4 Staging Tips For Selling Your Home | Caliber’s Home Staging Guide
Plus Bonus Pro Tips To Make Your Mountain Home Shine
First impressions are EVERYTHING and can make or break a home sale! Believe it or not, our typical buyer will know after the first 15 minutes inside a home if they envision themselves and their loved ones spending time there. Strange fact: the purchase of a luxury vacation property is one of the biggest decisions and investments we can make in life, yet it takes so little time for us to determine if it is “the one.” We developed our top 4 staging tips for selling your home to help make your listing experience hassle free!
As luxury real estate brokers, we see many houses for sale on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau with incredible hidden potential. These homes just need to have their time to shine. Trust us when we say that minor staging is one of the most effective ways to help buyers fall in love with your mountain home.
Why is staging your mountain home so important?
Lauren Dyer Architect: PLATT
Staging a home simplifies the buyer’s journey making it easy for them to see it in its very best light, even on a rainy day. It can help tell a story about the property, while allowing the buyer to write their own new chapter without saying a word.
The National Association of Realtors® Research Group publishes an annual home staging report that provides statistics on staging from both buyers’ agent and sellers’ agent perspectives. These statistics are an incredible resource for all sellers, especially in a luxury real estate market like Cashiers, NC!
Top 3 Home Staging Statistics from NAR’s 2021 Profile of Home Staging Report:
- 47% of buyers’ agents cited that home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home.
- 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
- Staging the living room was found to be very important for buyers (46%), followed by staging the master bedroom (43%), and staging the kitchen (35%).
4 Staging Tips For Selling Your Home
Many mountain homes for sale are vacation properties and it shows. This is because some sellers only visit the property a few times a year. It’s easy for them to turn a blind eye to the clutter and need for deep cleaning. Presenting a well-cared for home enhances the strengths of the property, thus promoting a healthier transaction and a faster sale.
We understand that buying and selling a mountain home is both exciting (and a little nerve-racking), so we’ve compiled these top 4 staging tips to keep in mind when putting your mountain home on the market!
#1 – CLEAR OUT CLUTTER!
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- Minimalism sells – Clutter takes up space, and space is what every buyer is looking for! If a home feels like a breath of fresh air when buyers walk in the door, that leaves a lasting impression. Decluttering makes the space feel livable. Buyers want to be able to see themselves and their stuff in the home. That’s hard to do when distracted by the wall of family photos, books that haven’t been touched in years, and a pantry full of junk you don’t need. Pack away any of the items not specific to the space. You’ll have to pack them up anyway when the house sells. Pro Tip: Stage your pantry and closets too – remember that buyers look everywhere!
- Minimalism sells – Clutter takes up space, and space is what every buyer is looking for! If a home feels like a breath of fresh air when buyers walk in the door, that leaves a lasting impression. Decluttering makes the space feel livable. Buyers want to be able to see themselves and their stuff in the home. That’s hard to do when distracted by the wall of family photos, books that haven’t been touched in years, and a pantry full of junk you don’t need. Pack away any of the items not specific to the space. You’ll have to pack them up anyway when the house sells. Pro Tip: Stage your pantry and closets too – remember that buyers look everywhere!
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#2 – DEEP CLEAN EVERYWHERE
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- A clean home shows you’ve taken great care of the property. It’s important to clean the base boards to the ceiling corners, dust everything, clean carpets, and make kitchens and bathrooms sparkle. Pro Tip: When cleaning your home, you notice the little things that need to be done such as dirty grout, broken or loose outlets, blown lightbulbs, etc. Buyers pay attention to these things!
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#3 – BOOST CURB APPEAL
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- Remember the importance curb appeal when staging your mountain home. Buyers spend a lot of time at the front of the house. While their broker opens the lockbox and unlocks the front door, they’re judging the entire time. The exterior of the home should be inviting, drawing buyers in. Lawns should be clean and manicured, gutters free from debris, and walkways/decks pressure washed – or swept at least. Pro Tip: Minor painting in outdoor areas that need touch-ups makes the home seem well-loved. A freshly painted front door is another simple way to welcome in your buyers.
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#4 – KEEP IT LIGHT AND BRIGHT
#4 – KEEP IT LIGHT AND BRIGHT-
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- You want to show off the best features of your mountain home and lighting is a great way to do that. Open all blinds and window shades. Turn on all light fixtures. Area rugs are pretty but can darken the space so be sure to eliminate any that are not necessary. This will make your home feel welcoming, and rooms feel larger. Pro Tip: Don’t forget to clean the windows and screens. That’s a very simple step towards awakening any tired home interior.
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Key Home Seller Takeaways From Our Top 4 Staging Tips
Staged homes sell 73% faster, and for up to a 5% higher sales price than the competition. Staging your mountain home won’t be effortless, but the final result is worth the sweat equity and time. There’s no such thing as a perfect house, but we hope your key takeaway is the importance of focusing on your home’s potential. Reduce any possible distractions and accentuate the positives. You won’t be disappointed in the results, we promise!
Are you interested in listing your luxury mountain home for sale? Contact us today for a comprehensive market analysis.