Have you ever walked into a model home and been so captivated by the tasteful décor that you long for that home to be your very own? If so, you’ve been influenced by an interior decorating technique called home staging. In today’s real estate market, home staging is one of the hottest trends for making the most of your home’s attributes in order to make it more attractive to potential buyers. Staging has continuously proven to be successful in increasing the value of the property while reducing the time a property stays on the market.

So what exactly does staging involve for the seller? Typically an initial 60-90 minute staging consultation involves the professional stager walking room by room through the seller’s home making recommendations on how to make each room “show at its best.” Suggestions might include ways to neutralize, depersonalize, de-clutter, or maximize space. A comprehensive written “Action Plan” is provided that entails the professional stager’s recommendations that will enable the seller’s home to stand out among its competition. The seller then has the option to hire the stager to rearrange or remove furniture in order to optimize space and highlight the home’s finest attributes, to fix problems that detract, and add décor that will make the home appeal to the majority of buyers.

Why consider staging when selling a home? Studies show that staged homes sell up to 3 times faster than non-staged homes and they sell for top dollar. In today’s competitive market, sellers must take steps to make their home stand out among the rest. Buyers view staged homes as homes that have been well maintained. Today most buyers also depend on virtual tours to help them in their selection process. A staged home shows better on a virtual tour making it more likely to draw potential buyers.

Another feature of home staging that can be advantageous for the seller is the option to bring in furnishings to make a sterile or sparsely furnished room more inviting. Stagers can also make arrangements to furnish entire homes if the property is vacant. Vacant homes lack warmth, force buyers to rely completely on their imagination, and offer no distractions from the home’s imperfections. Buyers are much more likely to notice dingy paint, scratches in hardwood flooring, and dated fixtures in vacant homes. Buyers also find it difficult to envision a floor plan for their furnishings. Staging provides a picture of how the home could look if they lived there and the scale of furniture necessary to achieve the look.

Remember… marketing a home is not the same as living in one. Many realtors offer staging services as part of their listing package, or can recommend someone in the industry. A professional stager will look at the home with an experienced, tasteful and objective eye. Buyers want to feel comfort, warmth, excitement, and inspiration when shopping for a home. Ultimately, effective staging maximizes those feelings, creating a home the prospective buyer will simply not be able to live without.

Thinking of selling your home, but uncertain how to increase its market value? Most homes require simple upgrading before they go on the market, such as replacing dated wallpaper with fresh paint or refinishing worn hardwood floors. However, occasionally it means large scale renovations. Updating your home is likely to make it more appealing to a wider range of buyers and therefore make it easier to sell. By creating quality aesthetic features throughout the home, buyers perceive that you have provided great care toward maintaining your home.

Most sellers would much rather put their money into a new house instead of spending it to upgrade a home in which their time is limited. However, studies indicate that most renovation projects do increase the price of the home at resale. It is important to note that not every update is a cost effective improvement. In many cases, extensive projects such as remodeling the entire kitchen or replacing all the windows in the house may simply not pay off. With major renovations, you take the risk of not recouping all the money you invest. The good news is more modest updates often get you more bang for your buck and help to expedite the sale of your home.

Take a look at some low-cost updates that yield a high return.

1. Make things sizzle in a dated kitchen by either refacing or painting kitchen cabinets and adding brand new hardware. You’ll have cabinets that look new for a fraction of the cost. If your kitchen appliances don’t match, you can order new doors or face panels from the manufacturer. Hint: sometimes dishwasher panels are white on one side and black on the other. Simply unscrew it and flip it to show the side that matches your other appliances.
2. Switch out old lighting fixtures with brighter, energy-efficient lights that create aesthetic value. Attractive pendant lights over a kitchen island add instant appeal. Brushed nickel sconces that flank a bathroom mirror, or an eye-catching chandelier in the dining room is sure to light the way to a top-dollar sale.
3. Step in the right direction with fabulous flooring. In living rooms and dining rooms, replace worn wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood to increase your home’s value by up to 10 percent. Dull kitchen floors can economically be replaced with a variety of choices in either sheet vinyl or linoleum. These popular floor options are durable, easy to maintain, and some even resemble marble.
4. Buyers demand spacious master bedrooms. If possible, bump up a ceiling to add height and airiness to the room.
5. Dark wood paneling dates your home. An easy fix is to prime and paint the paneling a light color, or sheet rock right over it.

Remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So impress buyers the first time around with these cost-effective, high-return updates.

When selling a home, most homeowners take basic steps to win buyers over, such as making minor repairs, keeping the home tidy, and cleaning up the yard. Nowadays, that may not be enough to acquire a quick sale. Buyers are savvy and selective. They are looking for a home to which they feel an emotional connection. So how can sellers stimulate the buyer’s imagination in order to create those emotional connections?

First, grab buyer’s attention before they even step foot in your home. A lovely urn with colorful pansies next to an attractive welcome mat will surely beckon buyers to the front door. Generate drama in the entry hall by flanking a striking silk flower arrangement with lamps on a decorative table and placing an oriental-style rug on the floor. Add ambiance by lighting the lamps along with an aromatic scented candle to create a warm and inviting feeling.

Showcase your home’s best assets with a little creativity. Use color, lighting, and props to highlight top-selling features such as fireplaces, bay windows, cathedral ceilings, wood floors, and gorgeous views. Even though you may never use your fireplace, pretend like you do. Place white birch logs inside the fireplace and adorn the mantel with matching topiaries or a row of candles to attract buyer’s attention. Next to the fireplace, drape a soft throw over a favorite chair and place a hardcover book on top to give the illusion of a relaxing, comfortable environment. Highlight cathedral ceilings with an attractive ceiling fan in a tone that stands out rather then blends in with the ceiling, or hang an appealing oversized clock at a high point on your wall to draw buyer’s eyes up. If you have great water views or overlook a sprawling lawn with fabulous landscaping, make certain your furniture is situated so that it capitalizes on the view.

Set the scene in the dining room with a table that evokes feelings of cozy dinners enjoyed by family and friends. Embellish the table with pretty place settings, a colorful centerpiece, and glowing candlesticks to make buyers long to entertain in this room. In the kitchen, set a cheerful scene with an open cookbook next to a ceramic mixing bowl and wire whisk. Conjure up memories of Mama’s home-baked goodies by baking some cookies before a showing.

In a pristine master bedroom, a tray placed on the bed holding a cup and saucer next to a newspaper is sure to make buyers feel right at home. Candles and soft, fluffy white towels surrounding the tub in the master bath, will help buyers envision themselves relaxing in this spa-like setting.

Do not underestimate the power of staging. By creating appealing images that will remain in the buyer’s mind, you automatically increase your chances for a speedy sale. So give your home that “wow factor” and buyers will think their house hunting days are over.