5 DIY Staging Tips to Help Sell Your Home

There’s a lot to take into consideration when selling your home. Hopefully, you have a great REALTOR® on your side to take over the brunt of the work! However, there are a few things you can do to simplify and expedite the process, including properly staging your home for potential buyers to come view it. Buyers want to imagine themselves in your home, and you want to sell your home, so help them do so! If a professional stager is out of your budget- or if you just prefer to DIY this task- here are some easy, wallet-friendly tips to stage your home.

1. Declutter

After years of living in your home, you’ve probably developed a lot of clutter. Some of this may not even be noticeable to you. Your REALTOR® will likely point out some areas that could be tidied, such as drawers, counters, cabinets, garages, etc. If you have kids, consider that your buyers may be empty-nesters. Have your kids put away all of their toys, and pack as many into boxes as you can. Remember, buyers may show up to view the home at any time, so keeping it presentable is important.

2. Touch Up

Make sure each room has a purpose that shows in its furnishings. Add a throw pillow or two onto the couch, neatly fold towels on shelves or over towel rods, and replace old or outdated drawer pulls and knobs. If your walls are a bright color, consider repainting with a neutral tone. Or, touch up spots that are peeling or discolored – for instance, where the back of a piece of furniture has rubbed against the wall.

3. Deodorize

Over time, we tend to become “nose blind” to the scents that linger in our home. Bag full of dirty gym clothes? Litter boxes? Puppy pads? All of these will be instantly smelled by viewers, and may turn them off of purchasing. As much as possible (your pets still need somewhere to go!) remove litter boxes and puppy pads from the main areas of the house. Vacuum and shampoo any scent-holding materials such as furniture, carpets, rugs, and bedding. Open windows to allow the house to air out, and bake cookies or boil cinnamon sticks before a showing to make the home seem more inviting.

4. Open Up

Make your space seem bigger by rearranging or even removing furniture. Do you really need that second couch right now? If not, store it! Before buyers arrive, open windows or curtains and turn on all the lights in the house. This makes it feel brighter, airier, and less claustrophobic, especially in small places.

5. Make A First Impression

The exterior of your home is the first thing visitors see when they arrive. Make a good first impression by keeping it neat and tidy. Remove any debris, sweep the deck, and pull kids’ toys to the shed. Keep the lawn trimmed and as green as possible, in order with your city or neighborhood watering laws- summer sees a decrease in available water supplies, meaning some areas may pass limits on amount of water used for lawns. Finally, pressure wash the outside of your home, including sidewalks and driveways, to remove built-up grime.