Staging Tips For Sellers

Housing markets are down all across the board. It doesn't matter what neighborhood, what region, what state...it is harder to sell a house today than in past markets. This doesn't mean that it's impossible to sell in today's tricky housing market; you just need to pull out all stops. You need to be one step ahead of the competition and draw buyers to your property with your savvy marketing skills.

There are several different strategies that you can use to effectively market and sell your home quickly. One of these strategies is called home staging. Home staging is a process during which you set your home up or "style it" to attract the most buyers. It really comes down to showcasing your home and showing off its greatest potential. There are many different methods that you can use to stage your home; below we will discuss some of the most successful home staging strategies.

Successful Home Staging Strategies

There are several different ways that you can stage your home to attract buyers. The lengths that you go to stage your home will depend primarily on the competition in your housing market. If it is a tough market, you will want to do all you can to attract buyers. Therefore, you should stage your home to the max. The following strategies will help you do just that:

• Update - Inexpensive updates can be a great way to make your home more attractive to buyers. Start with a fresh coat of paint. Change outdated lighting fixtures, door knobs and cabinet hardware. Make sure that all of the outlet covers match. These are all very inexpensive changes that set the tone for the rest of the staging process.

• Room Functions - Give every room a function by furnishing the home. Don't leave a homebuyer guessing how they will use the space. You need to show them the potential of the home. Show them how they can live in the home by strategically placing furnishings that optimize use of space.

• Small Spaces - Don't forget small spaces. If you have a small nook in the kitchen, turn it into a breakfast nook. Small spaces are often overlooked by people viewing your home. You need to draw their eye to them and show them that they are valuable spaces that add something to the home.

• Homey and Neutral - Be sure to make all parts of your house as homey and inviting as they can be. Fresh flowers are a great way to do this. You should use accessories and décor as well to bring a homey feeling to the space. However, try to keep things neutral. Homebuyers have varying tastes, and you don't want to turn any of them off with furnishings and accessories that only appeal to a narrow audience.

• Outdoors - Don't forget your outdoor spaces. Patio furniture, potted plants and outdoor accessories are a must. Keep the lawn trimmed and neat.

So, how do you get the money to do all of this staging? First, you should set a realistic budget to pay for things that you can't borrow. Everything else you should borrow. You can use furniture from your own collection or borrow from family and friends. You may even be able to get furniture on loan from a furniture store. If all else fails, you can rent furniture to stage your home.

If all goes well, you will be able to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Remember; homebuyers are unimaginative. They want to be "wowed" by your home. They don't want to have to think about what they could do to the space or how it would be living in your home. You have to show them exactly what they want to see. If you can do this, you will stay one step ahead of the competition.