How can sellers head into the listing process with a competitive advantage that doesn’t rely on a “keep lowering the price” strategy? While price is a powerful lever to pull, it’s not the only one you can control as a seller. Through thoughtful and thorough staging, sellers can gain a competitive edge in the market and see their homes sold, all without unnecessary compromise on their financial goals.
While most sellers have heard the basics around maximizing light and space in a home, there are a few staging steps we often see overlooked. Give your home a competitive advantage with these four often-missed steps of the staging process.
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Wash Your Windows
Most sellers hear about the importance of lighting when it comes to showing a home, but it’s easy to overlook the source of that natural light: your windows! Even if they’re not visibly streaky or dirty, your windows can harbor buildup and debris that will impact the amount of light your home gets and give the impression of a dingy home. Freshly cleaned windows allow a potential buyer to experience your home at its best and brightest.
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Freshen Up Your Mulch and Landscaping
Maybe you’ve heard plenty of talk of curb appeal, but one aspect that’s often overlooked? Mulch!
If your landscaping features mulch around trees or bushes or as a feature of your yard design, topping it off with vibrant new mulch is key to creating that manicured appearance. Mulch loses its color, wears down, and even blows away over time, which means it can quickly appear dull or sparse. Even if you completed a full landscaping overhaul recently, freshening up the mulch is a must-do element of the staging process.
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Remove Interior Odors
One of the most powerful senses when it comes to forming an emotional connection: smell. Odors can make us feel nostalgic, comfortable, and happy — and they can just as easily cast an unshakeable label of “dirty” or “gross” on a home. It’s perfectly normal to become accustomed to the way your own home smells, but notable odors in a home can cause buyers to write off your listing as soon as they step foot in the door.
Especially if you have pets, a thorough carpet and rug cleaning is a minimum requirement for removing the odors from your home. Better yet, give your furniture a good clean. Ask your friends and your real estate agent for feedback about your home’s smell, and keep working at it until it’s unnoticeable or pleasant. Baking cookies on the day of a showing can go a long way!
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Depersonalize
Buyers need to be able to picture themselves in a home in order to fully form the emotional connection and pull the trigger to buy. It’s tough to do that in homes full of personal touches. These can include more obvious items like family pictures, but it doesn’t end there. Even decorations like band posters, religious references, or hunting trophies can be off-putting to some buyers. While these are all wonderful ways to express yourself within your home, wiping the slate as clean as possible before showing starts is worth the effort.
Shopping for a home is an extremely emotional process and it involves all five senses. After years living in our homes, it’s easy to overlook details that might feel like a dealbreaker to an otherwise perfect potential buyer. These four steps will help give you a competitive advantage in the sale of your home.
We’d love to guide you through the process of selling your home along Colorado’s Front Range! Please reach out with any questions at all — we’re at 719-337-7254 or 720-498-9592.
