In today’s highly competitive homebuyer market, it’s crucial to have your house stand out from all the rest. The key is creating a space where potential buyers can picture themselves living — can they see themselves winding down at the end of a long day in your cozy living room? Do they envision long, summer nights barbecuing with the family and relaxing outside?
Staging, landscaping and decorating are three under-utilized techniques proven to increase appeal in your home and speed up the buyer process.
Staging involves cleaning and organizing your space to appeal to the widest demographic of buyers possible — basically, transforming an average home into a show home. Redesigning your home takes time, but is extremely helpful when it comes to marketing. A staged home allows for beautiful photography, which amps up the quality and interest of those browsing your listing online. With staging, less is more. You don’t want to cram the space full of things — it’s important the buyer has room to envision his/her things around the home.
Especially when it comes to houses, landscaping is very important to the selling process. How your home looks on the outside is the first thing a buyer will notice — great landscaping is critical in increasing your property’s curb appeal. Keep your lawn trim and your sidewalks free of debris in the summer, and make sure snow is shovelled in the winter. Even adding finishing touches like a vibrant flowerbed can go a long way in garnering appeal for your home.
Decorating is a great way to create ambience in your home. You want your home to look attractive, comfortable and clean as well as researching current market trends so you have a better idea of what aesthetics might appeal to a prospective buyer. Here are some decorating tips to consider before showing your home:
- Neutral colour pallets are best. Combined with subtle pops of colour, this juxtaposition can bring life and style into any room of the house.
- Combining textures helps to give a room depth. Keep this in mind when hanging paintings and decorating countertops.
- Furniture should reflect the room size. If your couch is too large for a space, it can make a room seem much smaller and more cluttered than it actually is.
Remember: staging, landscaping and decorating are all key investments to make when putting your home on the market. Here are a few helpful decorating websites to get you started on staging process:
