Overlooked Staging Strategies That Can Make Or Break A Home Sale

When it comes to getting a house ready to put on the market, the 'rules' (including setting the scene by putting out fresh flowers, lighting candles, and playing soft music in the background etc) are what we all generally think about when it comes to staging.

But is that enough, especially taking into account how volatile the current real estate market currently is?

When it comes to selling a home, many homeowners forget to do some of the things that need to be done - that can make a major difference. Read on for some crucial factors that often go overlooked when prepping the house for its best showing ever.

Look at the PROPERTY entrance

When prospective purchasers arrive at a house to look at it, the first thing they will see is the front door and entryway. As a result, these areas hold a lot of weight for making a favorable first impression. If the doors are beginning to show signs of wear and tear, there are generally two choices: give them a new coat of paint and clean them carefully, or replace them. 

Be sure that you do not overlook the more insignificant aspects, such as giving the mailbox a thorough cleaning. The execution of these improvements, despite the fact that they are quite minimal in scope, has the potential to dramatically improve the overall curb appeal of the house.

Raise the blinds, draw BACK the drapeS

A home that is well-lit and filled with natural light gives the impression that it is much larger than it actually is, that it was cleaned not too long ago, and that it is an overall delightful place to live. Opening all of the shades and drapes as far as they can go in order to let in as much natural light for photos is one of the fastest, cheapest, and most dramatic changes a seller can make. Plus, nothing blocks out the light more effectively or gives the impression that one is being neglected more than window coverings that are in poor form, so it is important to replace window coverings if they appeared dirty, faded, or broken. Check to see that the windows on the ground level have also been thoroughly cleaned. If the home is in need of new windows, it would be worthwhile to get them replaced now with Renewal by Andersen window replacement rather than waiting until it’s put up for sale.

Clean out gutters in addition to THE roof

Before settling on a purchase, any prospective purchaser who is worth their salt will immediately cast their eyes skyward and perform a cursory examination of the condition of the roof as well as the guttering. Unfortunately, even if the underneath of the roof is in good condition, a wrangled gutter may create the illusion that it is in a state of decay. Same goes for if the surface of the roof is covered with dirt, mould, and moss. 

If there is a coating of muck on the roof, as there is on the roofs of most people, give it a thorough washing with a pressure washer to remove as much of it as possible. If the roof has a layer of grime on it, give it a thorough cleaning using a pressure washer. If it appears that the roof has been damaged in any way, many prospective buyers will pass on looking at the home. Even though it is obvious that things will show up in a survey, the vast majority of individuals will not even get to that step if there is visible damage. The cost of making repairs to a roof is often rather large - and if the damage is particularly serious or costly, it can prevent people from submitting applications altogether.

REMOVE anything Unnecessary from the exterior

A lot of individuals let gardens become overrun with unnecessary items, which may include everything from signs to gnomes, porcelain ornaments, bunting, and everything in between. The term "clutter" can refer to a wide variety of objects, including signs, stuff suspended from the ceiling, and anything in between. We recommend getting rid of all of it. While some aspects may feel special due to sentimentality, we can’t expect strangers to share those sentiments.

In the same way that potential buyers desire a clean slate when it comes to the interior of your home, they want a blank canvas on which they can leave their mark on the exterior of the property - or at least, less to do for them to get it to a state they love. If the garden is full of "you," it can be very tough to envision how another person could use the area, just as it might be difficult to envision how they might use the interior of the home. Simply put, potential buyers want a fresh start.

Put children's bicycles, scooters, and other outdoor playthings in a storage shed, or at at least, arrange them in a tidy and organized way. Mow the grass and straighten up the flower beds.