First impressions are everything!

Home Staging– the art of arranging and decorating a property to highlight its best features, which can significantly impact the selling process.

Here at Love, Listings, & Lifestyles, together with Rosa Goncalves- Co-Founder of So Chic (a home staging company based in New Jersey) will provide you with valuable tips on how to show your home effectively, ensuring a quick and successful sale.

There are many benefits to staging your home

Staging allows you to define the purpose of each space, highlighting the possibilities and showcasing the home’s features. This clarity can enhance buyer interest and facilitate a faster decision-making process. An additional benefit is it creates a sense of scale & proportion. This helps buyers understand the space better, specifically in large or oddly shaped rooms. By strategically placing properly sized furniture and decor, staging can highlight the dimensions and the properties potential.

It is important to note that if you are working with a Realtor, to consult with them to determine how much staging is needed.

There are various ways to use staging

1. Vacant homes: When a home is vacant, it can be challenging for potential buyers to imagine how their furniture and belongings would fit into the space. According to the National Association of Realtors ®  82% of buyers agents said that staging helped their clients visualize the space better & imagine themselves living there.
2. Occupied homes: Sometimes it is important to stage an occupied home as well. The way to do this best, is to declutter, de-personalize & paint neutral colors!
3. Virtual Staging: This cost-effective solution, utilizes technology to enhance and furnish vacant properties. Instead of physically placing furniture and decor in a home, virtual staging involves digitally adding furniture, accessories, and other design elements to photographs of empty rooms.

Easy tips for a homeowner to increase value

1. Declutter: Remove personal items, excessive furniture, and unnecessary clutter from all rooms. A clean and clutter-free space creates a sense of openness and allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in the home. Plus, too many items can be distracting & overwhelming for buyers.
2. Deep Clean: Give your home a thorough cleaning, including floors, windows, surfaces, and fixtures. A sparkling clean home not only looks more appealing but also gives the impression that it has been well-maintained.
3. Neutralize Colors: Consider repainting bold or personalized walls with neutral colors. Neutral tones create a blank canvas that appeals to a wider range of buyers and makes it easier for them to imagine their own furniture and decor in the space.
4. Maximize Natural Light: Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light, which can make rooms appear larger and more inviting. Replace heavy drapes with sheer or light-colored curtains to allow maximum light penetration.
5. Rearrange Furniture: Create a sense of flow and highlight the best features of each room by arranging furniture in a way that maximizes space and emphasizes focal points, such as fireplaces or large windows.
6. Enhance Curb Appeal: Always ensure the lawn is well-maintained, trim bushes and trees, and add potted plants or flowers near the entrance. *Little tip: if your front door is outdated, painting it a nice bright color will make a huge difference! (shutters included)
7. Smell in the home: As an agent one of the biggest complaints I’ve received from my buyers, is the smell immediately upon entering the home. Sometimes the seller may try to mask the smell (whether smoker, pet owner, etc) by lighting too many strong candles, air fresheners, or plug in smells. Be cognizant of this when preparing to show your home.

By implementing these easy tips, you can create an appealing and inviting space that will make your home stand out.

My professional opinion?

Hire a professional stager like Rosa @ So Chic, so the process is as hassle free as can be. Typically the first step would be for them to preview the home, shortly thereafter the staging company would send an official quote or proposal. After the client agrees on the proposal & accepts the project the company would then schedule the delivery and do the set up. After the home goes under contract and prior to closing on your home, the staging company would pick up the furniture themselves. Additionally, So Chic offers services through their referral partners for other improvement projects a homeowner might consider like landscapers, contractors and cleaning services.

Browse here for some inspiration: https://klimovgroup.com/buyers-looking-in-new-jersey/

So take my advice, staging a home in ANY market is an extremely powerful tool when it comes to selling properties quickly and at it’s best possible price. Shhhhh it’s one of our secrets 😉