There are many real estate tactics that go into staging a home for sale, all of which are intended to attract potential homebuyers and help your house sell faster. While staging your home on your own may seem like a more affordable solution, it’s easy to fall prey to common home staging mistakes. Check out ten outrageous examples of how NOT to stage your home below!
Failing to Declutter Your Home
You might think the books on your shelves, the children’s toys in the corner, or the plants in your dining room look organized, but having too many items taking up space in your home can turn off potential buyers. The fewer items on display, the more open a room looks. Check out these great tips for how to declutter your home.
Hiding Everything in a Guest Room or Closet
If you’re hurrying to straighten up your home before a showing, resist the temptation to throw furniture and boxes in a guest room or closet. Unlike when you have guests over, potential buyers will actually want to look through rooms and closets to get an idea of the space. Make sure your home is cleaned out and organized. If you need somewhere to stash your stuff, you can always rent local storage units now!
Covering Up Natural Light
Using heavy drapes to cover windows are great when you need uninterrupted sleep, but not for home showings. Utilize natural light whenever possible to open up your space and make it bright and cheery.
Not Repainting Walls
If your walls are painted bright green or electric blue, consider switching to a soft neutral color like beige or gray instead. Home staging professionals often recommend light, airy colors over bold colors because they open up the space and make it feel larger. Plus, more neutral paint colors on your walls mean potential buyers won’t get distracted by hues they dislike.
Letting Your Furniture Steal the Focus
A velvet jungle of tapestries and eccentric furniture might feel like home to you, but for potential buyers looking at your home, it’s a distraction. Don’t let your furniture take the attention away from the home itself. That’s what buyers are really there to see.
Using Props to Enhance the Room
Props are a bad way to improve your home staging. As a general rule, putting a rabbit at the piano or a doll in the bathtub is just not okay. Please don’t leave creepy decorations in a room either. The objective is to sell your home fast, not scare away potential buyers!
Leaving Out Quirky Collectibles
While your taxidermy collection may be a source of pride for you, it might not be so alluring for potential homebuyers. Pack those items up and move them somewhere else while you’re showing your home!
Keeping Family Photos on Display
If your house is filled with photos of your family, take them down and move them to storage. A few on a dresser or an end table here and there can add a cozy feel to your home. But remember that potential buyers want to picture their family, not yours, in the home.
Using Lawn Furniture Anywhere Inside Your Home
One way to make your home look questionable to potential buyers is to have lawn furniture inside. If you have empty rooms or living spaces that could use better furniture, professional home staging can help you fill in the gaps.
Accidentally Capturing People or Pets in Photos
If you decide to take photos of your home for a real estate website yourself instead of hiring a pro, make sure there aren’t people or pets in the background. That includes yourself. It can distract from your home’s features. Be especially wary of mirrors—accidental mirror selfies are never a good thing.
Take it from these examples—it’s worth it to invest in professional home staging!
All images are courtesy of Terrible Real Estate Agent Photos.
