So, what exactly is effective home staging? Well, it involves preparing your property in a way that makes it more visually pleasing to potential buyers. This can mean anything from adding decorative elements such as plants, paintings, and rugs to rearranging furniture to maximise the space. The aim is to make potential buyers visualise themselves living in the house.

But why go through all this trouble? For starters, an empty room that looks slightly neglected will make it difficult for buyers to form a connection with the place and envision themselves living there. By staging your home, you give buyers all the material they need to make your house their home. Additionally, staging your home will add value to your property and potentially put some extra cash in your pocket.

Now, you might be thinking, “this all sounds great, but how much does it cost?” The cost of home staging can vary depending on the amount of work your home needs, but it can range from a couple of hundred pounds up to around £4,000.

But here’s the good news: all the effort you put into staging your home will pay off in the end. Experts in the industry have estimated that staging your house will increase the value of your property by 8%, which can translate to a nice sum of extra cash in your pocket. Is it worth a try? We think so.

So, how do you get started with home staging? We’ve put together a list of easy steps to help you sell your property for quick sale and for the best price possible:

De-clutter

This might seem like common sense, but it’s worth mentioning. Remove excess furniture to make the rooms look spacious. Leave only the nicest pieces of furniture inside to give potential buyers enough to visualise themselves living there, but not too much to make it feel over-crowded. Hide loose electric power cables and wires as these give a messy appearance to visiting guests.

Repurpose rooms

Rearrange the furniture – group couches or chairs with other pieces of furniture, such as tables, to make the room look more spacious. Give each room a clear purpose. For example, if you have a room that’s just for storing goods or personal affects, take the clutter out and give it a new purpose and new lease of life. 

Change the lighting

Good lighting is crucial when it comes to staging your property. Make sure you have ambient, task, and accent lighting to get the best effect throughout your house. We believe, when the electric lights are too bright it makes any home feel and look cold. The clever use of wall mirrors to reflect light into dark corners works well.

Update the paintwork

Redecorate? A fresh layer of paint can make a room look bigger than it actually is. Stick to light and neutral colours in the living room, but feel free to experiment with bolder colours in other rooms.

Accessorise you property

Tasteful wall art and or framed pictures can make a property feel like it has personality. Any kind of art deployed in your house will break up the monotony and make it look much more interesting. Accessorise rooms: group together objects, preferably in odd numbers like three, and play around with textures, shapes, and colours to get the interest of potential buyers.

Don’t neglect the kitchen or bathroom: a nice bathroom can be what it takes for a potential buyer to say yes. Make sure it’s clean, the tiling is immaculate, and it’s just as nicely decorated as the rest of the house. Along with bathrooms, it is also important that kitchens are well presented, as these two rooms are said to be the main focus of any home living.    

Get professional help

If you feel overwhelmed or don’t have the time or resources to stage your home properly, it’s worth considering hiring a professional home stager. They have the expertise and experience to make your property look its best and can offer advice on what changes to make to maximise and achieve your ‘quick sales property’ sale price. Professional home staging often involves moving in new settees, dining furniture and beds. But you don’t have to go to the extreme of purchasing new furniture, cosy cushions and a knitted ‘throw‘ can give an old couch an instant update. 

Focus on curb appeal

The first impression buyers will have of your property is the exterior, so it’s important to make sure it looks its best. This means mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, adding some potted plants or flowers, and giving the front door a fresh coat of paint if needed. Remember, a well-maintained exterior can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive your property.

Add life with plants

Home stagers always recommend adding life to your home with freshly bought flowers and plants. A simple display vase on the kitchen table or a potted plant in the lounge can create natural feeling in a flash. Even using fake plants and silk flowers can help too to create a homely touch.

Consider scent

While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when staging a home, scent can play a role in how buyers perceive your property. A pleasant scent can create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, while an unpleasant stink can be a turn-off. Consider using candles, diffusers, or fresh flowers to add a subtle and pleasant scent to your home. Using fresh linen on your bedding surprisingly makes a bedroom smell summery. 

Make sure your home is at a comfortable temperature too. That might mean putting the heating on for viewings in the winter, or opening windows for a fresh breeze, and if required, switching on a fan in the summer.

Deep clean and clean

We think the most obvious and important part of home staging is to clean your home. Do a thorough deep clean of the whole property – from the carpets to the cobwebs on ceilings and wall corners. And don’t forget to have a quick tidy-up before every viewing. It only takes one good viewing to lead to a house sale.

Final thoughts

Selling a property can be a stressful and time-consuming process, but by staging your home, you can make it more appealing to potential buyers and increase your chances of getting the best price possible. Remember to de-clutter, rearrange furniture, update paintwork, accessorise the walls and rooms, and focus on curb appeal. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional stager. 

In conclusion, home staging may seem like a lot of work and hassle, but it’s worth it in the end. By following these easy steps, you can make your property more visually appealing and potentially get a better price when selling. Good luck!

If you need more than just luck to sell your property for a ‘house quick sale’ please do get in touch with us, we are sure we can be your good luck charm, or hope to be.