Once you make the decision to sell your home, the next step is to make sure you get the highest price possible. If it’s been decades since you’ve sold a house, there have been some changes you should know about. Where once you might have just straightened up and baked some cookies to give your home a welcoming, homey smell prior to a showing, now it’s all about helping prospective buyers seeing themselves living in your home. This is where home staging and tips for 2024 come in.
Staging Your Home
Home staging is about giving you the best edge and the best offers. Here are some home staging tips to help you achieve both.
- Curb appeal: Make sure the buyer is excited about seeing your home. If your front door isn’t in tip-top shape, paint it to give it a fresh look. Ensure you have proper lighting outside and get rid of all outside clutter.
- Entryway: The entryway is the first room potential buyers see when they enter your home and the last one they see when they leave. It provides clues to the buyers about what they can expect in the rest of the home regarding cleanliness and style.
- Living room staging: This is often the first room the buyers go through when touring your home. It’s also the place they want to envision themselves relaxing and entertaining. Declutter, pare down furniture and use lighting to make the room feel comfortable.
- Kitchen staging: The kitchen is one of the most looked-at areas. Clear the kitchen countertop and island clutter and reduce the number of appliances you have out.
- Main bedroom staging: Depersonalize the primary bedroom so that anyone can picture themselves comfortably sleeping there.
- Bathroom staging: Ensure all the bathrooms are spotless. If your toilets, sinks or tubs have rust or other unsightly issues, use CLR to clean them. Update old lighting fixtures and the hardware on your bathroom cabinets. Consider painting the bathroom cabinetry and investing in new shower curtains, rugs and bathmats. To create a spa-like look in the bathrooms include fluffy towels, candles and fancy soaps.
- Garage staging: You may be tempted to store excess items in your garage. However, your garage leaves an impression on buyers, so you may want to consider storing your items in a pod or other storage unit then be sure to clean and organize the garage.
- Closets and storage areas staging: The buyer will look at everything, including closets, cabinets, drawers and other storage areas. Well-organized storage areas leave a favorable impression on buyers.
- Declutter: Buyers don’t want to see clutter – they want to see the home spacious and clean. They see an organized and clutter-free home as an indication the owner has and is taking care of the house. Too much furniture, pillows and home accessories can make a home look and feel smaller.
- Pets: For the comfort and peace of mind of real estate agents and buyers, consider taking your pet for a walk or to a kennel and removing all pet scents.
- Depersonalize: It’s a delicate balance between the cold feeling of a stark empty house and too many collectibles, wall hangings, wallpaper and other personal items.
- Clean: Clean and organize your kitchen cabinets, drawers, pantry, refrigerator and microwave.
- Brighten: Allow natural light to flow through your living spaces. Make sure the blinds and curtains are open and have lights and lamps on. Where possible, add more lighting to enhance the living and bedroom areas. Make sure there’s plenty of light in the kitchen.
- Touch-up and repair: Go through every room in your home and scan for those areas that need a touch-up or to be repaired.
- Carpets: Have your carpets professionally cleaned to remove tough stains and odors. If your carpet is worn in spots, consider recarpeting certain areas or all the carpeting.
“I’ve been in real estate for 34 years and have been involved with people when they’ve moved to Edgewood Summit. I know how everyone who goes through that situation feels because I went through it with my own mom. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. When I visit my mom, I see people who I sold their house six months ago and I see how happy they are now.”
— Brenda Bradley is a local Charleston real estate agent. Her mom moved to Edgewood Summit in 2021.
Top Design Trends
Things are always coming in and out of style (remember avocado green appliances and wood paneling) so when it comes time to put your home on the market here are some things you might want to incorporate.
- Accent walls: Use more creative molding designs for accent walls and incorporate more fun patterns in wallpaper or tiles with graphic backsplashes.
- Unusual lights: The hottest trends are pendant lighting over a dining table, wall sconces to free up square footage and smart lighting systems that create a scene or mood.
- Natural lighting: To incorporate the benefits of natural light consider large windows and skylights. You can also maximize natural light with a light color scheme and reflective surfaces, like mirrors and shimmery accent pillows.
- Curves: Soft edges and arched shapes are visually appealing and add softness and sophistication to a space. Also consider curved furniture, from sofas to coffee tables, poofs and even small home accessories.
- Bold contrasts: Black drawer and door hardware bring in dark, rich tones and textures. That includes darker, moody accent walls in a bedroom as well as black interior doors.
- Green living: To embrace this home staging décor trend, keep windows bare to highlight the view, include potted plants, and be environmentally conscious in your design choices.
- Smart homes: From voice-activated lighting and smart glass to AI-driven home management, these innovations make daily life easier and more efficient.
- Floor tiles: Make a Statement with oversized, large-scale tiles. Use dramatic patterns, new compositions, and unexpected layouts to add personality.
- Home office: With remote work here to stay, buyers are looking for soundproofing and stylish design along with ergonomic furniture to make their workspaces more functional and inspiring.
- Add character: Vintage finds, artisanal craftsmanship and personalized decor bring character, warmth and individuality to homes.
- Mid-century modern: It’s the perfect blend of sleek lines, organic shapes, and functional design.
- Rugs: Unique, eye-catching rug designs will add personality and warmth to any space. Statement rugs can create a focal point that ties the entire room together.
- Joyous colors: Bold shades — like bubblegum pink and bright turquoise — create a sense of fun and energy.
- Dual color tones: Two- or three-tone color schemes add depth and complexity to spaces. Plus, soft, harmonious tones create a sense of balance and visual interest.
- Parisian gray: The muted, sophisticated gray pairs beautifully with various colors and materials for a feeling of understated luxury.
Life at Edgewood Summit is Always on Trend
Some trends — like living an active life full of fun and vitality — never go out of style. To learn more about the benefits of Edgewood Summit, contact us here.
