Lauren B. Stevens is a writer and member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She spends her days crafting content for businesses in the areas of family, technology, and home. In her free time, she drafts personal essays about her experiences growing up in Cold War Europe, several of which have been featured in print anthologies.
Once that for-sale sign goes up, time is of the essence. Repainting is out of the question, so you have to make-do with the existing canvas. What options do you have? Read on for five of the top staging projects to pitch to your home staging clients!
1. Create vignettes
Perfect for budget-conscious clients, staging rooms to create vignettes can make a significant impact. Staging rooms as mini-scenes can help tell a compelling story — enough to convince a prospective buyer to make an offer. Create a focus for each room and use the details to set the mood. Not only is this an easy way to stage, using inexpensive statement pieces makes it budget-friendly as well.
2. Create minimalism
Creating a minimalist look is a no-brainer. It allows prospective buyers to envision themselves — and their possessions — in the space. Neutral colors make small areas appear larger and enable would-be buyers to picture themselves living in the space. It’s not always easy to convince your clients to begin depersonalizing their home. While your client may have an impressive vintage barware collection, it’s in their best interest to pack all but a couple of interesting pieces while their home is up for sale.
3. Depersonalize
Depersonalizing a client’s home can be a difficult sell, especially when they’re still living there. But it’s necessary to create an inviting space for potential buyers. The key to staging a house is to make it looked lived-in, while at the same time making it seem as though no one lives there. Again, you can sell this as getting a start on packing and ensuring that family photos and other keepsakes are packed with utmost care.
Personal mementos are the most obvious items to pack or store away when staging a home. But other details, such as Fido’s old leash by the door, while sentimental, should also be out of sight. To make the house a model home, everyday items such as cleaning products or food and beverage items, should be stored away.
4. Curated closets
Virtually every home buyer wants to know that there is ample storage space available in a prospective house. Decluttering and cleaning out closets not only helps further the minimalist effect in staging a home, but buyers see a roomy storage area with plenty of space for their items. Again, neat and organized closet spaces show buyers that there is plenty of room available for their things when they move in. To make it even more appealing, leave those closet doors open to encourage prospective buyers to take a look.
5. Maximize natural light
Use natural lighting to your advantage to create bright, open, and inviting spaces in your client’s home. Ditch the dark drapes and hang some sheers to allow every ounce of sunlight to come into the house. That minimalist look you created will be offset by the natural light you’re allowing to flow into each room in the house.
Getting your clients on-board with these staging projects won’t be easy. It’s difficult to remove all of one’s personal items from a home — especially if they’re still living there — but doing so can make a home sell that much faster. And most of these staging ideas involve sellers packing away items they won’t need until they’re at their new home, giving them a jumpstart on packing.
Are there any staging projects not on this list that have worked for you? Let us know!