Pittsburgh and its suburbs like Ben Avon are always in high demand for housing.
As a result, houses in the area are always selling quickly. If you're planning on putting your home on the market, you'll want to ensure that it's staged correctly to attract buyers and get top dollar for your house. When you stage your property, you can make it look more appealing to potential buyers and increase the chances of a quick and high-earning sale. This blog post will discuss some foolproof tips for successfully staging your home. Whether you are using professional help or doing it yourself, these tips will help you get the job done right!
1: Start with the rooms buyers most want staged
The primary bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room are the rooms that potential buyers will be most interested in and will have the biggest impact on their decision to make an offer. According to a 2021 Profile of Home Staging published by the National Association of Realtors, buyers expected to see the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen staged. Sellers also included the dining room as a main room to be staged. You want to make sure these rooms look their best!
Start by cleaning and removing personal touches
Before beginning any staging, make sure you go through the room and remove personal items such as family photos, trophies, or collections. These items can make it difficult for buyers to visualize the space as their own. Once you have removed these items, you can consider furniture placement and decor.
Primary Bedroom
In the primary bedroom, create a space that looks inviting and relaxing. This can be achieved by placing the bed against the wall, with room for nightstands on either side. You should also spend time adding some cozy bedding and ensuring all the furniture is arranged in a way that allows for easy traffic flow.
Living Room
The living room should be set up for entertaining. This means creating a space with ample seating and ensuring a clear path from one side of the room to the other. You also want to ensure that any personal items are removed from the room so potential buyers can easily imagine themselves living there. Instead, replace personal items with neutral decor that gives the room a sense of style and personality. Consider art books, landscape photography, or a large vase with fresh flowers.
Kitchen
The kitchen is another key selling point for houses, so you want to ensure it looks its best. You want to create a space that is both welcoming and functional. This means removing excessive storage containers and appliances like toasters and waffle ovens from countertops and ensuring that appliances are clean and free of fingerprints or smudges. You should also consider adding a pop of color with some fresh fruit or flowers on the countertop. You also want to ensure the floors are clean and the cabinets are organized. If possible, you may even want to consider painting the cabinets or adding new hardware to give the space an updated look.
Dining Room
The dining room is another key selling point, so make sure it looks inviting. You also want to ensure that any personal items are removed from the room so potential buyers can easily imagine themselves living there. Instead, replace any family portraits with landscape photography or watercolor still-life artwork. As for the furniture, this room should be set up for formal or casual dining, depending on the style of your home. You want to ensure the table and chairs are in good condition and the room is free of clutter. Adding a table runner, place settings, and a centerpiece can also help to make the space look more inviting.
2: Make home improvements
When you stage your home, you should make necessary and cosmetic home improvements. This can include painting walls or updating hardware like door knobs, light switch faceplates, and cabinet pulls. It can also include addressing known issues like an outdated appliance or bringing the home up to code based on a home inspector's report. By making these upgrades, you can help your home to look its best and attract potential buyers.
3: Highlight your home's best features
Sellers of houses for sale in Ben Avon, PA, should also highlight their property's best features. This can include things like hardwood floors, fireplaces, and built-in shelving. By highlighting these features, you can help potential buyers see your home's value and be more likely to make an offer.
To highlight a feature, you can use furniture or decor to draw attention to it. For example, if you have hardwood floors, you can use an area rug to highlight them. If you have a fireplace, you can use candles or a vase with fresh flowers to make it look more inviting. You can also stage the surrounding area with cozy furniture to invite a buyer to rest before a crackling fire. Whatever features you choose to highlight, ensure they are in good condition and well-maintained so potential buyers can see the value in your home.
4: Appeal to the senses
When you stage your Ben Avon real estate, you want to make sure it appeals to the senses. This means creating a space that smells good, is aesthetically pleasing, and feels cozy and inviting. By considering all the senses, you can create a visually appealing space that feels like home.
Start with scent
Before adding any additional scents to evoke a sense of comfort, start with deep cleaning the property and ensuring there are no lingering smells from cooking or pets.
Next, you can add scents that will help to create a sense of calm and relaxation. You can do this with diffusers, candles, or even potpourri. You want to ensure the scent is not too strong or overwhelming but just enough to create a pleasant atmosphere. To craft a scent scape to make buyers feel at home, consider using a diffuser with essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or citrus. You can also simmer citrus, apples, and cinnamon on the stovetop or bake cookies before showings for an inviting smell that will make buyers feel right at home.
Offer places for the gaze to rest
When placing decor, you want to craft an aesthetically pleasing space for buyers to enjoy. This means considering the color palette, texture, and patterns you use in each room. You also want to make sure there is a good mix of large and small pieces as well as horizontal and vertical lines. Using these elements, you can create a visually appealing space that is easy on the eyes. Be sure to balance enough decor to make the space feel welcoming without being too minimalistic or cluttered. You want a balance of decor and blank space to give the gaze areas to rest when viewing the home.
In addition to a pleasing color palette, you want to ensure enough light in each room. This can be done by opening curtains and blinds during showings and adding additional light fixtures if necessary. You also want to ensure that all bulbs are working properly and have the right wattage for the space. Having enough light can help buyers see all the features in your home and make it feel more open and inviting.
Create a cozy atmosphere
The last thing you want to consider when staging your home is touch. This means making sure each room feels cozy and inviting. You can do this by adding throws and pillows to couches and chairs. You can also use rugs to soften hardwood floors and make a space feel more inviting. Be sure to choose soft and comfortable materials, like wool, cotton, or velvet.
The final element to consider is how the space feels. You can do this by considering the temperature. You want to ensure the home is not too hot or too cold but just right for comfortable viewing.
5: Work with an expert
If you are unsure how to stage your home, you can always work with an expert. A professional staging expert will be able to help you highlight the best features of your home and make it more appealing to buyers. They will also be able to provide you with tips on how to make each room more inviting and comfortable.
You'll also want to work with an expert in listing homes for sale in Ben Avon, PA, like Robyn Jones. They will be able to help you price your home correctly and market it to the right buyers. The good news is that the market is quite limited, so it favors sellers. With fewer than 10 homes for sale each month for the past two years, you'll have little competition when listing your Ben Avon home!
If you are considering selling your home in Ben Avon, PA, follow these tips to stage your home successfully. Doing so will help you sell your home faster and for a higher price. And if you need any assistance, be sure to reach out to an expert in Ben Avon real estate like Robyn Jones for assistance.
