If you’re planning to sell your home, you want to ensure that everything is ready for potential buyers. The best way to do that is through a professional staging process. But if you’re not careful, you could make some staging mistakes that can hurt your home sale in Wake County NC. Here are some mistakes we’ve repeatedly seen at our Raleigh staging company.
Being Too Attached to Your Clutter
Before you start staging your home, you should get rid of all unnecessary items in your home. Here are some examples:
- Books you’ve read multiple times and don’t plan on reading again
- Old magazines, newspapers, or mail that you haven’t looked at in months (or longer)
- Blankets and pillows with holes or stains
- Toys that have been outgrown by your children but have sentimental value (perhaps they were gifts from their grandparents)
Before selling your home in Wake County, remember that these items will take up space in your home. It’s essential to let go of possessions when they’re no longer useful; otherwise, they’ll sit there collecting dust while making it harder for potential buyers to visualize how beautiful your home could look without them.
Thinking Staging is Only About Looks
It’s a fact that some homes are staged perfectly, and some are not. If you want to sell your home efficiently and get the best price, you should avoid some common staging mistakes that can hurt your home sale. Even the best-staged homes don’t sell as quickly or for as much money because homeowners think they can throw a few pieces of furniture around and call it good.
Staging is more than just throwing together furniture and accessories to make your home look better. Avoiding staging mistakes is about creating an inviting environment that makes people want to come inside. It’s about making Wake County buyers feel like they’re walking into a home instead of just another house on their list of houses to see that day. It’s about creating an atmosphere where buyers want to spend time inside your place – and then realize they have to buy it!
Making If-Then Statements During an Open House
Open houses can be stressful, and you might be tempted to make negative if-then statements. For example, “if you’re looking for a house like this, this is the one.” Also, “in case you’re interested in this house, you should act now.”
While these statements may seem logical at first glance, they can hurt your selling price if used too frequently or carelessly. Instead of focusing on what something isn’t or isn’t worth, think about how it could be better suited for your needs and wants as a buyer (or seller).
Overlooking the Details of Online Listings
If you’ve never had your Wake County home listed for sale, you might be surprised at how many people will see it. It’s not just the buyers and their agents – it’s also other real estate professionals in your area. They may not be actively looking at listings today, but they’ll use their professional networks to find out about new listings on the market. If they see something they like, they’ll call you to ask questions and make an appointment to see it.
It would help if you created plenty of good-quality photos to ensure they’re impressed by what they see when they visit your home. Your online listing should have high-resolution photographs with good lighting and composition showing each room’s features. The photos should also show different views of the rooms—not just one angle from which everything looks perfect!
Leaving Your Home in Disrepair
Keeping your home in good condition is not only a matter of pride but can also help you avoid losing out on potential buyers. It’s essential to keep your home clean, repaired, and organized—and that goes for the exterior and interior.
- Cleanliness – you should thoroughly clean your home before showing. Consider decluttering before the move and leave some things behind that you won’t be needing when moving to a new home. Also, you should remove any pet hair before a showing.
- Repair – make sure any repairs are completed before showing your house so that they aren’t visible while you’re showing it.
- Organization – a cluttered house is distracting for potential buyers (including yourself) so take time to organize drawers and closets before listing. Remember that clutter sends the message that there’s something wrong with the house or its contents—or worse yet—that there’s no one around!
Forgetting About the Exterior
When it comes to your home’s exterior, here’s what you should keep in mind:
- The exterior of a home is the first thing buyers see. And it’s important to remember that they’ve probably seen hundreds of other homes before yours.
- Buyers don’t buy houses; they buy into neighborhoods and schools. They’re looking for more than just photos of your home; they want an idea of what it would be like to live there. A good staging job can help them get that picture in their mind’s eye, but only if you do it right!
Don’t forget about landscaping! Buyers can tell whether someone cares about their home by how much effort they put into the exterior details – and these details don’t just mean flowers and trees: think steps, porches, doors (including hardware), railings, and siding material.
Handling a move after selling your home
When it comes to moving, there’s a lot to think about. You’ll want to ensure you’re prepared for the move, so you can get settled into your new home as soon as possible. When it comes to packing, experts from City Movers suggest making an efficient packing plan. Preparing your belongings will make everything much easier for yourself and those helping with the process.
Try to avoid simple staging mistakes that can hurt your home sale. This might sound like an overwhelming process, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you know which mistakes to avoid, you’ll be able to sell your home at the highest price possible. Take a good look at your home, think of the future buyers, and make sure to hire professionals in case you need assistance with staging your home.