When selling your home, maximizing its value is key. While essential repairs are an obvious way to boost value, one often overlooked factor is staging. Well-executed staging showcases a home’s full potential and paints a picture of what’s possible for potential buyers. If done incorrectly, however, the effort and costs put into staging will do little to help your cause.
Read on to discover the basics of home staging, how to prepare for it, how to stage key areas of your home, how to add some Portland charm to your staging, and how to put on the final touches before an open house.
The basics of home staging
Home staging is the process of preparing a property for sale in the real estate market by strategically arranging furniture, decor, and accessories to highlight the home’s best features. Staging creates an inviting and appealing environment so potential buyers can envision themselves living in the space. By depersonalizing and decluttering your home, you can present a neutral yet attractive setting that appeals to a broad audience.
Some of the primary benefits of staging include:
- Increased sale price: Staged homes often look more polished and well-maintained, leading buyers to perceive them as more valuable.
- Competitive edge: In a competitive market like Portland, a well-staged home stands out, making it more likely to attract serious buyers willing to pay a premium.
- Faster sales process: Staging creates a positive first impression, which is important in real estate. By staging your home, you can decrease the time it remains listed, avoiding the need for price cuts and keeping the sale process efficient.
Preparing your home for staging before you sell
Preparing your home for staging involves several key steps that ensure your property looks its best and appeals to potential buyers. The first step is to declutter and depersonalize the space:
- Clear out unnecessary furniture, personal items, and knick-knacks to create an open and spacious feel.
- Tidy up closets, cabinets, and storage spaces to show off their capacity and functionality. If any of these areas feel crowded, clear them out as well.
- Keep countertops, shelves, and tables clear or sparsely decorated with tasteful items to make any last-minute cleaning before a showing quick and easy.
Once you’ve decluttered, do a deep clean by thoroughly cleaning every surface, focusing on little details like baseboards, cabinet doors, and cobwebs. Also, make sure no stale or unpleasant smells are lingering in or around the house.
Next, repair any visible damages and check that everything in the house works as it should, such as doors, drawers, cabinets, windows, and appliances. Finally, check that all fixtures look and work as they should, and take the time to add any paint touch-ups that may be noticed.
Staging key areas of your home
Staging key areas of your home can significantly enhance its appeal to potential buyers. Each room serves a specific purpose and should be presented in a way that highlights its best features while allowing buyers to envision themselves living there.
Outdoor spaces
The outside of the house is the first thing a potential buyer will see, so maintaining the yard and outdoor areas is important to creating a good first impression. Start by pressure washing your siding, gutters, walkways, decks, patios, and driveways. Be diligent about keeping these areas clean with frequent sweeping.
Design an inviting entryway with a new doormat and vibrant plants. Check that any gardens are well maintained and the lawn and shrubs look well-manicured
Living room
Arrange furniture to encourage conversation, such as placing sofas and chairs facing each other. Be thoughtful about creating a natural flow throughout the space by positioning furniture to highlight focal points like fireplaces, large windows, or built-in shelving.
Maximize natural lighting by using sheer curtains on windows and setting up mirrors to reflect light in particularly dark areas. Choose items that create a calm and inviting atmosphere when selecting the furniture (think neutral but not bland). Consider adding splashes of color with throw pillows, blankets, and artwork.
Kitchen
To some, the kitchen is the most important part of a house, so it shouldn’t be overlooked during staging. When decluttering the kitchen, remove any small appliances to make the counters look as spacious as possible. Then, tidy up any storage spaces, especially pantries or large cabinets.
Make sure high-use areas, such as the sink, don’t have any stains or visible damage. If the kitchen seems dull, add some flowers or a bowl of fruit to add color and make it feel lived in.
Bedrooms
Craft an inviting and cozy atmosphere in the main bedroom with high-quality neutral bedding. You can create a feeling of luxury with a duvet and quality throw pillows. Remove family photos and pare down the decor to make the space feel large and clean.
Bathrooms
While most people aren’t likely to buy a house based strictly on its bathrooms, some will be turned off if they aren’t clean. When cleaning the bathroom, make sure to get rid of any stains or mold. Like the bedroom, the bathroom should feel luxurious, so consider adding high-end soaps, new towels, mats, and shower curtains. After all, you can take these things to your next home. Keep the sink area clean of any personal items like toothbrushes.
Staging in Portland: How to highlight the charm
If you’re selling a house in Portland, emphasizing Portland-centric characteristics or themes within your home can provide the charm people seek. Architectural details to highlight include exposed beams, built-in cabinetry, natural hardwood floors, and vintage moldings.
You can also reflect Portland’s culture with bike-themed art, a coffee bar setup, or other items that celebrate the city’s vibrant food and music scenes.
Outside of the house, you can add popular plants to the area. If you’re unsure of what to plant, you can use a guide to what grows well in Portland to determine the best plants for your space.
Final steps of staging and open house preparation
Always do a walkthrough before a showing at your house to spot-clean any areas and double-check that everything is set up properly. Leave the interior lights on to make every room look warm and inviting. Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature.
If you’re considering selling your home and need expert advice or assistance with staging, don’t hesitate to contact our team. As experienced real estate professionals in the Portland area, we’re here to help you navigate the selling process and achieve the best possible outcome. Fill out our form or give us a call at 503-283-1900 to learn how we can support you in your home-selling journey.