All the Home's a Stage: The Secrets to Selling Your House

If you need to sell your house quickly or have a move planned down the line and simply want to establish a solid asking price for it, follow these tips to stage it properly. With just a few simple steps, the value of your property can increase dramatically and you can be on your way to your next home sweet home.

For homeowners who are trying to sell their homes, staging plays a major role in how quickly a home sells, and how much it sells for. According to many sources, properly staged homes sell faster than lived-in or empty homes. If you need some help on how to expertly stage your home to sell fast, follow this easy guide.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of any home and when you’re selling, your kitchen needs to be welcoming, spotless, and versatile. If you only have the budget or time to spend on making one room in your home perfect, pick the kitchen. For kitchens that could use some serious updating, consider getting it completely remodeled by a professional. Or, if you’re a DIY master, you can update it yourself by painting the cabinets, changing out the hardware, and updating the appliances to give your kitchen a new, modern look.

Make sure the kitchen is clean, uncluttered, and welcoming. Clean out the cabinets, leaving only a few of your best dishes, pots, pans, and glasses. Clean off the counters and only have a couple of tidy touches when showing your home such as a cookbook on a stand near the stove or a bowl of fruit on your island. The floor and ceiling should be cleaned as well, and if you can throw a fresh coat of paint on the walls, do it.

Master Bathroom

Bathrooms, tiles, and tubs are also a major selling point — The bathroom Iran Watson Photography

If you have a master bathroom, this is the second most valued room in a home. If, after updating your kitchen, you still have the time and funds to work on another room, choose the master bathroom. If you don’t have a master bathroom, update the main bathroom. Make the bathroom look like a spa. Put out some white, rolled towels, candles, and decorative baskets to make potential buyers feel relaxed and welcome. Make sure the bathroom is absolutely spotless, and that includes any tiles and mirrors. If your tiles are looking a little grungy, get them cleaned or painted.

The Other Rooms

Living rooms, hallways, interiors are some of the more standard areas of interest — Living room Cherry Ruffino Realtors

While the other rooms in the house certainly need some attention, most houses are sold because of the kitchen and the master bathroom. There are a few general rules to keep in mind when staging the other rooms in your home.

Get rid of clutter - Clean out all closets, cabinets, dressers, drawers, and anywhere else clutter likes to lurk. Set up small vignettes on end tables and nightstands by grouping three objects that have similar textures, shapes, or colors but vary in heights and widths.
Clutter includes furniture- Homes sell better when furniture is displayed in cozy conversation groups. Bring the couches and chairs off the wall and group them in the middle of the room to create a welcoming gathering spot. Get rid of any furniture that is unnecessary or makes the room look smaller.
Use lights to your advantage - Invest in some decorative floor lamps for bedrooms and living rooms and under-the-cabinet lighting for kitchens. Keep blinds and curtains open to get as much natural light as possible.
Neutral walls - Take the time to put a coat of fresh paint in each room if you can, especially if one of the rooms has a bold or unique color. Use warm, neutral colors that are welcoming and gender-neutral.

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