open house staging tips

Home tips

By Boris Dzhingarov

Open House Staging Tips To Increase The Chance Of Selling

Sooner or later, you might want to sell your home. We all dream to live in a larger house/apartment, but this can only happen in the event that you first sell your current home.

Getting your asking price is not as easy as you might think. This is especially the case during these tough times since the coronavirus pandemic did influence the wish of people to spend money. Property purchasing is still strong though. However, buyers are much more cautious.

The open house event is something that is recommended by most real estate agents. It helps you to show your home to many potential buyers in a short period of time. While this is not as fast as with other options, like on online video tour, there is nothing like seeing the property live. Due to this, you want to make sure that the open house makes a good first impression.

The good news is there are countless things that you can do to make your home more appealing. Some of the particularly effective open house staging tips that you have to be aware of are presented below.

Boost Curb Appeal First

The most important thing to know about open houses is that people that will tour your home will usually first do a fast drive-by. Oftentimes, they instantly decide if it is worth to look inside or not. Due to this, you have to be sure that the entire property is taken care of so that onlookers are lured in.

Some tips to consider:

  • Change house numbers and make sure they are really easy-to-read.
  • Power wash walkways and siding.
  • Wash the front windows.
  • Mow the lawn.
  • Add fresh sod where needed.
  • Plant fresh greenery and blooming flowers.
  • Stain or repaint the porch floor when needed with the help of Calgary painters.

Clean Your Entire House

You can never do too much cleaning before an open house. Shine your floors and clean all counters. Make sure that all grout is scrubbed and that every single surface inside the home sparkles.

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Remember that the easiest way in which you can make a good first impression is through cleanliness. Professionals can be hired for the really difficult tasks or when you have a very large house. Never skimp on anything and clean every single corner of the home.

Remove All Clutter And Personal Items

Contrary to popular belief, cleaning is not enough. The person that wants to buy the home wants to see himself/herself living there. This is practically impossible when there are many personal items all around the house. For instance, if there are toys all around, it might be seen as something bad in the mind of the buyer.

Many home owners get attached to their own style. This is completely normal. However, after someone buys your home, many small things will disappear, like doormats or paintings.

Speaking strictly about clutter, how can you make a good impression when there is clutter everywhere? Keep in mind that the more clutter present, the smaller the room seems to be.

Don’t Make The Home Look Sterile

You have to strike a good balance between lived-in and clean. Oftentimes, after removing personal items, clutter, and cleaning everything, homes end up looking like sterile environments.

The trick here is to use elements that would be present in most homes. For instance, you can add a basket with fresh produce in the kitchen or some vases of freshly cut flowers in the living room. Even a bowl with lemons placed close to the sink makes the space much more appealing.

Look Down

For an open house, the bare minimum to strive for is a thorough cleaning. However, whenever possible, have your wood floors refinished. This is especially the case in the event that they are in a very poor shape. When the money is not available for refinishing, it is time to seriously consider using area rugs. You can place them in a strategic way and make the room look more welcoming.

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Make The Baster Bedroom Gender Neutral

Try to appeal to all possible people with a tailored, clean master bedroom. Remove the personal items and all the clutter. It is practically impossible to go wrong with tasteful artwork, a blanked at the foot of the bed, crisp linens, and cleanliness.

Open The Closets

People that visit the open house surely want to take a look inside the closets. However, they might be shy to do so and it is quite common to notice that they just do not ask and make up their own mind about how much space is available.

Keep in mind that closet space is oftentimes a clear make-it-or-break-it thing for the buyers. Show off what you have. Remove the clothes from inside and leave the doors open. If there are many clothes that you own and you cannot remove everything, try to have at least 30% open space inside those closets. This offers a clear impression of spaciousness that the buyers will love.

Be Careful With Pet Odors

This can be a very big problem. When you have pets, you get used to the smell but if someone does not have pets, they instantly smell what you do not. You have to get all your rugs steam cleaned. Also, be very careful with vacuuming and washing so that all pet hair is removed. Obviously, all the pet toys or doggie bones have to be removed before the tours happen.

Seasonal Thinking

Last but not least, the garden needs to be in a perfect shape if it is summer. If you have some extra features, like a fire pit or a pool, you want to take advantage of them. Think about what you have and try to showcase it in a smart way.