Getting ready to sell your home in Clayton, NC? It’s important to give your house and property a little love before you start showing them to buyers. Even the simplest home staging and sprucing can be the difference between a buyer that walks away and a buyer that’s impressed. Here are some easy DIY staging tips to really make your home stand out from the crowd.
Start on the Outside
Create curb appeal
Before a buyer will set foot inside, they have to be impressed by the exterior of your home. So spend some time making the outside of your property welcoming and attractive. Powerwash your siding and driveway, mow the lawn, weed or prune the garden, or plant some bright flowers. Wash your windows, replace old house numbers, and add a new mailbox.
Invite visitors inside
Your porch isn’t just the entry to your home; it’s the start of a buyer’s first impression! Make your porch look so good that buyers can’t wait to see the rest of the house! Buy a new welcome mat. Add some bright potted flowers, if the season permits, or a tasteful wreath. If you have room, set out some cozy patio furniture. And don’t forget to leave on the light after dark.
Spruce up your outdoor areas
Whether you have a large backyard or simply a cozy balcony, your outdoor areas should not only be attractive; they should be inviting. Help your buyers to envision a lifestyle by adding seating or dining areas such as chairs and tables, a hammock, or even a fire pit. Make sure gardens are cleaned up, the lawn is mown, and any fallen leaves or branches are tidied up. Additionally, all walkways should be clear of leaves, snow, and ice.
Clean & Repair
Finish your repair projects
Nothing is more intimidating to a buyer than walking into an incomplete project! It’s important to take care of any known maintenance issues well before you start showing. Maintenance problems can be a big hangup to buyers, and might even cost you a sale, should they surface during the home inspection. If you have concerns, it’s never a bad idea to hire your own home inspector to root out any problems before you list.
Clear out the clutter
Take some time to go through your closets, shelves, cabinets, and counters to clear out anything that’s taking up space or making your rooms appear cramped, crowded, or dirty. Partially emptying out your closets can make them seem larger. You may even want to rent a storage unit for furniture that is too large, unsightly, or mismatched.
Deep clean everything
It might not be the most fun part, but cleaning is an absolute necessity! Get all those hard-to-reach places, scrub dingy tiles and grout, and deep clean the showers and tubs. If you’re not a fan of cleaning, hire a professional to help—the results will be worth the expense. If you have a pet, you may want to steam clean your rugs or add some type of fragrance, such as soft-scented candles or potpourri, to mask pet odors.
Do a Little Decoration
Increase your lighting
Make your home warm and welcoming by increasing the lighting—both natural and artificial—throughout. Open windows if weather permits, or at least pull back the drapes to let in as much natural light as possible. Increase the wattage of the bulbs in your lamps and fixtures, and aim for three types of lighting in every room—ambient (overhead), task (reading or under-cabinet lights), and accent (table or floor lamps).
Depersonalize decor
Your home might have a certain style that you enjoy—but not all home buyers have the same tastes in decor. Neutral and simple are always best. Repaint any bold or bright walls with neutral colors, and remove any personal decor, such as family photos, keepsakes, or memorabilia. The idea is to create the sense of a home that’s lived-in but not too “yours”; you want buyers to imagine bringing their own lives in.
Bring the outdoors inside
Your decor might be neutral, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Add in bright splashes of color in the form of potted plants, clipped flowers, or fall branches. This can help increase the sense of warmth and welcoming throughout the home—without going overboard.
Selling Your Clayton Home?
If you’re ready to sell your Clayton or Garner home, then it’s time to contact me, Marlo Wells. These staging tips are just the beginning of the expert advice and knowledge I use to help my sellers successfully list their homes. Contact me today and let’s get your home SOLD!