Yes. When prospective buyers enter your home to assess whether it’s worth buying, the first thing they’ll notice is how everything fits together. They form a good or bad impression of your home based on factors such as decor, cleanliness, size of the rooms, etc.
If you’ve moved out of the home, most of these won’t matter because you’ll have cleared, and probably renovated it. However, if you’re living in the same house, it becomes increasingly harder to make the house more appealing when your belongings are getting in the way.
This is where home staging comes into play, and here is how you do it:
1. Clean and declutter
Clear all the clutter and move it to your garage or offsite storage. This is no longer your house; thus, you want to make it as inviting as possible. Empty your cupboards, shelves, etc. you want the house to look inviting but also livable.
Don’t declutter and throw everything into your closet or garage. Ensure that it’s well organized, even in the garage. Keep in mind that these prospective buyers are interested in viewing every corner of your home, including your garage.
Don’t assume that prospective buyers will not be interested in looking at certain areas, especially those you neglect. They’re viewing your homes to see if it can become theirs, so nothing is off-limits.
2. Clean
Once you’ve eliminated the clutter, it’s time to clean and prep your home. You remember those areas that you’ve overlooked for several months; it’s time to give them a thorough clean.
If possible, invest in a cleaning company as they’ll do a better job at cleaning your home than you probably would. Once you’re done, list down the areas that are likely to get dirty and make a cleaning schedule that focuses on these areas.
Pay special attention to the living space, especially if you have kids, the bathrooms, and bedrooms. Put away all your personal hygiene products.
3. Depersonalize your home
Currently, everything in your home is designed for you and your family. However, you want the house to feel welcoming to prospective buyers. Start by clearing family photos, cartoon sheets, refrigerator art, pet, and kids’ toys.
4. Wall Decor
Art brings a room back to life, and every home needs it. When a prospective buyer is inspecting your home, they are bound to stop at your art and admire it for a few minutes before moving on to the rest of the house.
Art complements the strong architecture and creates the impression of value. It also adds character to a home, and everyone can appreciate the time, skill, and effort that went into making the piece.
Art isn’t a competition; thus, you don’t need the most expensive art. Instead, focus on what you want to communicate even when looking for wallpapers. Your walls don’t have to be plain when you can wrap them in wallpapers.
However, since you’re trying to stage your apartment for sale, be mindful of what you choose. Keep in mind that not everyone likes cartoon wallpapers, cosmic wallpapers, etc. Instead, choose something that everyone will appreciate or the very least like.
Art can have sentimental value, it can also be a collector item, but in this case, the idea is decoration. Take your time to think about what works best, browse all the available wallpapers (available on sites such as https://www.photowall.com/wallpaper) before making a choice. You want wall art that stands out, your placement needs to be attractive and have a sense of proportion.
5. Get out more
If you and your family spend most of your day indoors, you’ll have a messy home to deal with at the end of every day. However, if you leave and come back in the evening, your house will be just as neat as you left it.
This is what you’re looking for, and it’s what you need during this period when your home is on the market. It doesn’t need to be expensive outdoor events as you can visit your friends, family, or neighbors.
