Home Staging on a Budget
Stage Your Home for Less Money and Get Great Results!
Staging has become a necessity in today’s market. According to Home Gain market tests over 91% of realtors recommend some form of home staging. With market tests showing that staged homes sell on average 50% faster than non-staged homes and for more money, smart sellers know that staging is a wise investment of time and money.
So how can you get great results on a tight budget? Well fortunately a lot of staging is more hard work than money so find out where you can cut corners and where you CAN’T.
Get a Staging Consultation and Do the Work Yourself
The first recommendation is to hire a home stager to advise you on the key areas that need attention in your home, and what you can do to make them more presentable to buyers. Doing the recommended work yourself can save you from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Learn What Home Stagers Do and Copy it
Many websites and books provide valuable information on how home staging works. By learning about staging methods you may be able to apply some of their tactics to your home.
Set a Reasonable Budget and Stick to it
Applying the rule of 1-3% of the asking price of your home, you can create a budget that should provide you the MAXIMUM return on your investment. Apply this budget to complete major repairs or unfinished projects first as these will detract the most value from your home.
Prioritize Your Projects
Curb appeal – the first impression your buyer’s get when they drive up – is the most important place you can make a difference. Cleaning your entrance, updating the light fixture, re-painting the door an appealing color and landscaping your yard with tidy lawns and flower beds, or dressing your entrance with a simple potted plant, will impress buyers and give them a positive impression of your home.
Kitchens and bathrooms – these are the biggest sellers inside your home. Keeping these areas spotless and fresh smelling is cheap and worth the effort. A few fresh linens and a candle in the bathroom, a clutter-free counter and bowl of fruit in the kitchen will show buyers these areas are spacious and enjoyable to live in.
Master bedrooms and living areas – the main job here is to make rooms appear light, bright and comfortable. Remove up to 1/3 of items – extra side tables, crowded bookcases and miscellaneous items like computers and toys. Apply a coat of paint if the current color is out of date or needs refreshing. Have good lighting, not just overhead lights, to make rooms bright and comfortable and add a throw blanket or new pillows to quickly update and revitalize these rooms.
Pack up, Sell, Donate or Throw Away
This is your opportunity to make some extra money and get a head start on moving day! Sell, donate or throw away items you've purged and don’t want to take with you to the new home.
Pack up 1/3 of your family’s books, clothes, toys and sports gear so closets, basements, garages and bedrooms look their most spacious and appealing. Put these items in storage or leave them with friends or family while selling and on moving day you’ll already be ahead of schedule!
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