10 Steps to Stage Your Home and WOW Your Buyers

A little staging can go a long way! Something as simple as cleaning, clearing out clutter, and rearranging furniture can make a BIG difference when it comes to selling a home. If you want to sell your home quickly and for the maximum amount of money, you're going to have to impress some buyers.

Selling a home in Wilmington, NC and want to impress some buyers? Keep reading!

The Exterior

What's the first thing a buyer sees, even before they get out of the car? The exterior of your home! So make sure you home is dressed to impress from the outside in.

Create curb appeal

Before a buyer will set foot inside, they have to be impressed by the exterior of your home. So spend some time making your home welcoming and attractive. Power wash your siding and driveway, mow the lawn, weed or prune the garden, or plant some bright flowers. Wash your windows, replace old house numbers, or update a tired mailbox.

Make your porch welcoming

Make buyers eager to get inside with a tidy, welcoming front porch. A cozy chair or seasonal wreath, some potted flowers, and a shiny new doorknob will help make your home bright and beautiful.

Don't forget those outdoor areas

Buyers in Wilmington know they're going to want to spend some time outdoors, which means they'll be looking for a nice deck, patio, or backyard for sitting outside and enjoying some sunshine. Spruce up your deck with outdoor furniture, lighting, or even some mood music.

Cleaning & Repairs

Nothing turns off a buyer like a long list of maintenance problems, unfinished repairs, or a home that's just not clean. Don't lose out on a sale for an easily preventable reason.

Finish repair projects

Would you want to move into a new house with a long list of problems? Neither do your buyers. Take care of any lingering maintenance problems before you even think about showing your home to buyers.

Clear out the clutter

Clutter can make rooms and closets seem small, crowded, or even cramped. Take some time to clear out the things you don't use anymore, possibly hiring a storage facility if necessary to give your home a little breathing room.

Deep clean EVERYTHING

A dirty house is a BIG no-no. Not only is it a haven for dirt, dust, and even mildew or mold, but unclean homes may give buyers the impression that they're not well cared for, and even signal potential maintenance issues.

Interior Decor

Now that you've created curb appeal and tackled the basics, it's time to start looking for ways to impress your buyers and make your home stand apart from the crowd.

Depersonalize your decor

Remember, not all home buyers have the same tastes in decor. Neutral and simple are always best. Repaint any bold or bright colored walls with neutral colors. Remove any personal decor and replace with tasteful yet neutral art and centerpieces. The idea is to allow buyers to imagine their own personalizations in your home.

Create balance with furniture

Placement of furniture can change the whole feel of a room. Your furniture should not overcrowd the room or leave it feeling too open. Floating the furniture away from the walls can actually make rooms feel larger and create a cozy, conversational feel.

The Final Details

Now's the fun part—the detailed staging and decorating that adds that "wow" factor, that sparkle, that little bit of something special. Just be sure to keep it simple!

Increase your lighting

Make your home warm and welcoming by increasing the lighting—both natural and artificial—throughout your home. Open windows if the weather is nice, or at least pull back the drapes to let in as much natural light as possible. Increase the wattage of the bulbs in your lamps and fixtures.

Bring the outdoors inside

Your decor might be neutral, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Bring in bright splashes of color in the form of potted plants, clipped flowers, or fall branches. This can help increase the sense of warmth and welcoming throughout the home.

Your Wilmington Selling Resource

If you're ready to sell your home in Wilmington, then it's time to contact Mike Bain Realty. These staging tips are just the beginning of the expert advice and knowledge we can use to help you successfully sell your home. Contact us today and let's list your home.