When preparing to sell your home in London Ontario, Here Are Some Things To Avoid!
Don’t over-stage. Clear rooms of anything that doesn’t add value and keep the things that add interest without taking away from the house. Honestly, this comes with time and practice. You innately know what feels right. You’re a homebuyer, too, so you will know when the room feels good. And the right buyer will, too!
Don’t go overboard with repairs or home staging: Big renovation projects should be left for the new homeowner after the sale. Most new homeowners want to tackle those projects to make their homes their own. So, there’s no need to do anything more than spruce up before selling the house. The simple fixes in this article are more than enough to sell the home quickly.
Don’t go crazy with themes: Avoid extravagant bedroom themes when getting your listing show-ready. Let potential buyers see themselves in the room, not you. If the wall is painted in multiple colours, it’s best to repaint it with a single solid colour instead.
1. Start With the Curb Appeal
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Here’s one of the home staging tips we’ll mention repeatedly. If your property listing’s exterior isn’t nice enough to engage buyers, they’ll never see the work you put on the interior. So, improve your curb appeal and entice them to come inside with a groomed landscape that sells. Do the obvious things like mowing the lawn and edging around sidewalks and the driveway. Add some seasonal shrubs or flower beds to give your listing a colour. Trim any hedges and trees to make everything look crisp and well-kept.
2. Make Rooms Feel Larger
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Add height to any room with window drapes and panels that extend from the ceiling to the floor, not just over the actual windows. Find some decorative curtain rods and hang them high, just below the ceiling, and add sheer or blackout drape panels that extend to the floor. This way, the room will feel more spacious as the eyes are drawn towards the ceiling.
Use Mirrors or Reflective Art
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Placing a mirror on a mantle or leaning against a wall instantly adds light and depth to any room. Mirrors can also be affordable statement pieces that transform a blank wall into a stylish one. Of course, choose a mirror that complements the furniture.
4. Eliminate Clutter, Not the Personality
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When decluttering before showings, it’s essential to strike a balance. Keep the property’s personality while removing excessive clutter that makes the home feel claustrophobic. Toss that stack of boxes on the dining room table. But don’t go overboard—keep a few personal touches, like a sofa blanket or throws.
5. Invest in High-end Accessories for the Kitchen
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Here’s one of the best house staging tips you should consider. A few high-end kitchen decor pieces can go a long way in helping build the fantasy that people with good taste (and lots of disposable income) would love in the home. Remember that they don’t have to be super-high quality and expensive—they only have to look high quality and costly. Grab some beautiful oil and vinegar decanters, a classy utensil holder from Le Creuset, or a Polish pottery dish for fresh fruit.
6. Use Large Potted Plants to Fill in Empty Spaces
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Potted plants do more than clean the air. They are also perfect for filling in empty spaces in the home when you don’t have enough furniture. Plants give a room character and warmth. You don’t need a lot of big furniture pieces if you have some well-placed greenery to accent the items you have.
7. Paint the Walls With Muted Colors & Let the Furniture Pop
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Paint with softer, muted colours to avoid bad real estate photos and let the furniture pop. Our team of agents loves recommending Sherwin Williams’ Agreeable Gray, a warm colour. Think of your listing’s walls as a blank canvas for future homeowners. Treat accent walls the same way—keep the colours neutral and soft.
8. Use Art & Coffee Table Books to Build the Fantasy
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There is an excellent reason why almost every high-end home is staged with oversized art, fashion books, and incredible art pieces. They help build the fantasy that people looking at the home imagine for themselves. Find coffee table books at used bookstores or even your local thrift store. It doesn’t have to be expensive to look great in your staged home.
9. Repaint Cabinets & Replace Drawer Pulls in the Kitchen
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If you’re working with a dated kitchen, a fresh coat of paint can bring it into the 21st century on a budget. Even if you don’t want to tackle the project, hiring a professional to spray them will still be a fraction of the cost of replacing them. While discussing kitchen cabinets, consider replacing the handles and drawer pulls. It may seem simple, but potential buyers will notice. Replacing old, worn, or dated hardware with new modern pulls will make the kitchen feel fancy.
10. Accessorize the Bathroom
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While you might want kitchen counters to be clear, an empty bathroom can look cold and feel more like a hospital room. Accessories like plants, candles, or high-end soap bottles can quickly add warmth and life to a bathroom, creating a mini oasis that feels cozy and relaxing.
11. Go Gender-neutral When Staging Children’s Bedrooms
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Whenever you stage a child’s bedroom, ensure the furniture and decor you choose are gender-neutral. You cannot know the gender of your buyer’s children, so creating a typical boy’s or girl’s room can kill their fantasy. Instead, they should immediately be able to imagine their child being happy in the room.
12. Refinish Damaged or Heavily Worn Hardwood Floors
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Refinishing hardwood flooring or sprucing up luxury vinyl plank is an easy and affordable way to upgrade a home. You’ll be surprised at the instant makeover from a quick refinish of the floors. After all, your client could have the most beautiful furniture in the world, but the entire room will feel cheap if the floors are scuffed up and dirty.
13. Stage the Home’s Front Entrance
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Staging the front entrance is crucial since the front door will be buyers’ first impression when they leave the car. You don’t have to go overboard here, either. A sconce lighting, a few potted plants, a chair, or a cafe table can make a front entrance much more inviting.
14. Remove Signs of Pets
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While it’s great to paint your property as a pet-friendly space, you should know that not everyone is okay with having pets. Some potential buyers may have allergies or sensitivities to fur and pet odours. So, when home staging, remove any signs of pets—odour, toys, pet beds, and litter boxes. Ensure any lingering pet odours are neutralized with a deep cleaning solution.
The above was written by:
Julia Del Rosario
