
Until a few years ago, home staging meant cleaning your home and hiding your clutter from inquisitive eyes. Today, it hasspawned an industry of its own and evolved into one of the most popular ways of ensuring that your home is sold quickly and for the best possible price. So if you are planning to put your house on the market soon, here are a few things that you absolutely need to know about staging.
Why you need to stage your home
Have you ever wondered why a home builder spends so much money on staging his model homes? It is because he knows that he has a better chance of making a sale if the house appeals to you and he can convince you - the buyer - of the lifestyle you will have the chance to enjoy if you buy the house.
And there is no question that a staged home looks several times better than an un-staged one. So if other houses in the market are staged, then you are going to lose out on potential buyers if you opt not to stage your home.
Hiring a professional vs doing it yourself
Depending on the market and the size and condition of your home, the cost of professional staging can range anywhere between $500 to a few thousand dollars. However, professional home staging has its own advantages.
Homeowners often have an emotional connection with their house due to which they find it difficult to view the property objectively. A professional stager, on the other hand, can look at your home with fresh eyes and show you how to highlight its best features and offsetthe less desirable ones.
Again, your choice of home décor or style may run to the modern or the slightly offbeat, but it may not resonate with all potential buyers. You may also have got used to living in the house in a certain way that makes you oblivious to other uses for your spaces. However, a professional stager knows how to display your home in such a way that it appeals to a wide range of buyers. What’s more, most professional stagers have their own staging supplies, such as neutral accessories, curtains or furniture, which will save you a lot of time and money.

The all-important “curb appeal”
Do you know that many buyers make up their mind in the first few seconds after they arrive? And hence the importance of what stagers and realtors call “curb appeal”. So if you’ve got some extra time and money, use it to beautify your home’s exterior. Freshen up the paint on your front door, mow the lawn, trim bushes and hedges, add fresh plants, weed, and repair your dented mailbox. Make sure that the entryway is well lit and welcoming. If needed, add a new doormat. Remember, you have only one chance to make a great first impression – make it count.
Don’t miss out on any space
When preparing your home for staging, work with the assumption that a buyer will want to look at every square inch of space available. That means that you cannot ignore moldy shower curtains, overstuffed closets, grimy backsplashes or dirty windows. If you can afford a professional cleaning service, invest in a thorough cleaning of your home from top to bottom. If you’ve got a lot of extra stuff lying around, arrange for it to be stored until you move into your new place.
By Kurt Jacobson. Kurt is a snowboarding enthusiast with a background in real estate. Having moved 11 times in the past nine years, he thrives on helping others learn from his experiences. When he’s not out shredding the mountain, he writes about all things home related for the website HouseHunter.co.