15.3 million households move each year. On average, Americans move 11.3 times within their lifespan. You'd think we'd be pros at it, but that's not always the case.
Many people don't know where to start when it comes to prepping their homes for sale. And even if they're not planning on moving, setting up a home so that it looks great and functions and flows well isn't a skill set we all possess.
But when you know better, you can do better. Keep reading to learn 5 home staging tips for better living and selling.
1. Make Sure You Can Easily Move Around
Open-concept homes are still very popular. But it's important to ensure that you can easily move from one area to another.
To do that, make sure the paths of travel are clearly defined. Do not place furniture in the way.
You can also use furniture to help you create different areas. Use your couch to separate the kitchen area from the living room.
Sellers Tip: Remove unnecessary furniture to create more space. The larger your home looks to potential buyers, the more they'll love it!
2. Lighting Is One of the Easiest Home Staging Tips
Whether you're investing in better living or selling, good lighting is a must! No one wants to live in the dark. And most buyers don't want to buy a house that feels more like a cave than a home.
Here are a few ways to improve lighting in every room of your home:
Layer your lighting
Choose a great light fixture as a focal point
Choose lighter shades and curtains
Keep your windows clean
If you're selling your home, make sure that your blinds or curtains are open during a showing. You can also keep on as many lights as possible, especially if it's a cloudy or rainy day.
3. Make Your Bed Every Day
Not to sound like I'm nagging you, but there are proven advantages to making your bed. Research has shown that 19% of people who make their beds regularly enjoy a better night's rest.
Other research has shown those who do enjoy great productivity during the day.
If you are worried about dust mites, you can wash your sheets more often. Or only aim to make your bed when you're actively trying to sell your home.
Because to home buyers, your messy bed just isn't a good look.
4. Do A Deep Clean
Staging tips should include cleaning. If your home is dirty a buyer is going to wonder how well you maintained the house over the years.
Even if you're not selling, cleaning your home on a regular basis is a smart idea. Why? Because it's easier to clean a small amount of dirt and dust than it is to tackle a large build-up of dirt, dust, and grime.
Create a cleaning schedule so you can stay on top of things. It should be divided into how often you need to clean something such as:
Daily | Weekly | Monthly | Annually/Bi-Annually |
Countertops | Bathrooms | Microwave | Vents |
Sinks | Dusting | Fridge | Windows |
Make bed | Vacuuming | Floorboards | Power wash house |
5. Update Your Paint
A fresh coat of paint can definitely liven up a home. If that's not in your budget, at least clean the walls to try to remove any dirt, dust, or stains.
Otherwise, a fresh coat of paint is often worth the investment. If you're selling your home, it's best to choose a neutral color such as white, beige, or grey. Also, make sure that you match the color tone on the walls to the color tone on the floors.
In other words, if your flooring is grey, it has cool tones. Therefore you should select a paint color that also has cool tones.
If your flooring is beige, it most likely has warm tones. It's important to match them because otherwise, the whole area will look off-balance.
Get Expert Advice
Whether you're looking to sell, just moved to a new home, or want to make a few home improvements knowing what to do and how to do it right will save you time and money. It's worth it to turn to an expert who can give you good advice.
To learn more about what you can learn in my courses and how I can help, click here to schedule your free 30-minute consultation today.