Are you considering selling your home soon? If you are, you should consider staging it. Staging a home means decorating and furnishing it in a way to appeal to the highest number of potential buyers. It is about putting your best foot forward and helps potential buyers envision themselves in the space.
According to a survey of real estate professionals, staged homes spent half the time on the market than non-staged homes, and typically sold for one to six percent above the asking price. Hiring a professional stager will cost you some money though—anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 or more. That may be out of your price range, and if so, there are inexpensive ways you can spruce up your decorating on your own.
One of the easiest ways to give your house an updated look is a fresh coat of paint in a vibrant color. For bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms, go with a flat, matte, or eggshell finish. For the kitchen, bathroom, and other high traffic areas, select a semi-gloss for easy cleaning.
Big box hardware stores will offer the best price on paint and supplies. For instance, if you are looking to transform a living space, you can likely do so for less than $100 for an average size room.
You can also paint furniture and other home accessories to change the look of a room. If you have lamps that don’t match your new décor, consider spray painting them with a high quality (yet still inexpensive) glossy spray paint. It can save you from having to purchase new lamps!
Curtains and window treatments can be expensive, but they do add that cozy factor to any room. Mini blinds and vertical blinds, while functional, aren’t in style at the moment and can quickly date your décor.
There are several retailers that offer ridiculously affordable curtains and window furnishings. With a little bargain hunting, you can update up to 4 rooms in your house for under $200 by shopping at Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx and online at Amazon.com. Tuesday Morning is your best bet for hardware too—it offers a wide selection of curtain rods at very affordable prices.
Perhaps new carpet or flooring isn’t in your budget, but you can easily update the look of any room with a stylish area rug. By adding a little pop of color in an area rug, you can change the feel of the entire room. For stylish and colorful rugs, again, check out Tuesday Morning and TJ Maxx. Surprisingly, Lowe’s offers a wide selection of rugs from doormat on up to full-room rugs. You may also consider visiting a flooring store. They often have carpet remnants available that you can get bound for a fraction of the cost of an area rug.
Look at your current accessories and spend some time decluttering. Then, pick a few signature pieces that match your décor. Target’s clearance aisle is a good place to start when looking for trendy accessories. Gordman’s, Berlington and TJ Maxx also offer a nice selection of affordable home accent items.
A lot of discount stores have a wide selection of throw pillows, as well, which can easily update the décor in your living room, family room, or bedroom.
You should consider removing personal items so potential buyers can cast a vision for the house to make it their own. Potential Buyers have a hard time viewing themselves in your house when it is filled with personal items.
Updating your living spaces doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars. The simple things mentioned above can go a long way to increase the appeal of your home to potential buyers.
Before you start taking pictures of your home to send to a realtor, spruce the place up with these helpful tips. If you are trying to sell your home and are looking for a new home, give us a call at Ruoff Home Mortgage. We would love to answer any questions and get you into the home of your dreams!