When selling a house, you want to make sure you make the best first impression. Your house may not be perfect, but many buyers will pass your home by if they don’t have a good first impression. Professional staging can cost you a lot of money. That doesn’t mean you can’t do a lot of the staging work yourself. In fact, there are some straightforward and inexpensive ways to stage your home to sell.

Declutter

Clearing the clutter is probably the most apparent and inexpensive thing you can do to increase the appeal of your home. When looking for a home, people want to be able to see their vision of the home. If the house is cluttered, that distracts the buyer from seeing a home they can live in. Put away everything except for only the most essential items. Make sure counters in bathrooms, kitchen and living areas are clear. Vacuum the carpets and make your home look as close to a model home as possible.

Make your home look neutral

The beautiful thing about owning a home is that you can decorate it any way you want, including the colors on the walls and the furniture. When you are selling a home, you should think differently. Make your home as neutral as possible including the colors and the furniture. When looking at houses, people have a hard time looking past a customized look for the seller. It is much easier for them to imagine a home they can live in when the colors are neutral.

Lighting

Lighting can create a mood in a home. When selling a home, a buyer wants to see the house in the best possible lighting. Opening curtains to bring natural light is always ideal, but realtors will also tell you to leave as many lights on as possible. While this goes against your instincts, it helps buyers see everything they need to look at. If necessary, you can also buy new shades that reflect your home in the best light.

Curb Appeal

A lawn might not be the first thing you think about, but it is the first thing a buyer will see. If you don’t take care of your lawn and your front entry, a buyer may assume things about you as a homeowner. Take care of your yard, both in the front and back. Mow it regularly through the process, take care of leaves, and make sure trees are pruned and taken care of. Lawn maintenance will give the homeowner a better impression of your home.

Deodorize

Smell is an underrated sense. Many people remember a scent long they experience it. Deodorize your home by cleaning each room, and giving spraying with a relatively neutral scent. When a buyer sees that the house smells right, they have a better impression of the house.

Staging is an integral part of the home selling process. You can do many things along the way to making your home look its best. The most vital thing to do is to visualize a home you would want to walk into when you are buying a home and do it that way.

https://www.homes.com/blog/2017/05/staging-your-home-on-a-budget/