Staging is the first thing you should consider if you want your home to stand out from the crowd. Countless studies by stagers and even the National Association of Realtors show that staging works. The point of staging your Camas or Washougal real estate is to help a buyer envision themselves in your home. They aren’t distracted by your things or your tastes, and they can imagine themselves cooking in the kitchen or sleeping in the bedroom.
Sound staging isn’t as easy as you might think, though. There is more than cleaning up the cobwebs and placing a good rig. These are the six best tips you can do to help your home stand out from other Camas homes for sale and ultimately get you a higher final offer price.
1. Less is more
So many people think more furniture is better, but it’s the other way around. Staging isn’t making a game of how many things you can stuff in your Washougal real estate before you can’t walk through the room.
A good stager knows that less is more when it comes to homes. You don’t need to prove to a buyer how large of a sectional you can stuff into a living room or that a 10-person table is a good idea. Instead, approach it with the idea that the best furniture for the room size is right. Camas homes for sale can often fit an oversized couch or bed, but if it makes the room feel tight or uncomfortable, you’re doing something wrong.
2. Generic art is best
Many sellers want to make a statement and ensure their Camas or Washougal real estate stands out, so they think a bold choice of art will be best. Take a moment, though, and look at other Camas homes for sale on the market. Those that are well-staged have a few things in common, one of which is art.
Generic art that fits the home and its theme is the best choice. Now, generic doesn’t mean boring! An interesting piece of metal artwork can make your home stand out if you have a mid-century modern home. A tasteful modern painting with the same colors as your couch, floors, or walls can help tie the room together and make everything seem more polished and high-end. Avoid very polarizing or abrasive art, and nothing should ever be personalized on the walls.
3. Create a spa-like experience
Don’t limit the staging process to the living room or kitchen. A potential buyer looking at Camas homes for sale expects a lot, and a bathroom is an important place to many homeowners staging their property for the first time miss.
Do your best to create a luxurious, relaxing, spa-like bathroom. White, fluffy towels should hang tastefully in easy reach. Candles on shelves can help make it feel like a spa, and any paint should be in relaxing colors like grays, whites, and blues. Plants can help the room feel alive.
4. Light matters
Many people overlook light when they are staging, but good lighting in your Washougal real estate is more important than ever. There are two sources of light to consider when thinking about staging: natural and artificial.
For natural light, choose curtains that are lighter or sheer and will bring outside light in. You may prefer darker curtains, especially in the bedroom, but during the sale of your home, something that brings light in will make a big difference. Make sure your windows are clean.
For artificial light, it’s not just about the watts. You don’t want to choose a lightbulb that is crazy bright but feels fake because it can make your property feel sterile and artificial. You want to stand out for good reasons when listing Camas homes for sale. Make sure you have “daylight” bulbs, and buy enough to be consistent. You want your lighting to be the same in every room, so buyers don’t feel startled or jarred as they move from room to room.
Honestly? This is one of those staging tips that, when done right, few will ever notice. Mess it up, and you will go to the bottom of the list of best Camas homes for sale.
5. Organize your bookshelves
Do you have a home office with a big bookshelf? Or perhaps the dining room in your Washougal real estate has a lovely old wooden shelf full of books? Bookshelves are great, and they are useful focal points in any room. You need to be careful, though, with how you stage your bookshelf.
Yes, books can be there, but you want to take about a quarter of the books off the shelves entirely. Choose some books to sit horizontally while others sit vertically, and add candles or small pieces of art to the empty spaces. Choose your books not by what you’re reading right now but by what colors go best with the room. Everything else should be boxed up and removed until after you move.
6. Highlight what is unique
Finally, the best thing you can do to make your home stand out is to use your staging to highlight what is unique about your home. Is it your fireplace? Your chef’s kitchen? Your vast closet? Camas homes for sale are often unique, even those in master-planned communities.
If you’re struggling, walk through your home with someone else. Ask them what makes your Camas or Washougal real estate stand out. Highlighting these things will make people think about your home long after they are gone; ultimately, some want to come back and see it again and again.
List with professionals
You might be able to handle staging yourself, but you should always work with professionals when listing your home. Selling a home isn’t as easy as just putting a sign and hoping for the best, so when you’re ready to list your home among Washougal or Camas homes for sale, reach out to David Merrick. David spent 25 years in corporate retail before making the leap to real estate. He understands how to listen to your needs as a seller and find you the best buyers for your asset. Contact David today and get moving on your successful sale.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock