Looking to sell your current home and build a new one? We know how eager you are to ditch the old duds and get into a new construction home. Before you set sail, we want to make sure you are getting top dollar for your old home and that it sells quickly and easily. Today, we are sharing a few expert tips on how to get your home ready to sell. Here are 10 Home Staging Tips you may want to consider!
1. First Impression – Consider Curb Appeal
Your home’s exterior is so important when it comes to catching a buyer’s eye. It is your home’s first impression and is seen by everyone who drives down your street. This is why regular home maintenance and upkeep are key to maintaining or even growing your home’s value. This includes projects as big as new roofing or painting and projects as little as landscaping and gutter cleanouts. While some of these maintenance costs are not always cheap, they will be in your favor in the long run.
2. Declutter & Depersonalize – Take a minimalistic approach
Nothing distracts a buyer from your home’s beautiful structure, layout, and features like clutter does. We know how much you can accumulate after living in your current home for many years, but taking the time to do a major clean-out will open up your space and let your home’s beauty shine through and make moving so much easier! Please consider tucking away personal items such as family photos, trophies, awards, and other personal art and memorabilia from your home before putting your home on the market. Failure to remove these items before posting your home online (MLS, Zillow, Facebook, etc) or before showings make it harder for potential buyers to picture themselves there. Package up these keep-safe items in a box until you are ready to move into your new home. Depersonalizing your home is one of the most important steps in the home staging process. You may want to also consider redecorating or neutralizing any rooms in your home that are “themed.” For example, if you are an avid Alabama fan and a die-hard Auburn fan comes to view your home as a potential buyer, something as small as a difference in team tastes could turn them off the slightest bit and push them towards a competing home. As trivial as it sounds, it is the smallest details that make the biggest difference in getting top dollar for your home when selling.
3. A kitchen renovation is worth the money
The first thing on every potential buyer’s checklist is almost always a dream kitchen. A lot of time is spent in this space so it needs to not only be functional but also enjoyable. A complete kitchen renovation can be pricey, but many homes have good bones to work with so you may only want to consider a couple of upgrades. New appliances can instantly raise the value of your current home and the interest of any potential buyers. Other upgrades include new cabinets/painting your cabinets, new countertops, or new plumbing and hardware with on-trend finishes. With the rise of the internet and information accessibility, the average consumer is much savvier than they used to be. People have more style inspiration at their fingertips and so we suggest really doing your homework or hiring a home design consultant before making any major and costly changes to your home’s design. When in doubt – go neutral (but not cheap) when designing any renovations! Your new home buyers will appreciate the opportunity to make it their own once they’ve moved in.
4. Improve your home’s Feng Shui
You want your home to give off balance and harmony to everyone who walks through it. Note that this does not mean symmetric, but just balanced. This may take expert assistance, but try out some new placements with your furniture yourself and see how it may improve the feeling of the room. You may experience trial and error with this one, but trying out different styles will guide you in the right direction.
5. Focus on colors, shapes, and textures
In addition to new furniture placements, you can use colors, shapes, and textures to highlight your new layout. Bright and bold accent colors are huge right now in the home design world. Implement these through pillows, rugs, and small details to draw attention to your space. Layering different shapes and textures are what will take your space from dull to designer. These elements listed above will make the home far more exciting and will give a high-end appearance to potential homebuyers.
6. Highlight storage opportunities
Another major must-have for many buyers is ample storage. There is no such thing as too much storage, so show off every bit you have! The obvious storage spaces such as closets and cabinets speak for themselves, but take advantage of the odd nooks in your home, and find shelving that fits just right so you can style these shelves with decor or as functional storage spaces.
7. Set the mood & invigorate the senses
Make potential buyers feel at home during showings. Treat these opportunities as if you are entertaining guests during their visit. Create an ambiance using lighting, soft music, aromas, and if the season is right a warm and cozy fire in the fireplace. You know your house better than anyone so you will know just how to execute this tip best.
8. Primp the Primary Bedroom
While it is not always a homebuyer’s priority when searching for a home, a luxurious primary bedroom will certainly make your home stand out among the others. Many bedrooms do not get the attention and detail the rest of the home receives when being designed and built. Special features like ceiling and wall treatments or other unique additions you can make will make your home a more attractive option for buyers. Adding mirrors in any area will also add that luxury feel and open up your space immensely.
9. Bathroom upgrades will seal the deal
A spotless bathroom goes a long way with a potential buyer. Yes, you want your whole house spotless for showings, but bathrooms are very telling of how well a home has been kept up. These areas are prone to dirt and mold and need frequent maintenance. Keeping your bathrooms as fresh and clean as possible is critical. Like your kitchen, this is also a space you want to keep as up-to-date as possible with today’s finishes, tiles, lighting, and more.
10. Leave no sign of pets
This one almost goes unsaid but leaving any trace of pets in your home will cause some potential buyers to instantly become uninterested. Keeping your house clean of pet fur and dander of course will help this, but you should also consider the state of the furniture and decor in your home. Even just some scratches on the end of your couch can show wear and tear from pets, and that will make the buyer wonder what else has been damaged throughout the home.
Now You Are Ready to Start Building Your New Home
With the help of these 10 tips, you will have no problem selling your current home and getting into your new home! Ready to start planning your next move? Find the right Signature Homes community for you here, and start browsing our home plans! You can even get started building and designing your favorite plans using our Interactive Floor Plan and 3D Home Visualizer design tools.
No time for building and designing? No problem! Shop from our selection of Quick-Delivery Designer Homes. These homes are a very popular selection among our buyers who are waiting on selling their current homes before buying a new one. This option allows those buyers to get into a new home much quicker after selling their old one, rather than starting the build process from scratch. Interested in learning more? Contact us today!