In today’s competitive real estate market, homestaging isn’t an option – it’s an obligation. To attract a wide range of potential buyers, sellers must do everything in their power to make their home stand out. Of course, everyone is familiar with the three pillars of home staging: de-cluttering, depersonalizing and deep cleaning. However, by focusing on these three basic rules, many sellers overlook some important missteps. So, if you want to sell your home quickly and at the best price, you need to think of everything. That’s why we’ve listed below the most common home valuation mistakes to avoid in 2022. Let’s go !
Ignoring the demographics of potential buyers
When preparing your home for the market, one of the most common staging mistakes to avoid in 2022 is failing to identify who your potential buyers are. What does this mean? It means you need to learn about current market trends and assess the type of neighborhood your home is in.
For example, if you’re selling your condo in downtown Miami, it’s best to make your second bedroom a home office or guest room rather than a nursery. Indeed, people looking to buy property in this part of town are more likely to be young professionals than families with children. On the other hand, if you’re selling a family home in the suburbs, an extra children’s bedroom will be a major asset.
In short, you need to know your target market. The more you know about current trends and what buyers are looking for, the faster you’ll sell your home. What’s more, you’ll also make a bigger profit. That’s probably the best advice you can give sellers when it comes to home staging.
Too many neutral colors
Since the primary objective in staging your home is to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, one of the most basic tips is to use a more neutral color palette. While this makes perfect sense, many sellers overdo it. If you use only neutral tones for everything, you’ll create a bland, boring space. So, if you want to add value to your home to sell it, and do it the right way, you need to mix neutral tones with a dash of character. Unfortunately, this is something sellers often overlook, so it’s another of the home staging mistakes to avoid in 2022.
We suggest throwing a few brightly colored cushions on your sofa. A colorful rug or carpet is also a must. You can also add a touch of color with beautiful artwork. Oh, and don’t forget the pretty flowers and plants!
Neglecting lighting
Lighting creates a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere in every home. That’s why potential buyers like to see a home that’s light and airy. One of the biggest advantages is having large windows that let a lot of natural light into your home. A room flooded with sunlight will certainly earn you some bonus points. So, if you’re lucky enough to have this light in your home, make sure you enhance it with well-placed window treatments and curtains.
If you don’t have enough natural light in your home, you can compensate with adequate lighting. Using table and floor lamps will create several levels of lighting. On the other hand,
Overloading every room
One of the goals you want to achieve with home staging is to make the space feel larger. You can achieve this by arranging furniture in the right way. That’s why one of the biggest staging mistakes to avoid in 2022 is overloading your space with bulky furniture. Not only will rooms seem smaller, but you’ll also block natural movement. And believe us, you don’t want to disrupt the natural movement in a room. So, when positioning furniture, keep in mind the paths taken spontaneously through rooms, and remove elements that obstruct them or impede entry.
What’s more, professionals suggest avoiding angled furniture when staging a home. People do it because they think it will make the room appear larger, but in reality it has the opposite effect and totally disrupts the room’s perspective. So don’t do it.
Do not emphasize closets and shelves
Many sellers overlook them when preparing their home for the market: closets and shelving. Many people don’t think about it, but your closets and extra storage need to be properly organized so that potential buyers can get a good feel for the space and its functionality. Make sure they open your closets and cupboards to see how much space is available, or check the space in your kitchen cabinets. If you leave clutter there, you’ll leave a bad impression too. So, in addition to decluttering and cleaning, make sure you organize the contents.
Disregard exterior appearance
Any experienced broker will tell you that exterior appearance is a feature you simply can’t overlook when staging a home. First impressions are everything, so you absolutely must make sure that this one is a good one. By taking care of the façade,
So cut weeds, mow the lawn, clean the driveway and beautify the garden with colorful flowers. Also, make sure there’s no debris in the front yard. As for your front door, make it clean and welcoming with a fresh coat of paint. That way, the front of your home will reflect what awaits buyers inside!
Ready to enhance your home like a pro?
In short, there are the well-known rules of home staging, but there are also the things we forget. We’ve listed the most common staging mistakes to avoid in 2022 to help you sell your home for top dollar. As you can see, you’ll have to spend a little more time preparing your home. However, it will all be worth it when you see how many potential buyers are interested in your home. So keep this list in mind, and good luck!