As a home seller, the term "home staging" is probably not a new one. There are experts who study home staging exclusively, and their job is to make a home look and feel so inviting and memorable that people who are are looking to buy it can easily visualize themselves living in that fabulous new home.
It has been proven that home staging does work, and most people will recoup the costs of the staging at the time of home sale. If you were to go the professional route, home staging can be expensive. The rate for professional home staging can be anywhere from $50 - $250+ per hour. But staging your home does not have to set you back a load of money, if you are willing to put some time and energy into the efficient and inexpensive home staging tips we have outlined in this post.
The most common misconception about home staging is that it is as simple as cleaning and decorating your home for the home-sale viewings to come. Truth is, the is a very real difference between staging a home and decorating it.
When you decorated your home, you chose to fill the space with things that you personally like, in a way that pleased and served you and your family. When it comes to home staging, the person we are trying to please is the potential buyer. We want to set up the space with things that the buyers can visualize as their own.
The key to success when staging your home is to opt for an atmosphere that is welcoming and warm, which is not overly personalized by your belongings, but generalized and family friendly.
These five tips will help you get the best selling price on your home without emptying your wallet to do it.
Now that we are all on the same page regarding the differences between decorating and staging a home, you can understand why we would recommend that you put away anything that is specifically your taste.
Things to remove:
The Cost: Packing tape, boxes, and if you don't have a space to store these boxes, perhaps a small storage space or a corner of a friend's garage.
To appeal to potential buyers, you want them to be able to imagine how all of their own stuff will fit into the space. To make this easy for them to visualize, you will want to remove any excess furniture, boxes, bags, and even the things you have stored in your attic, basement or garage.
The emptier your home is, the easier it will be for the buyers to imagine making that home their own.
The Cost: Packing tape, boxes, truck rental, perhaps a small storage space (which will set you back about $50 a month)
It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a space. It refreshes the energy of a home and covers up any stains or holes that may have happened over the years. A space that looks bright and clean will always feel welcoming!
Be sure to choose a neutral, light colour of paint. White is always a good choice, but as long as you do a good job at making the paint job look professional, you can mix it up with other neutral tones. And remember that the trim will need a little love too...
The Cost: About $50 worth of supplies, plus the paint, if you are willing and able to do this job yourself. If you hire a professional, the cost will certainly be worth it, especially if the walls and trim have not been cleaned in a long while.
Dust bunnies and cobwebs happen. This is just one of those things about owning a home.
If you have been diligent about dusting and washing over the years, you may not have much cleaning to do. But if you're like most, there are some places that haven't seen a bucket of soapy water in a while.
Cleaning all surfaces, from ceiling to floor, might take a good chunk of time, but you definitely want to make your home smell as fresh as possible. This is one of the quickest killers of a sale: musty smelling rooms. So get out the vinegar and soap and make sure to give every last corner a good old fashioned scrub.
Cost: A cleaning service will cost $100-$300 depending on the size of your home, but if you do it yourself, it only will take you time and elbow grease.
When prospective buyers pull up to your home for a viewing, you want to have made an excellent first impression with the exterior of your home. This is called 'curb appeal.'
To make their first impression a positive one:
The Cost: Light bulbs, some flowers, (season permitting) gas for the lawn mower, bigger house numbers (perhaps) - all of this will cost you $50-$100. If you choose to hire a lawn service, you can save some time and not spend much more money. (depending on the size of your yard)
We sincerely hope that these tips will help you get your Ucluelet home on track for a quick sale! If you have any questions concerning selling your home, we would be glad help. Please feel free to contact us!
