The effectiveness of Calgary home staging is apparent. Staged homes tend to sell faster than those which are not. Staging allows buyers to visualize living in your home. When rooms are set up to be warm and inviting, people are more likely to react positively to the property. It’s easier to overlook material issues such as a sub-par paint job when the living room looks ready to invite friends over for book club. We’ve written an article all about why home staging matters, but we want to offer you some creative ways to get the job done.
Plants, plants, plants
Plants are a great addition to any space. They look beautiful, help clean the air, and add a nice touch to enhance a room. Certain plants can also make a room appear larger than it is. Placing greenery in spaces that need a little bit of a pick-me-up will quickly create a clean-looking space. If you’re attempting to give the allusion of higher ceilings, snake plants are a great addition. They’re usually tall, which draws your eye up. Should you be aiming for a more cozy feel, get a monstera! They add a lovely, sweet feeling to any room. Faux plants are even better sometimes, depending on your situation. Greenery breathes life into a room, both figuratively and literally. Whether buyers notice the beauty of the plants or not, they will undoubtedly feel the difference.
Amplify your coffee table
If you’re staging the right way, you’ll ensure the living room feels inviting. Hopefully, you’ve taken down the T.V. and are creating an environment that says, “come sit and have a coffee.” Capitalize on your coffee table with neutral-toned books, candles, and sculptures. An affordable way to get creative is to go to a thrift store and purchase some larger books. Remove the covers and stack the plain, hardcover books on the coffee table! Adding some layers with art or decor books is an excellent way to texture the room. Placing a simple candle or a piece of pottery on top of the books can also add a fun, simple touch. You want to avoid overdoing it while still adding enough meaningful items that give a trendy feel.
Curb appeal matters
The outside of a property is the real first impression for potential buyers. Right from the moment a buyer drives up to your home, they will begin to imagine themselves living there. You want to make sure that the curb appeal of your home is in great condition! Take some time to care for any bushes or shrubs that are on your property. Pull the weeds and mow the lawn, or shovel if it’s winter. It never hurts to do some minor material touch-ups, either. Paint your door for extra points!
Focus on the kitchen
So many of us spend a significant amount of time in our kitchens, especially with a growing family. When potential buyers walk into a home, there’s a good chance they will put a lot of value on how the kitchen looks. If your kitchen is smaller, that is not a problem. A lot of people like a cozy kitchen! Focus on adding very minimalistic touches, maybe one cookbook. Don’t over-clutter the space, though. Keep things simple but charming. If you have a larger kitchen with more empty space, you have an opportunity to fill it meaningfully. Something like a cute tea kettle on top of the stove or a stack of cookbooks in the corner can go a long way. Adding a simple vase with pretty flowers on the counter somewhere can be a nice touch, too!
Your bedroom
After a long day of working, cooking, cleaning, playing with the kids, and walking the dog, we all love to retreat to our room. It’s the time of day where you can finally unwind. You want to make the bedrooms, particularly the primary room, feel warm and cozy. Usually, our bedrooms have personal touches like family photos. But for the sake of staging to sell, you’ll want to avoid the personal mementos. Take down the family photos, tuck your jewelry away and organize your closet to look tidy. If you’re staging on a budget, consider cutting out pictures from magazines or books that you’re not using. Look for neutral photos, things like a landscape shot or flowers. Frame them, and voila! You’ve got some tasteful decor.
When all is said and done
There are a lot of Calgary home staging services that specialize in this service. They will help you get your home ready for sale. With that said, there is usually a pretty significant charge to use their services. The good news is that Realty Unleashed offers to stage as part of our listing services. That means that we stage your Calgary home for free! If you are looking for a REALTOR®, feel free to reach out to us to discuss what else we include in our listing services. If you’re reading this article and Realty Unleashed isn’t in your city yet, we hope that we’ve given you some creative ideas so that you can stage your home yourself. Trust us. It’s worth the effort!