We all know that curb appeal is critical when it comes to selling your home. Your yard should be trimmed; sidewalks and patios swept, and your front door should have a fresh coat of polyurethane or paint to create a great first impression. You should even go as far as purchasing a new doormat and plant a few red flowers in an elegant pot next to the front door.
But, there is one critical piece that most sellers miss and that is staging your home on the inside to sell.
As a seller, you need to use your imagination to disconnect with your home so that you can see it through a potential buyer’s eyes. I can help you with this.
If your home is going to be vacant, I can also help you with staging the home for sale with furniture. (See before and after photos below) When staging to sell, whether the home is vacant or occupied, you don’t need to fill it with furniture. The furniture should be used as a prop rather than the reason why a home is purchased. A vacant home will take longer to sell and with this type of staging your home will sell faster and for more money.
It is important to take style and flow into account when choosing furniture and some homes will need more staging than others. For example, homes that are traditional in style leave little room for the imagination since it’s pretty obvious where the living and dining rooms are located. Where it gets tricky is with new construction homes or condos that have quirky layouts.
Keep in mind that potential buyers will be walking through your property so there needs to be an open path of furniture to help them get from room to room. Too often homeowners position furniture in inconvenient locations i.e. walking into the back of a sofa as you enter the living area.
When we are discussing adding furniture to your house to sell, I always take into consideration whether it is Victorian, Modern, Craftsman or Farmhouse. Choosing furniture that will compliment the architectural style and age of the home is vital. A small home will require smaller-scale furniture whereas a large home with an open floor plan and high ceilings will accommodate larger pieces.
Big pieces should remain neutral when adding furniture and furniture with clean lines is always the best choice. Avoid leather if possible since it might remind the buyer of her husband’s bachelor pad.
Too many pieces in a room can be great for living but not for selling. Floor space is equity and if you’re covering it up, you’re not going to get top dollar.
In most cases, all you need in a living room is a couch, chair, coffee table and end table – depending on the size of the room. Create conversation areas and usable spaces. If the floors are hardwood, add a rug to soften the space. When a fireplace is involved, try creating a focal point with seating to draw the eye into the room.
If you are interested in having drawings created for your listing, I also have access to an interior designer who can make drawings of your home like the one’s below and listed here.
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