“Home staging is no longer optional in this real estate market, it is a must! .” - Barbara Corcoran

Are you preparing to sell your home and looking to maximize its value? Staging and renovating your property can significantly impact its appeal to potential buyers and the final sale price.

In this blog post, we'll share top proven strategies, and secrets provided by award winning interior designers that will help you get the most out of your investment when preparing to sell.

With that said, here are a few interior designer money making secrets to start applying to your home today!

"Simplicity is key. Declutter and depersonalize your space to make it more appealing to potential buyers." - Jane Smith, Interior Designer

Create a neutral canvas by removing personal items. Buyers should be able to envision themselves living in your space. The last thing you want is buyers getting caught up on the religious symbols, artwork and knick knacks throughout your house. Remember, you want buyers to imagine your property as theirs. It's hard to do that if they are constantly being reminded that someone else lives there.

Here are some actionable items to help you as you declutter:

• Declutter every room to make it appear more spacious.

• Remove personal photos and items to depersonalize the space.

• Clean and organize all closets and storage areas.

• Remove all personal toiletries in your bathroom for professional photography and buyer showings.

"Neutral colors create a clean canvas for buyers to envision their own style in the home." - John Doe, Home Stager

It's important to stay up to date on which neutral paint colors are trending best for homebuyers. Your goal is to have buyers feel like your home is updated, warm and welcoming. In 2023, we are now seeing warmer tones such as warmer grays, "greige" paint colors creamy whites as well as paint shades along the beige spectrum. Check out some of these great neutral colors to choose from!

Here are some actionable items to help you as you paint neutral colors:

• Decide which rooms need repainting.

• Replace worn or outdated carpeting to allow neutral colors to stand out.

• Repair any holes or cracks in the walls and ceilings.

• Upgrade light fixtures and ceiling fans to allow neutral colors to stand out.

"Invest in high-quality lighting to brighten up your space and make it feel more inviting." - Sarah Johnson, Interior Decorator

It's important to note that not only is lighting very important for buyer showings but also for the professional photography. Lighting can drastically determine the mood a buyer feels upon viewing your property. With the right lighting you can convey a feeling of warmth, cozy and tranquility to buyers. On the other hand, with poor lighting and poor light fixtures you can make buyers feel very cold, and unable to connect yo your home. Make sure to make lighting a priority in sections of the home where buyers will be spending a lot of time, such as bathroom, bedroom and living room.

Here are some actionable items to help you as you upgrade lighting:

• Upgrade outdoor lighting for safety and aesthetics.

• Upgrade light fixtures and ceiling fans if outdated.

• Contact a well connected realtor to access home stage and determine which specific light fixtures are needed for each room.

"Curb appeal matters. A well-maintained exterior can set the tone for the entire property." - Emily Brown, Landscape Designer

Same with anything else in life, first impressions are crucial. Curb appeal sets the tone for what buyers can expect to see when they step inside your home. It's also a huge factor in what the buyer may use to determine how well you may have up kept your property throughout the years. You want the buyer to perceive you took great care of your home, and they wil be purchasing a home that was well maintained over the years. Invest in professional landscaping, an outside cleaning, and an appealing entryways to make your home stand out.

Here are some actionable items to help you as you upgrade curb appeal:

• Repair any visible exterior damage, such as loose siding or damaged shingles

• Ensure the front door and entrance are welcoming and well-maintained.

• Plant colorful flowers and add potted plants for a vibrant look.

• Power wash the exterior to remove dirt and grime.

"Small updates, like replacing old hardware or fixtures, can give your property a fresh look without a major renovation." - Michael Turner, Interior Designer

The goal of preparing your home to sell, is to spend the lease amount of money possible while maximizing the return you will get for every dollar you spend to increase your home appearance. One of the best ways to do this is replacing old hardware and fixtures. Keep an eye on your cabinet handles, faucets, door knobs, doorbell etc. These are the least expensive fixtures that can really go a long way in the eyes of a buyer.

Here are some actionable items to help you as you upgrade old hardware and fixtures:

• Go through each room and determine which hardware/ fixtures need replacement.

• Fix leaky faucets and any plumbing issues, such as broken O-rings.

• Add fresh, new towels and shower curtains to the bathrooms.

• Upgrade the thermostat to a smart one.

"Focus on the kitchen and bathroom. These are the rooms that can have the most impact on a sale." - Lisa Anderson, Home Staging Expert

During showings, buyers tend to focus most on the areas of the home they will be spending the most time once they move in. Kitchen and Bathroom are some of the most intimate rooms in any home and knowing this allows us to be able to use this knowledge to our advantage. Create a warm & welcoming space in the bathroom and kitchen so buyers can immediately fall in love with your home.

Here are some actionable items to help you as you upgrade your kitchen & bathroom:

• Update kitchen appliances to stainless steel if possible.

• Upgrade bathroom fixtures and lighting.

• Regrout tiles, and reglaze tub for a refreshed look.

• Consider a kitchen backsplash for added appeal.

"A well-organized and functional home office can be a selling point in today's remote work environment." - Rachel White, Interior Decorator

Home buyers have been prioritizing home offices especially since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Mandates by government and employers have also magnified the need for extra office space at home. Because of this, working from home and engaging in other activities indoors -that they would normally do in public spaces- are in high demand from buyers and they are willing to pay a higher price for these amenities.

Here are some actionable items to help you upgrade your home office space:

• Locate empty space that can be used as a designated work environment.

• Add optimal lighting to allow the space to welcome productivity.

• Add home decor such as plants to emphasize the work space.

• Consider using foldable desks that can be put away when not in use.

"Don't underestimate the power of art and decor to create a warm and inviting atmosphere." - Mark Taylor, Home Stager

The same way furniture adds form and shape to a room, art and decor helps add personality and perspective to your space. This is very beneficial when selling your home because art and decor are great tools to use to dictate the flow of attention in your property. Direct where the buyers eye goes and to influence the viewer’s perception. This can be very useful around dead spaces in your home, such as extra space under staircases, and irregular shaped room sections.

Here are some actionable items to help you utilize art and decor in your home:

• If you have high ceilings but have low furniture, a piece of artwork can help draw the eye upward and will make the room feel more balanced.

• Consider adding a gallery wall to entrance rooms. This collaged style effect can extend the room’s dimensions.

• Consider adding soulful and serene artwork to create a feeling of calm in bedrooms.

"Make sure your property has a flow. Arrange furniture to create clear pathways and show the functionality of each room." - Laura Parker, Home Staging Specialist

The most important aspect of flow in a property is how people move about a room. Traffic flow is crucial when it comes to the layout of a space, and it’s not all about furniture. The structural layout of a room can have just as much of an impact on flow. Such as where the windows, walls, fireplaces, etc are structured.

Ultimately, upon viewing your home buyers need to have a general idea on exactly where their furniture belongs, and if the property flow meshes with their lifestyle. If they can't determine flow within your property they are going to walk away and go with another property.

Here are some actionable items to help you upgrade your home flow:

• Determine if you currently have an open or traditional home layout.

• If traditional layout, remove bulky styled furniture such as rocking chairs.

• If open layout, set boundaries with plants, dividers and furniture.

"Consider adding mirrors to create the illusion of more space and light in smaller rooms." - Anna Roberts, Home Staging Expert

Mirrors are not only for looking at yourself! Mirrors are useful decor tools to make rooms look bigger, increase the perception of small spaces and to let natural light into as many areas of the room as possible. While buyers care about swuare footage, they are most considered about how a property looks with their own eyes. And mirrors can be used as a powerful tool to increase the value of each room in the eyes of a buyer which can only help you walking away with the highest price.

Here are some actionable items to help you utilize mirrors in your home:

• Consider Placing a free-standing and full-length Mirror between two Windows.

• Utilize large mirrors with thin frames in small rooms.

• Place a mirror opposite or beside a window to magnify light.

Conclusion

While making the decision to put and prepare your home for sale is stressful enough, implementing these strategies, you can effectively stage and renovate your home to increase its value in the real estate market. Work with a real estate agent to create a plan that suits your property and budget, ensuring that your efforts result in a successful and profitable sale.