If you are planning to put your house on the market, it is crucial that you first learn how to sell a house. When selling your house, one crucial step you shouldn’t ignore is home staging. Staging a house for sale involves making it more appealing to prospective buyers so that it can sell quickly and at a considerably higher price. The easiest way to do your home staging would be to hire a real estate agent or professional home stager. They are experienced and can effectively handle the whole home staging process on your behalf. However, this service can be costly. If your house is For Sale By Owner (FSBO) and you want to save money, you can still do it yourself. However, you will need to put some effort into learning how to stage a house. Here are 17 inexpensive home staging tips for property sellers that will help you set the stage for success.
Related: What to Expect When You Don’t Use a Real Estate Agent
Tips on How to Stage a House
1. Boost curb appeal
The exterior of your house creates the first impression for potential buyers. If the exterior is appealing, a potential property buyer will be more interested in seeing what the interior looks like. Here are a few ways you can boost curb appeal:
- Plant flowers and greenery in the yard
- Power wash the walkways
- Landscaping
- Wash the front windows
- Repaint the front door
- Roof cleaning
- Take care of the lawn
Related: Forced Appreciation: 11 Genius Ideas to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Property
2. Get the house sparkling clean
If you are thinking of how to stage a house inexpensively, this is arguably the cheapest and most basic home staging tip to help make your house more attractive to property buyers. Take your time to give your house a deep clean. You may want to hire a professional cleaning company to do some really thorough cleaning, especially if you have a large house.
3. Improve home lighting
Good lighting can make a huge difference in nearly any space. A room that is well-lit not only seems bigger but is also more welcoming. Therefore, make sure you update your lighting fixtures to more modern ones and allow windows to bring in natural sunlight.
4. De-personalize
When staging a house while living in it, it is important to de-personalize the space. This involves removing any personal items that are specific to your taste like photographs. This way, potential buyers with different backgrounds and lifestyles are able to envision themselves inside the house.
5. Replace window treatments
If you have old window treatments, consider replacing them with new and modern ones. This can make the home look more stylish and larger. For instance, floor-length curtains hanging from the ceiling will make space appear larger.
6. Virtual staging
Staging a house with no furniture is possible through virtual staging. If you don’t have the money to buy furniture, you can seek virtual staging services to stage your empty house. They will edit your listing photos by adding virtual furniture and other décor to improve the appearance of the house for sale.
7. Clear away the clutter
Decluttering is also another important home staging tip that is free. Clutter will not only distract potential buyers from the key features of the home but will also make it appear smaller. While your house is on the market, remove items from surfaces, countertops, and closets. You can pack them up and store them at a central place. Also, having less furniture will make the rooms appear bigger.
8. Eliminate unwanted odors
Lingering odors can be a big turn off for buyers. Be wary of bad smells from garbage, cigarette smoking, pets, sink odors, and other conditions and fix them. Depending on the cause of the odor, there are many simple tricks you can use like cleaning, lighting scented candles, or even baking something sweet. Make sure your home for sale smells fresh.
9. Define your space
Another tip for staging a house on a budget is giving each room a purpose. For instance, if you have a room that you use as a junk room or that is multi-purpose, you could consider making it a bedroom. Having a theme for every room makes the house appear bigger since every space is usable.
10. Create a flow with your furniture
When staging a house, a proper furniture layout makes the house more inviting and creates a good traffic flow for visitors at your open house. One effective way to create flow with your furniture is by grouping them.
11. Repaint the house
Painting your house will give it an instant makeover. Over time, the paint on the walls may have faded, stained, or may be outdated. The paint color may also be too personal to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers. In this case, you should go for neutral colors.
12. Make the master bedroom appealing and gender-neutral
The master bedroom is one of the most important rooms for buyers. Therefore, make it an appealing space. The room features, colors, and décor should also be neutral to attract a broad range of potential buyers. It shouldn’t be overly masculine or feminine.
13. Improve the flooring
At the bare minimum, you should thoroughly clean all floors and carpets. However, if they are worn out, make sure they are either repaired or replaced.
14. Make those small fixes
When selling a house, it should appear well maintained and safe to residents. Do small repairs to fix any faults that would diminish the value of the house. This may include unclogging slow drains, patching walls, repairing the ceiling, etc.
15. Use throw pillows
You can make any space more inviting using soft features like throw pillows. Throw pillows can be laid on beds, sofas, benches, and chairs.
16. Bathroom staging
The bathroom can also influence a home sale. Most potential buyers are looking for a modern and luxurious bathroom. As a home seller, you should consider replacing any outdated bathroom light fixtures, tiles, and other accessories. You may also include towels, decorative soaps, bath mats, and a larger mirror.
17. Add Fresh Flowers
Another inexpensive tip on how to stage a house for sale is adding fresh flowers. Fresh flowers like roses that are strategically placed in a room can make it more welcoming and add just a touch of luxury.
Related: 7 Things to Know Before Selling Your Home
The Bottom Line
Selling a house fast and at a good price is usually the goal of every property seller. With house staging, you will be able to achieve this, ensuring that you are getting the most for your house. Even if you are selling a house without a realtor or a professional stager, you can still get beautiful results. With some knowledge on how to stage a house, a few dollars, and hard work, you can get a quick sale and for more money. Be sure to use the above home staging ideas to your advantage.
Ready to list your house for sale? Want to do it for free? Visit the Mashvisor Property Marketplace now and create your listing.