In today’s real estate market, home staging is a must. Competing against a larger market of homes for sale and a struggling economy can make achieving your asking price quite a challenge. A properly staged home can be the difference between one that sells quickly at or above asking price and one that sits on the market for an extended period of time and finally sells for far less than market value.
While home staging is to your advantage, there are a number of mistakes that are easy to fall into. If you want to create a warm and welcoming space that potential buyers can really see themselves living in, you’re going to want to distance yourself from these five common staging mistakes.
1. Not Staging Storage: Storage space is high on the priority list of most house hunters. Forgetting to play up your storage space (especially if it’s limited) may very well deter prospective buyers. Make sure your storage areas are neat and orderly. You can draw attention to these spaces by outfitting them with organizers and by leaving doors open so buyers can easily peek in. You want to keep closets and cabinets neat and organized so as to emphasize the amount of storage space your house offers.
2. Not Repurposing Unused Rooms: Often, there are rooms in a house that go unused, or simply treated as a “junk room” for miscellaneous storage. However, when staging a home, be sure to repurpose any unused space. If there’s a random nook off the kitchen, for example, you might consider setting it up as an office. Basically, try to create a space that’s functional, without letting any area go to waste. There should be a purpose for every room in the house.
3. Looking Cluttered and Disorganized: The worst thing you could ever do when showing your house is presenting it as a cluttered and disorganized space. Showing a space like this will leave a nasty taste in the mouths of potential buyers, and for good reason. If you want to make a great impression, make sure that everything is neat, tidy, and orderly.
4. Poor Lighting: When you’re prepping a home for a viewing, you want to ensure that the house is shown in the best light. Open windows on a sunny day to let natural light in! Otherwise, ensure that all rooms are well illuminated. A bright, well-lit home is inviting and can help a potential buyer better envision themselves in the space.
5. Going Overboard: The goal of home staging is to make a home look as appealing as possible. You may be tempted to pull out all the stops when it comes to staging, but going overboard can actually make the space look cold, impersonal, and unlivable. Keep it simple and understated, yet elegant and neutral.
Avoid these mistakes, and you’ll present a home that shines – and one that attracts the attention of a number of interested buyers!
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Do you have any home staging tips you’d like to add? Please leave them in the comments below!
And if you have any questions about selling or buying a home in metro Albuquerque, be sure to contact me today!
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