Whether you're a real estate developer or a homeowner looking to sell your house, maximizing your profits through interior staging is a must. Interior staging is a proven method that quickly upgrades and improves properties, leading to a remarkable increase in property prices of up to 7% within just 10 days. In today's competitive real estate market, investing in your property's interior is essential to stand out among the rest.
The concept behind interior staging is simple: by investing approximately 1% of the property's value in home staging, you can expedite the sale process and boost the selling price by 4-7%. But what makes a staged home sell faster?
The answer lays in the power of reality surpassing imagination. By tailoring the design style to suit potential buyers, interior staging aims to enhance the property's appearance for an efficient and cost-effective investment that yields maximum returns in minimal time. Unlike an interior designer who caters to personal tastes, an interior staging designer strives to appeal to a broad range of buyers and match the house's design to the preferences of the target market in the area. The relatively low costs of hiring an interior designer justify the investment, as there's usually no need for complex renovations or expensive interior architecture to improve the property for sale.
With interior staging, your house will look more spacious, brighter, cleaner, and warmer, igniting a desire in potential buyers to envision themselves living in and purchasing the property. Matching the house to the average buyer is akin to the effect a mannequin in a clothing store has on shoppers.
When potential buyers visit a house for sale, it can be challenging for them to visualize its potential. Empty properties lack the ambiance that comes with furnishings, while pre-existing designs may not align with the buyers' style or can be cluttered, hindering their imagination. However, through the home staging process, which involves high-level design, you can capture the attention of potential buyers. They no longer need to imagine their dream house; it's right in front of them.
Home staging is a swift procedure that doesn't involve extensive renovations but focuses on small cosmetic enhancements, redesigning, and reorganizing the house with rented furniture and accessories to create a luxurious atmosphere.
Here are our 12 interior staging tips:
Colors: Opt for light shades on walls and furniture to create the illusion of a more spacious room. Choosing a neutral and natural color palette is advisable to foster a sense of cleanliness and allow customers to focus on the property. Harmonize the colors of your furniture and accessories, arranging them in clusters to create an aesthetic and elegant look. Additionally, use light, felt cushions with a uniform texture, add a light-colored throw on the couch, and invest in a large, light rug if budget permits.
Lighting: Consider purchasing "warm white" lighting, which accentuates the warm colors in the house. Use K 2700-3000K lighting for calmer areas like the living room and bedroom, while K 4000 lighting suits spaces such as kitchens and wet rooms.
Add Mirrors: Mirrors are a staging secret weapon, as they create an illusion of depth and spaciousness, making the property appear larger and brighter.
Curtains: Use thin and light curtains to allow sunlight into the room, making it appear bigger and warmer. Avoid heavy curtains that block light and make the room feel small. Hang sheer white or ivory curtains as high as possible to create an elegant and well-groomed appearance.
The Kitchen: If you're not upgrading the kitchen, make small changes to enhance its appeal and functionality, such as replacing handles. Consider adding a low-cost portable or non-portable unit to showcase an island. To create the illusion of height, place baskets or plants on top of high cabinets. Ensure all appliances are clean, and keep the countertop clutter-free.
Rugs: Incorporate rugs to add warmth and color to the space. Choose larger and lighter rugs to expand the perceived size of the room.
Vegetation: Introduce natural and artificial plants to bring color, calmness, and warmth to the space. Use tall plants with big leaves in living and dining areas, and place smaller plants in unexpected spots like the bathroom.
Storage: Maximize storage space by utilizing existing niches with doors or shelves. Creative storage solutions are highly desirable to potential buyers. Remove any unnecessary furniture or clutter that may burden the room's appearance. Hide electrical wires by concealing them within the walls. Eliminate personal objects like children's drawings or family photos on dressers to help buyers envision themselves in the space.
Art: Display large art pieces on walls or hanging shelves to add exclusivity and sophistication to the space.
Accessories: Enhance the space with decorative items strategically placed throughout, such as on sideboards, bookcases, and shelves. Incorporate big vases, small sculptures, and books to create a visually appealing environment.
Perfume the Space: Pay attention to scents as they evoke strong emotional reactions. Ensure the house smells pleasant and fresh by using scent diffusers and scented candles. Avoid cooking before customer visits and ventilate the house by opening windows.
Personal Touches: Remove personal items like family photos, monogrammed towels, and personalized decor. While these items are meaningful to you, they can make it difficult for potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space. Instead, opt for generic, yet tasteful decor that appeals to a wide range of tastes, allowing buyers to imagine making the space their own. This depersonalization creates a blank canvas for buyers to project their own style and preferences onto the home, increasing its appeal and potential for a quicker sale.
Bonus tip: Even before potential clients step foot in your house, make sure they're impressed!
The initial impression most people have of your house is likely to be online. To attract the best clients, ensure you stand out among other listings by featuring professional photographs. It's a small investment guaranteed to pay off. Once you've implemented the staging principles mentioned above, enlist a photographer to capture the best angles, adjust the lighting, and truly capture the uniqueness of your home.
By following these expert staging tips, you can significantly increase your chances of selling your house quickly and at a higher price. good luck!