Home Staging Mistakes to Avoid to Sell Your Home Faster

Selling a property can be stressful enough without adding extra mistakes from home staging and decorating. When selling a property, you will want to do everything you can to make the house look as attractive as possible to your potential buyers. 

Home staging is a standard practice nowadays that sellers have to follow if they want to get top dollar for their house. Still, there are some mistakes that people make when trying to sell their homes fast (and for the price they want). Here are 5 common home staging mistakes to avoid if you want to sell your home faster and for a higher price:

IGNORING MINOR REPAIRS

You might think your home is charmingly ‘lived in’ but signs of wear and tear can jeopardize your sale. 

A little bit of cosmetic surgery will go a long way! Go through your home and take note of anything that can be fixed or replaced. Make sure all lightbulbs are working, check door and drawer handles, and touch up any cracks or chips in things like grout. If you can see it, your buyer will see it. Don’t give them any reason to ask for a concession. Most minor repairs can be DIY’d without the need of a professional. Task Rabbit is a great place to find a helping hand if you end up with a list of things to do.

CLUTTER

It’s important to remember that buyers are looking for space, so the key is to showcase as much of it as possible. Clutter is very distracting to look at and can take attention away from the best features of your home. 

Spend time decluttering your bathrooms, kitchens, and garages in particular. You’ll need to pack everything up when you do complete the sale, so think of it as getting a head start. Even the most beautiful, organized homes will benefit from decluttering before listing. By avoiding this home staging mistake you are helping to sell your home faster and for top dollar in a competitive market.

GETTING TOO PERSONAL

It’s a cold hard truth but your buyer is not interested in any of your personal effects. In fact, it can hinder your selling potential. The aim is to help your potential buyer envision the home as their own, and to do that, you don’t want to remind them that someone else was there before them.

Take down all personal photos of people and pets while your house is on the market. You should also remove any accessories, or knick-knacks that give a strong sense of your likes and dislikes. Scrutinize everything from your books to artwork.

ECLECTIC OR BOLD DECOR

Presentation and first impressions mean everything when selling a home, with many buyers looking for move-in ready. Human beings are very sensitive to colour. As with above, colour and patterns can trigger deep emotions – both positive and negative. Neutral colours will generally spark more interest from buyers for this reason.

Wallpaper and paint choices however should be toned down (avoid eclectic patterns and bright or dark colours). The same goes for decor. Rugs, pillows, bed sheets – keep things neutral and you’ll appeal to a much wider audience.

NEGLECTING A DEEP CLEAN

Dust, grime, mold, and mildew can be very off-putting for a potential buyer. It’s essential to give your home a good wipeout. A home that is clean, tidy, and smells fresh will create a positive atmosphere.

Your general maintenance should also be up to date before putting your home on the market. Power washing, window cleaning (inside and out) carpets, drapes, gutters, that kind of thing, especially when it comes to curb appeal.

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As a general rule of thumb, the more your home looks ready to move into, the quicker it will sell. You don’t want to present anything to your potential buyer that makes them think they need to do any work.

The best time to stage your home is before it’s even listed on the market; before you take photos and before putting up a sign.