“It’s perfect. We can’t wait to move in!” Those are the words everyone wants to hear when selling a house. Listing in a desirable area like Peterborough means you’re already at an advantage. With many people from the GTA setting their sights on a city with a lower cost of living, there is already great demand for a house like yours.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other steps you can take to help your buyer fall head over heels in love with your home as soon as they step in the door. For starters, you can make your listing even more appealing by cleaning, decluttering, and painting. And if you really want to see spectacular results, you can stage.
In a hot market, effective staging can help you stand out even more from your neighbours who are also selling. If the market is slow and buyers are taking their time, staging can be the secret sauce that inspires a potential buyer to place an offer instead of going to look at the next listing. What does staging mean, and how do you best use it to your advantage? Let’s take a deep dive into the fascinating world of design and decor.
What Is Staging?
Staging is a form of home design, but there’s a big difference between decorating to your tastes and catching the attention of potential buyers. Typically, an interior designer will ask all sorts of questions about your personal preferences. The result is a comfortable and personalized aesthetic that makes your eyes light up whenever you step inside.
But staging is about the buyer, not you. Everything is carefully laid out to inspire their imagination and see themselves living their day-to-day life in what is now their house.
Looking for more tips to go from “For Sale” to “Sold” in the least amount of time? The resources below might help:
- When Is the Best Season to Sell Your Peterborough Home?
- Is It Better to Buy or Sell First in Peterborough?
- Selling a House in Peterborough From A to Z
It’s Not Personal
Like conventional design, your goal when staging is to make the house beautiful. But unlike conventional design, you do not want to make it personal. Your home should look more like something out of a magazine than anything else.
That means all of those family photos and children’s drawings on the wall and fridge must go, at least until accept an offer. Any souvenirs, knick-knacks, or memorabilia from your vacations and family events should be out of sight so that the buyer can visualize their own experiences.
It’s a subtle effect but very effective, and these small touches can make a world of difference in how fast your house sells and for how much.
From Total Mess to Totally Impressed
Can you still sell a house if the sink is full of dirty dishes, there are scratches on the wall, and clothes strewn all over the floor? Depending on the market, yes.
Some buyers will look past the mess to see the home’s true potential–although they may try to get you to lower your price. But for those who are highly visual, it can be difficult to see the real value. You can help them make the right decision by – you guessed it – staging your house!
The easiest, fastest, and most effective path is to work with a real estate agent who can connect you to a professional stager or interior designer. However, there are many small steps you can take to impress potential buyers right from the start.
Simple ways to set the foundation:
- Never underestimate the magic of a sparkling clean home that is well organized and free of clutter. If you do nothing else, this will help to capture the interest of prospective buyers.
- When cleaning and decluttering, start with the outside. Mow the lawn, trim the weeds, sweep the front porch, and put away any tools and garbage bins. For the best possible first impression, consider a flower garden and a splash of seasonal decor.
- Massive renovation projects are likely unnecessary, but fresh paint and a few minor repairs can breathe new life into your home.
- Less is more when it comes to furniture. The fewer bulky items you have, the more spacious each room appears.
- Arrange your furniture to allow for the maximum amount of natural light. Move tall bookcases and other items away from the windows and replace dark curtains with sheers.
- When buyers visit in person, consider adding an arrangement of fresh flowers. These small touches can have a big effect!
Do you ever wonder why so many people are relocating to Peterborough? The posts below will give you some insight:
- Our Favourite Places to Skate in Peterborough and the Kawarthas
- How Peterborough’s Entertainment Scene Rivals That of Toronto
- What Does a Night Out Look Like in Peterborough?
How Far Should You Go?
There is some debate among real estate professionals as to how far you need to go when staging your home. Some believe in sparing no expense when it comes to hiring professional designers to ensure every room will wow potential buyers. Others take a more sparing approach, preferring to keep things simple. It can also depend on the market at the time of the listing.
For example, in a fast-paced market with unprecedented demand, your home will likely sell no matter what. In challenging conditions, you’ll want to do more to ensure your listing stands out.
In addition, a luxury listing will likely benefit from more high-end finishings and meticulous attention to detail. In contrast, an entry-level home can get away with a more simplistic approach. A local real estate agent can help you decide how far to take your staging efforts.
What Results Can You Expect?
Whatever approach you choose, there is no denying that staged homes typically sell faster and for more money. According to RESA (Real Estate Staging Association), staged listings spend less time on the market.
Strategic design doesn’t just make your home look better for buyers who visit in person. Your online photos will also be more appealing, which often leads to more and better offers. Of those homes RESA analyzed, they also found that 85% earned 5 to 23% more than the list price after the transaction closed.
The verdict is in – staging is an excellent way to maximize your return when selling your home.
Are you thinking about selling your Peterborough home this year? We can help you achieve outstanding results with minimal effort. Reach out today to 705-243-9797 or team@jeffandkatie.ca to start the conversation.
