Home staging in Edmonton can make a significant difference in how quickly and successfully it will sell. But even well-meaning staging efforts can miss the mark if you aren’t careful! Here are a few staging mistakes to avoid when preparing your house for sale!
Leaving personal belongings out
We all have personal belongings around our home; family photos, kids’ artwork, wedding invitations, etc. That said, it can be distracting for buyers when they’re walking through your home and seeing photos of your family on display. For the duration of your listing, take your family pictures off the mantle and tuck away any political or religious items. You want your home to look neutral and unassuming. It should be a clean slate, somewhere buyers can walk around and envision their life in your home. Swap those personal mementos with neutral artwork or subtle decor that will appeal to the widest audience.
Ignoring curb appeal
The inside of your home is important, but so is the outside, and oftentimes, we neglect the exterior of our homes! Clean up your landscaping. If you’re listing in months with snow, make sure you shovel and salt your walks. If you’re listing in months where weeds are growing, pull those weeds out, mow your lawn, rake the leaves, etc. Add some fresh mulch for a refreshed look, and consider putting a welcome mat at your door and adding some flowers! The outside of your home will prepare buyers for what they can expect on the inside. First impressions matter, which is why curb appeal is a critical part of home staging in Edmonton.
Over-staging your house
Too much furniture or decor can make your home feel cramped and even give the illusion that it’s smaller than it is. Every room does not need to be filled to the brim; less is more. Instead of trying to cram rooms full, make rooms feel intentional. A bedroom needs a bed, a nightstand and a table lamp. You can add a piece of art on the wall for some texture, but you don’t need to be doing more than that. A living room needs a couch, a coffee table, a floor lamp, and a rug. Again, you can add some decor to the coffee table and perhaps a plant in the room, but otherwise, you’re good! Keep it simple, focus on scale and the flow of the room.
Not considering your target buyer
Home staging in Edmonton often requires you to have a specific audience in mind. You want to create a connection for all buyers, but even more so for the target audience. Buyers aren’t just shopping for a house, they’re looking for a lifestyle. If you live in a one-bedroom condo downtown, consider styling your space in a way that appeals to college students or young, single professionals with a trendy bar cart and record player. If you’re selling a 2-storey home with 4 bedrooms in the suburbs, stage one room as a nursery with a crib and a toy basket or a kids room with cute art and fun colours. Ask yourself “If I were my preferred buyer, what would make me fall in love with this home?”
Neglecting the importance of lighting
Dim rooms with poor lighting feel unwelcoming, small, and cold. No one wants to walk into a house they’re thinking of purchasing, only to flick the light switch on and find they’re burnt out. Make sure you replace any lightbulbs in your house that don’t work, and if there are flickering bulbs that are on their way out, replace those as well. Maximize any natural lighting by opening curtains and blinds! Use soft white bulbs and add lamps where there is a need for extra lighting.
Realty Unleashed offers free home staging in Edmonton and Calgary
Realty Unleashed offers free home staging in Edmonton and Calgary because we know the value it gives our clients. Staged homes often sell for more and faster, so why wouldn’t we offer this service?! If you’re thinking about selling your home and are looking for a REALTOR®, please reach out to us below and someone from our team will get back to you soon!
