Chances are, if you’ve even considered putting your house up for sale for even a moment, you have heard the term “staging.” It’s been best practice in the industry for many years now, and many agents wouldn’t dream of listing a home without it.
However, there are a few misconceptions around the topic. What is home staging and how is it different from regular, everyday decor? Most importantly, how does it help you get better results when selling your house? Let’s explore this technique in more detail!
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Staging Is Buyer Centric
The audience is the primary distinction between staging to sell a house and decorating it for yourself. Home decor is all about you, the homeowner, and what you want to see every day when you open your door.
Outside, you may have to follow the guidelines from the city or a Homeowners’ Association. Inside is a different story.
If you like fluorescent walls, glow-in-the-dark paint and unicorns everywhere you can find a spot for them, it’s your choice. If you want to paint everything black or hang up bright red curtains, it’s your house!
Everyone has unique tastes, and your home is your sanctuary, where you can let your personality shine, quirks and all.
All of this changes when preparing for the market. Now, everything you do is for your buyer, even if the design makes you feel less than enthusiastic. Instead, focus on results.
The look of your home may not be exactly to your tastes. But with a faster sale and maybe even a higher dollar amount, you’ll be more empowered to decorate your next home with flair and personality.
There are differences between designing your home for yourself and staging to sell, but the overall goal is the same: to make your space as beautiful as it can be. Whatever your objectives, you’ll find great tips in the posts below:
- Our Must-Have Home Decor Accessories
- What Are the Secrets to a Gorgeous Kitchen?
- Lighting Techniques That Give Your Home an Instant Facelift
Staging Can Feel Generic
A home that has been loved shows signs. Everywhere you look, there’s a memory or a story. These moments are reflected in a collection of souvenirs, artwork, and photos. Even some of the finishings have your name all over them.
At some point, you may have found a completely one-of-a-kind light fixture or lamp. As stunning as it may be, it all has to go – because your buyer’s tastes are likely vastly different.
The hardest thing is to see your house transformed into something generic and void of any reflection of you. This is even more true if you’re blessed with a creative streak. The space might appear beautiful, even magazine-worthy, but it just feels empty, somehow.
That emptiness is actually the point. The stuff you love is usually a distraction to a potential buyer and can detract from the sale. It can make visitors feel more like guests than prospective homeowners.
By removing the visible traces of your story from the home, the buyer can now imagine creating their own memories. That principle is one of the best-kept secrets of high-end staging.
What are your next steps after selling your home? If you plan to buy again in Toronto, start by browsing our featured listings.
Making the Most of Your Staging Experience
Because of the tendency to think of home decor and staging as one and the same, not every homeowner uses it to their advantage when it comes time to sell. To get the best results, your property should look beautiful, but not in a way that looks like someone else’s place. It should entice buyers to start thinking about everything they want to do the minute their name is on the title.
Every house will benefit from a unique, customized staging strategy. Nevertheless, there are certain principles to adhere to.
Do you want more inspiration to help you meet and exceed your expectations from your home sale? Look no further than the posts below:
- Our Home Selling Success Stories
- Should You Sell Your Toronto Home in the Off Season?
- 3 Tips For Selling Luxury In The Current Real Estate Market
Focus on creating a luxurious, welcoming atmosphere
This doesn’t just apply to high-end properties, but also entry-level condos, older homes, and bungalows. Our philosophy is that every buyer deserves a luxury experience no matter where they are on the property ladder.
Lighting is everything
Making full use of the natural light in your house makes it more appealing to all types of buyers (even if they intend to cover every window with blackout curtains). Before listing your house, be sure that all windows are clean and in good repair.
Before showings, pull back any curtains and blinds, and open the windows during nicer weather. Expert furniture arrangement can also help to maximize the natural light and make your home more appealing to buyers.
Less is more, but make it memorable
Removing large, unnecessary items from the home opens up the space and can make it appear much bigger. Any furnishings and fixtures that remain should be of premium quality. Tasteful yet generic is what inspires the buyer to think of what they will do with their new home.
Stage for photos and videos
It goes without saying that a positive first impression is a must! What some people don’t realize is how early this plan to wow potential buyers actually begins. For the best results, don’t wait until they schedule a showing. Instead, meet them where they are, usually browsing listings online before deciding what houses to visit and consider further.
This is why many experienced real estate agents recommend staging for the photos – because that’s your buyer’s first exposure to your home. If the images fail to capture their attention, they’ll move on to the next home. If they love what they see, they’ll make an appointment.
Once these tasks are behind you, your job is to maintain the stunning, sparkling clean atmosphere you worked so hard to create. The effort will be well worth it once buyers begin placing their offers.
Do you have more questions about how to prepare your home for maximum success? Whatever your goal, our Toronto luxury real estate agents can help you achieve it. Reach out to ana@asantos.ca or call us at 416.575.7317 to take the next steps.
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