In selling your home, a little magic goes a long way. It can be through set and setting, making sure potential homebuyers are enthralled with your property from the moment they step into the threshold. Curb appeal matters, of course, but the inside counts, too.
This is why home staging has been a tried and tested marketing tool for those who have listed their homes for sale in Lake Texoma. With the right colors, furniture, and décor, you can set the mood, allow buyers to imagine themselves living in the space, and just maybe, convince them that your property is the one they want.
The positive effects of home staging are widely documented. In this 2021 profile, 82% of buyers’ agents said their clients were able to visualize a house as their home because of this strategy. Out of that percentage, 47% said staging had a significant impact on the buyers.
How can you maximize the benefits of home staging and, in the process, make your property stand out among other homes for sale in Lake Texoma? Continue reading to learn more.
What is Home Staging and Why Does it Matter?
For the uninitiated, think of home staging as putting your best foot forward and making a strong first impression on potential buyers. Simply put, it is the process of preparing your property for sale in a way that highlights its best assets. When done right, it can help you sell your house quickly and for the best price possible.
Home staging, however, is more than just redecorating and giving your home a makeover. With redecorating, you are transforming your home into a space that best reflects you and your personal taste. Staging, meanwhile, turns your home into a space that appeals to your buyers.
You will want to direct attention away from its flaws, demonstrate the use or appeal of each space in the home, and create a mood that establishes a connection with buyers. The end goal is to make the buyers imagine themselves living in your home and love what they see to the point that they will make an offer.
The Benefits of Home Staging
- Staged homes can pique the interest of more online buyers
99% of Millennial buyers start their search online. At any given point in time, the market may be saturated with homes for sale in Lake Texoma. Well-photographed and staged homes can entice potential buyers to click your listing and call to schedule an in-person viewing or virtual walkthrough.
- Staged homes have a higher perceived value
Since staged homes look well cared for, buyers tend to think that these properties are worth more. As a result, they are likely to make a higher offer in order to secure the deal.
- Staging helps create an emotional connection between buyers and the home
How you stage certain areas of the home can inspire an emotional reaction from the buyer. For instance, you prepared one of the rooms as a nursery, which resonates with a young couple planning a family or an expecting parent. A yard with outdoor furniture, plants, and games can evoke feelings of nostalgia among buyers that spent many a time playing in the garden when they were younger. A warm kitchen that was designed to appear lived in and cozy might appeal to buyers who like to spend time with their loved ones through food.
- A staged home can generate significant returns
Staging costs money, but it can translate to additional profit. 75% of sellers who staged their homes said that they were able to sell their property by as much as 15% over their asking price. On average, staging could bump the property’s sale price by 20%, which in turn can easily result in significant ROI for your home staging efforts.
Furthermore, staged homes tend to be in-demand among buyers. Based on a survey, staged homes are sold up to 30 times faster compared to non-staged homes.
How to Stage Your Home Like a Professional
Some sellers go the extra mile and hire professional stagers to make their property stand out among other homes for sale in Lake Texoma. These professionals are responsible for redecorating and procuring additional accessories and furnishings to prep your home for viewings. In this case, expect to pay at least 1% to 3% of the home’s sale price if you opt for professional help. In fact, the median price for the services of a professional stager is at $1,500.
Sometimes, however, professional staging is not always the best option, especially if your home is in good shape or you do possess an eye for design. Some steps are completely free and simple, which can help if you are selling your home on a tighter budget.
Clean and Declutter
It goes without saying that cleanliness can go a long way in creating a strong first impression. For buyers, a clean home shows that its previous owner was diligent in taking care of the property. And so, you will want to clean every nook and cranny of your home, from floor to ceiling. Make sure each room — especially the bathroom — is gleaming and spotless.
Decluttering, on the other hand, often entails organizing your belongings and freeing the space of any non-essential elements. Clutter not only prohibits buyers from appreciating the best features of your home, but it can also create an impression that your home has limited space.
Take this opportunity to go through all your belongings, including the ones thrown in the recesses of your cabinets, and get rid of things like old clothes, toys, and expired products. Things that you still use once in a while, like seasonal clothes and knickknacks, should be boxed up and placed in storage in preparation for your move.
Depersonalize
Remember that you are not staging your home for you, but for your target buyer. As you declutter, make sure to stow away family photographs and keepsakes around the house. In their place, put coffee table books, landscape images, candles, or a vase of flowers instead.
Remove anything that might be perceived as personal, such as toys and refrigerator art. Clothes, meanwhile, should be hidden away. Bathroom counters must be clean and empty, save for a few bottles of hand soap.
Do Repairs
Repairs may be the most important part of home staging. Strip away the decorations and the buyer is left with a home that is safe, habitable, and functional. Take the time to walk through the home to identify repairable issues and address them accordingly before opening your property to potential buyers. Here are some of the fixes and maintenance work to focus on:
- Mow the lawn and replace any bald patches in the grass. Trees and shrubs should be trimmed, and flowers should be in full bloom.
- Repair any cracks or pressure-wash stains on the pavement or driveway.
- Add a fresh coat of paint on your fence, especially if it is already looking worse for wear. If the fence is broken or falling apart in places, consider replacing it with a new one.
- Check if your mailbox needs replacement. If not, a coat of paint would do wonders to your home’s curb appeal.
- Doors are vulnerable to elements, so make sure they look as new as possible. Apply a fresh coat of paint to cover their weathered look. Upgrade the hardware and make sure the hinges and locks work.
- When it comes to your home’s interior, start with the walls. Cover up or repair holes from hanging your decor or from general wear and tear. You may also want to freshen up the look of your walls with a new paint color. Make sure, however, that you choose a neutral shade.
- Different types of floors will require different steps for maintenance. For carpeted floors, make sure to deep clean to remove any stains. If it is too old or its design too outdated, consider replacing the carpet altogether. Wooden and tiled floors, meanwhile, need some steaming and polishing to give them a shiny look. You may have to re-stain hardwood flooring as well.
- Patch up leaks on the ceiling before listing your home for sale.
- Caulking and baseboards are just some of the overlooked parts of the interior that need work as well. Freshen up the caulk around the bathroom and fix any chips or damages on your baseboards.
Highlight the Storage
Storage will be one of the first things buyers will look for when they visit your home for a viewing. Do not be surprised if they open your drawers and closets to get an idea of your property’s storage capacity.
It is a good idea to organize everything in your drawers and closets by style, type, and color. Dishes should be stacked; towels and linens must be folded neatly. Remove forgotten clutter and, if you must, hang an air freshener to remove any unwanted odor.
Maximize the Waterfront Views
Waterfront views are what attracts buyers into exploring homes for sale in Lake Texoma. If your home possesses some nice vistas, you will want to showcase them as much as possible.
One thing to consider is to remove curtains— they may only block the gorgeous water views. If you are keeping curtains, choose ones with neutral colors to create an elegant look. Avoid heavy fabrics to keep any room light and airy, especially if you also want to showcase natural light.
Your current window treatments should also be checked. Replace them if they are outdated or if they are blocking the natural light coming from the windows. Something as simple as replacing your blinds (or removing them altogether) can work wonders in brightening up your space and making it look more welcoming. Clean the treatments and wipe windows thoroughly.
One of the best ways to make a lasting impression on prospective buyers is letting in as much natural light as possible into the property. To achieve this, add mirrors and place them strategically around the house. Not only will they brighten up the rooms, but they could also reflect the marvelous views outside your lake home.
Refresh your Design and Decor
With décor and furnishing, the goal is to make the space as warm and inviting as possible. Highlight a space’s best features, and make its flaws look even acceptable.
Opt to use furniture that is just the right size for the room. If your home has high ceilings, low furniture will help highlight this feature. Smaller rooms will do better without oversized furniture.
Arrange the furniture with space and traffic flow in mind. Each room should be easily navigable; chairs, tables, and other items should not be blocking doorways or pathways. Disruptions to the flow can make a room feel clunky and smaller.
When it comes to the kitchen, clean and minimal are the way to go. Leave a stack of plates in one of the cabinets and arrange a bowl of lemons on the counter. Small design touches in the kitchen should make it feel warm and lived-in without giving the impression that it was recently used.
Do not forget the visual elements for the other rooms as well. For the bathroom, adding white towels can give the space a clean and spa-like aura. White should also be the color for the sheets and blankets in the bedroom. If you have a bookshelf, remove at least 25% of the books, then rearrange the remaining ones in a way that adds a bit of character.
Define Each Room
Make it easier for buyers to visualize living in their new house by defining each room based on their possible use.
The purpose of the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms are a given, but what about the guest bedroom, the basement, or the attic? An attic could be staged as an extra storage room or a den, while a spare room could either be a guest bedroom or a home office. The basement could be dressed up as a gaming room or a movie area.
Your buyer might not use these rooms for the exact same purpose. At the very least, however, they get to see the rooms’ potential. Creating a specific purpose for each room shows your buyers that every part of your home, even the seemingly smallest nooks and crannies, is usable space.
Sell Your Home With the Help of an Expert
American Dream Realty can help you make design decisions based on market insight so you can increase your property’s marketability. And should you want us to, we will get you in touch with reputable, professional home stagers in Lake Texoma. As Realtors, we know nothing trumps expert advice.
With our assistance, you can confidently navigate the real estate market, gain a proper valuation of your property, and get a much-needed edge over other homes for sale in Lake Texoma.
Sell your home fast and for the best price by calling us at 580.931.8888 today.
