One of the first thoughts that usually come to mind when putting your house on the market is, “What is my home worth?” although the reality is it’s worth what a homebuyer is willing to pay. In order to get the maximum dollar, you’ll want to stage your home to ensure that it’s shown in the best light possible.
Stagers typically charge between $150 and $600 for the initial consultation plus $500 to $600 a month per room, so it can be tempting to give it a go yourself. These tips can help you when going the DIY route, but if you aren’t sure you’re up to the task, the return on investment may be worth at least consulting a professional stager who can advise you on decor, furnishings, and organization.
Clear It Out
The first step is to go through everything you have and get rid of all the clutter. You may need to toss, donate, and sell some things.
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Once you’ve done that, start packing items you want to bring with you to your new home but don’t necessarily need, such as decorative pieces, souvenirs, and the like. All personal items should be stored away, like family photos and children’s drawings so that potential buyers can see themselves living in your home.
Thoroughly Clean
Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to thoroughly clean your entire home. You want everything to sparkle from the refrigerator, oven, and microwave to walls, floors, and bathtubs. Check for any marks and scuffs, looking at it all closely as if you were a very nitpicky buyer. Would it pass the test?
Bring In Decor
You don’t want your walls left bare after taking down all of those framed photos and the like. Mirrors, paintings of landscapes, or framed quotes like “Home Sweet Home” work well. Avoid anything with a controversial phrase, for example, something related to politics. Look through home magazines and Pinterest for ideas.
Cover Up
While you shouldn’t hide any major issues, it is important to do whatever you can to make your home shine its brightest. Maybe there’s a little hole in the wall that needs patching or areas where the texture is uneven. You can cover those minor issues with a photo or piece of art. If you have a wood floor with some scratches, get an attractive throw rug to toss over the affected area.
Go Back Through and Clean Again
Once your home is redecorated and organized so that it flows well, you’ll need to step back, reevaluate to ensure it works well, and then clean again.
Make it Fresh and Inviting
In addition to the decor, some potted plants can give your home a more fresh and inviting feel. Avoid going overboard – if you have many plants, space them out to avoid overwhelming any particular space. You’ll also want to make it smell fresh, as everything from damp bathrooms and dirty laundry to pets can give your home a bad odor.
For sink odors, grind up a lemon in your garbage disposal. One of the most popular tricks to use before potential buyers come through your home is to bake cookies or apples sprinkled with cinnamon. Or simply burn some vanilla-scented candles.
