Tips on How to Stage a House for Sale

As soon as you decide to sell your home, you need to think about staging it to boost its appeal to prospective buyers. The impact of staging a house for sale should not be underestimated, as it can have a large influence on the level of interest in viewing the property and then whether viewers submit an offer and how much they are prepared to pay.

Good home staging techniques could be the difference in selling your property faster and securing a higher price, so we recommend that you invest time and effort into your home staging.

Home staging tips

While many of the tasks involved in creating a staged home won’t cost you a penny, you will need to invest some money in bringing your property up to scratch. You could also consider using the services of a professional home staging company, if time is tight – your estate agent may be able to advise on a good local home staging company.

Dressing a house for sale should be done before the marketing photos or videos are taken, as this will help to attract more viewings. If you are living in the property, you should also make sure your home is staged prior to any viewings.

Paying to give a home, which you’ll never live in, the look and feel of a show home might seem a bit … counter intuitive. But it really could pay off in increased interest and higher offers. In fact, research by Rightmove revealed that staged homes sell for 8% more than ones which haven’t had the treatment. Just make sure you stick to your budget to recoup as much of your home staging spend as possible.

Staging a home is a bit of an art and can seem daunting at first if you have no experience of home staging. The easiest way to approach it is with a critical look at each room in turn.

We have scoured the internet for expert tips from interior designers that will provide you with valuable advice on how to dress your house to sell:

Kerb appeal – Research shows that prospective buyers will only take 10 seconds to form an opinion on the property, so that first impression is really key. The front of your house is the first thing buyers will see, so it needs to make a welcoming impression. Give your front door a lick of attractive-coloured paint and polish your door furniture. Clean your windows and, if you can, add a window box or two. If you have a path or driveway, make sure it is clear of weeds, leaves or any other things that make it look untidy.

The bathroom – A bathroom and kitchen can definitely sell a property, and if yours are looking dated, a revamp could pay off. You don’t necessarily need a full bathroom refit – think about replacing taps, mirrors or other fixtures and fittings.

Replace any broken tiles and mouldy sealant and give it all a good clean, removing limescale deposits. Tidy away toiletries and shampoo bottles and give the space a spa-like feel with rolled towels, quality scent diffusers and tropical plants.

The kitchen – A new kitchen can transform a home. If your units are looking tired, it’s cheaper to replace your cabinet doors, while retaining carcasses. If you have wooden cabinet doors, a new coat of paint and some new handles are a cheap way to refresh the appearance. Make sure the items in your cupboards are organised tidily, as viewers may want to have a look inside.

Declutter – This is one of the most important home staging tips, as clutter is Clear away all the clutter, mend anything that’s broken and make sure everywhere is spotless for an elegant finish. Stuffing items into storage spaces is not a good idea because prospective buyers will want to see how much storage space the home has. Take the opportunity to have a good clear out and take unused items to the charity shop. There is no point moving unused belongings into your new home, so have your clear out before the viewings start. If there are items that are taking up space and making the room look smaller, consider removing them. For example, a coffee table in the centre of the living room can make the room seem cramped.

Depersonalise – Having personal items in the property does help to make it feel homely for you, but it might have the opposite effect on prospective buyers. Seeing photos and other personal items around the home can make it more difficult for people viewing the property to visualise making the home their own.

The bedroom – Make sure your bedrooms are tidy and have a calm, relaxed feel, with clean and neutral colour schemes. A gorgeous duvet cover can have a big impact, so upgrade your bed linen, adding cushions and throws – you will be taking them with you, so they are a great investment.

Sort through any wardrobes that are crammed full of clothes and remove most of them – yes, viewers might look inside. There are plenty of storage solutions on the high street to help turn your wardrobes into a carefully ordered space.

If you use a spare bedroom as a study or storage area, demonstrate to buyers its true purpose. If you don’t have a spare bed, borrow one from a friend or check eBay or Freecycle. Similarly, if you have a double room with a single bed, make it clear that the room can accommodate a double.

The living room – This room is where the prospective buyers will probably spend most of their time, so put in a lot of work into the home staging efforts for the living room.

Put away anything that personalises the living room too much; family photos, children’s drawings, birthday cards. If your home is overloaded with furniture, think about putting it in storage. Never ram it all into a garage or spare room – your prospective buyers will probably peek in there too. Nice accessories such as cushions, (healthy) plants and artworks make a living room appealing.

Ensure bookshelves aren’t overstuffed – remove books that are looking tatty and order the rest carefully – you’ll see plenty of ‘shelfie’ ideas on Instagram. If you have laminate flooring, you might want to consider adding an attractive rug to give the living room or bedrooms a more homely feel. A large mirror can help to create the impression that the room is larger than it actually is, so you might want to add some mirrors around the property as part of your home staging.

The dining room – While separate dining rooms have fallen from favour, you should still try to give your home a distinct dining area, where people can imagine eating as a family. If you always eat on your knee in front of the TV, borrow a dining table while you sell.

Decorating – A lick of paint could make all the difference to securing a sale. This is especially true if your existing colour scheme involves dark or bright shades. White and pale hues are tried and tested for appealing to the highest number of potential buyers. Plus, they have the advantage of reflecting light to make your rooms appear bright, airy and bigger too.

Odours – Smell really is a big factor when you want to sell a house, so avoid cooking anything too pungent before a viewing. Keep pets’ litter trays and cages spotlessly clean or consider sending them on a holiday while viewings are taking place.

Artificial air fresheners can create a bad impression – opt for quality scent diffusers or scented candles or just open a few windows to really air the place. Have carpets professionally cleaned, to get rid of any stains or lingering smells too. Vases of fresh flowers around the house can have a great impact, but be careful of anything with a strong scent, such as lilies.

The garden – If you’ve neglected your garden, getting to work on it is an essential part of your home staging. Trim any overgrown shrubs, cut the grass and clean the patio and garden furniture. If it’s looking a bit sparse, a few planted pots can make a difference.

Hopefully you will have found these home staging tips useful but don’t forget that professional home stagers are available and could turn out to deliver a good return on your investment if your property sells for a higher price.

Once you’re happy with the home staging results, please do give us a call. We’ll be happy to give you a valuation and advise you further about marketing your property to achieve the best price – whether you’re moving to a London commuter town or staying local to your current area.