5 DIY Home Staging Tips for a Fast Sale

Due to the housing crisis many of our homes that we’ve put up for sale are just sitting on the market getting stale. You’ve had people come through and make an offer, but it seems to be a challenge to actually close a deal. Your real estate agent might recommend that you hire a professional staging company to fill the house with fancy furniture and accessories to entice buyers, but professional staging is expensive and out of your budget. Yet, it is time to take matter into your own hands. If you are looking to sell your house quickly you are going to need to stage the home yourself. Here are 5 DIY home staging tips for a fast sale.

1. One of the most important things to do when staging a home is to dismantle and get rid of all the window treatments. You want to be able to let in as much light as possible. This will open up the rooms to make your home bigger than it appears. Also, buyers love to see homes with ample light. If one of your windows has a less than flattering view, you can always put some kind of window covering over it, like a thin decal with a pretty design, which lets light in, but doesn’t show you what’s outside.
2. Get rid of all your stuff. Buyers want to see a new home, not a home that is aged and has been lived in for years. This means packing all your stuff up and putting it in storage. Of course, you can keep the basics, like couches and beds, but it is recommended that you purchase inexpensive bed and couch covers to give them a newer appearance. Everything else must go.
3. Do a thorough deep clean. You want to make sure your house looks bright and shiny. Make sure to clean with professional grade cleaning products to make white walls whiter and windows more clear. Buyers want to see a house that looks new and fresh, and any grime will deter them from making an offer.
4. You can also find inexpensive housing accessories, like floor statues and wall waterfallsto give your home a little more flair. Buyers want to see a little more excitement and creativity when they walk through an open house. They want to imagine the possibilities of living there. Adding a few artistic accessories that will give buyers inspiration and possibly motivation to make an offer on the property.
5. Lastly, the outside of your house counts too. Don’t discount the front and back yard. If you have a pool, make sure the leaves are cleaned out. If you have a garden, make sure there are no dead plants or vegetables. It is also recommended that you trim your lawn and make sure it’s a nice, healthy green color. Landscaping can be expensive, but there are plenty of DIY options, like planting new flowers or adding a bench or some outdoor furniture. Buyers want to know what it would be like to live inside and out of a house, so the exterior is just as important as the interior when you are staging your home.