10 Home Staging Mistakes Most People Make
Over the years I’ve learned to turn to the professionals when it comes to challenges and projects that are out of my comfort zone. I send my taxes to an accountant, I take my car to a mechanic, I call a decorator to decorate…wait, no I don’t – I’m a decorator! But you get my point. If you’re shopping around for a Realtor®, be sure to choose one who offers comprehensive home staging in their complimentary services package.
Choosing not to seek out professional home staging advice is one of the biggest mistakes people make when dealing with their largest investment – their home! While we’re talking about no-nos, here are a few others:
Winging it.
If you have the slightest inkling of selling your house, there are some “pre-staging” measures you can take that won’t conflict with the advice that a professional stager will give you. First, evaluate your time and budget. Set yourself some serious guidelines and deadlines. Puttering around with no end goal will only waste time and money doing things that just won’t matter in the long run.
Not looking at the home the way a potential buyer might.
We all feel our home is our castle, but when it comes to selling your house you need to step back and look at it like a product that will be marketed to the masses. It’s impossible to know what people want exactly, but being a staging professional for over 10 years I can confidently tell you that it’s just as important to consider what people don’t want.
Where do people go wrong when it comes to home staging? Here are the most common staging mistakes most people make when they put their home on the market.
1. Failing to “depersonalize”
Depersonalizing a space means removing all the large and plentiful family photos, degrees and personal collections throughout the house. I’m not opposed to a few small framed personal photos here and there, so leave some behind for your staging professional to make the final call.
2. Kicking it old school
Update or neutralize decor choices by removing old and outdated wallpaper and painting over loud and bright colours that aren’t suitable for selling your home.
3. Ignoring overstuffed spaces
Leave all closets, china cabinets, bookshelves (enclosed and floating), storage cubes, display cabinets, kitchen and bathrooms vanities and medicine cabinets 50% full. If you pare down these areas in advance, you will have more time to spend with your professional stager on big picture adjustments that will showcase your home.
4. Underestimating the clutter
Sort through all contents of your cupboards and the infamous “junk drawer.” Time and time again I hear from my clients that they thought they really didn’t have much to do until they looked behind closed doors and drawers to deal with the hidden chaos we all have.
5. Leaving the Spring cleaning til Spring
Start your pre-staging clean now. This will make maintaining your home during the selling process a lot more manageable.
6. Overlooking the details home buyers will notice
Freshen up grout in tubs, showers and tile floors. Get working on scrubbing glass shower doors and, if needed, change out damaged or dated sinks, toilets and tubs. I recommend holding off until you meet with your professional stager before running out to buy new lights or making major decorative changes.
7. Not planning ahead for flooring improvements
Get quotes on flooring improvements. If flooring is dated or damaged and you feel it’s inevitable that it will need to be changed to sell your home, get quotes for the work but WAIT for your professional stager to lend their advice on how to make the right selections for maximum return.
8. Not planning ahead for a painter and handyman
Book the painter or handyman. Start booking appointments to get quotes for painting and other work; this will enable you to determine timelines and budgets ahead of time.
9. Assuming off-site storage is unnecessary
Seek out off-site or portable storage possibilities if needed, even just to get an idea of the process and cost. Your professional stager may suggest that excess storage will be needed.
10. Ignoring the outside of the home
Examine your exterior. Winter pathways and driveways should always be clear and safe. Early spring clean up is essential and summer maintenance is a must.
Happy staging!
Lesley King CCSP
Owner/Operator Stage Presence Staging & Design