Staging is an essential step in the real estate selling process. A staged home creates a strong first impression, appeals to a wider pool of buyers, and can even result in higher offers.
Expertly staging your home will offer great results, but bad staging could turn buyers away. Here are five of the most common staging mistakes sellers make and how you can avoid them:
Mistake 1: Filling Up the Closets
Removing clutter is one of the most important steps of staging your home. You want prospective buyers to see a clean, open, and organized space.
However, sellers sometimes try to declutter by stuffing all of their belongings into the closets, basement, garage, or other storage areas. While the main living areas of your house will look great, buyers will be left with a bad impression as soon as they open your closet doors.
Most buyers peek inside closets and storage areas during showings, so you want your closets to look open and spacious. Decluttering your closets, attic, basement, garage, and mudroom is just as important as decluttering the rest of your home.
How to Fix It
Staging your home provides a great opportunity for you to downsize your belongings before you move. Give yourself plenty of time to sort through your items and decide what to keep, what to sell or give away, and what to throw out.
Consider renting a storage unit for your remaining belongings so that you free up as much closet space as possible. Installing shelves in your closets can also help you take advantage of vertical space and keep your closets organized.
Mistake 2: Poor Lighting
No matter how clean, organized, and well decorated your home is, poor lighting will make a bad first impression. Lighting is about more than visibility. It sets the ambiance, adds depth, and affects the energy levels in your home.
Keeping up heavy curtains that block the natural light is one of the biggest staging mistakes homeowners make. While long and heavy curtains can look luxurious, they’ll do more harm than good if they block the sunlight.
There are also several ways to go wrong with your artificial lighting. Dim lights or burned out bulbs will make your home look dull and drab. On the other hand, excessively bright white lighting can be too harsh on the eyes and can make your home look too sterile.
How to Fix It
Natural light is best for your listing photos and for showings, so you should keep all your windows clear. Get rid of any bulky or heavy curtains, and wash your windows to remove any dust, dirt, or smudges that block the light.
For your lighting fixtures, opt for warm but bright bulbs. Add floor or table lamps to any rooms that feel too dim. You can also brighten up a room by strategically hanging up mirrors that will reflect and amplify the light.
Mistake 3: Incorrectly Sized Furniture
You want your home to look open and spacious during showings. Bulky furniture can make rooms look tight and cramped. For instance, an oversized sectional sofa could completely overwhelm your living room.
The opposite extreme can cause problems, too. Sellers sometimes downsize to tiny, lightweight furniture so there’s more open space in the room. However, furniture that’s far too small can make the room feel unfinished or uninviting.
How to Fix It
Consider the scope of each room when choosing furniture pieces. Your furniture should be proportional to the size of the room, which can be a delicate balancing act.
If you have a spacious living room with a vaulted ceiling, large couches and ottomans will fit just fine and will make the room look cozy and inviting. If the dining area is on the smaller side, a simple round table will look better than a bulky rectangular one.
Mistake 4: Too Much Decor
Your home should be the star of the show during showings and open houses. Too much decor will pull attention away from the house itself, leaving prospective buyers with the wrong impression.
While a few statement pieces can make a room visually interesting, too many loud and bright decor items will overwhelm your home. Fake flowers, a fake fruit bowl, and other artificial decor can also make your home feel cold and uninviting.
How to Fix It
Start by removing any personal decorations like family photos, children’s artwork, or religious items. A staged house looks impersonal so that potential buyers can project their own lives and interests onto the space.
Choose a simple, neutral color scheme for each room. Then, you can create depth by adding a few pops of color with throw pillows, curtains, artwork, or other decor items. It’s okay to leave blank space on the walls, especially in smaller rooms. When staging, less is usually more.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the Exterior
Many homeowners make the mistake of only staging their home’s interior. The exterior is just as important, if not more important.
Your home’s exterior will always give the first impression. When buyers see your listing online, the first photo will be of the front of the house. When they attend a showing, they’ll see the exterior first.
Bad landscaping, a cracked driveway, dirty siding, or a cluttered lawn can all leave a bad lasting impression for buyers. They’ll immediately judge your home as messy or run-down. If the exterior is in poor condition, they might also assume that you haven’t kept up with routine maintenance and repairs.
How to Fix It
Just like you decluttered the inside of your house, you can also declutter the exterior. Remove any furniture items that aren’t in good condition, and put your children’s bikes and toys in storage. Keep a few simple lawn ornaments, but get rid of any that seem too bold or personalized. Before a showing, make sure all cars are removed from the property.
If your siding looks dirty, consider pressure washing it before taking your listing photos. You should also pressure wash the driveway and fill any cracks or chips.
Professional landscaping can be a valuable investment when staging your home. A well manicured lawn and lush garden will draw attention from buyers and show your house’s potential.
Stage Your Home Like a Professional
Staging your home takes time and careful planning, but the results are worth the effort. A perfectly staged home is clean, simple, and inviting. Remove as much clutter as possible, embrace natural lighting, and choose your furniture and decor items carefully.
Many real estate agents assist their clients with staging before putting properties on the market. You could even hire a professional stager to decorate your home. First impressions matter, and proper staging is one of the best ways to showcase all that your home has to offer.
