Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

In a strictly rational world, buying a home would be largely an economic decision. Homebuyers would weigh the properties carefully, comparing factors like appreciation potential, relative value, and quality of life. But in the real world, the home buying experience is quite different.

Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander
Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

In the real world, home buyers shop with their eyes, and with their hearts, and that makes home staging an essential part of the sales process. And since so many home searches now start online, staging a house for sale is as much about websites as open houses. If you want to stage your home for a quick sale, you need to look at the property through the eyes of the emotional buyer. Here are 10 steps to get you started.

Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success
by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

#1: Review similar listings online, looking for properties that sold quickly and for top dollar.

Look at what those home staging photos have in common, and use that knowledge to stage your own house for sale. However, the chances are you would want to sell your house for more than your neighbors did, so you will need to step up your game with expert home staging services in that case.

#2: Invest in professional photography!

Staging a house for online requires plenty of great photographs, and the finished product needs to be professional and has to help you sell the house fast. Even if you are good with the camera, it is best to hire a pro who specializes in real estate photography. Professional lenses, lighting, video production equipment, aerial and drone imaging, and most important post-production isn’t something readily available to anyone, so be sure to work with a photography studio that has been featured in architectural, style and interior design publications. If you live in the Hudson Valley region, I would recommend Duncan Avenue Photography Studio, not just because I run it, but because it has the track record of delivering world-class magazine quality photography that has helped many Hudson Valley homeowners to sell their properties fast and on top of the market.

Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander
Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

#3: Make a list of the strengths and weaknesses of your home.

Think about what you want to accentuate, and what you want to minimize, as you start staging your home for online exposure and real-world open houses.

#4: Target the right buyers.

Home staging should be targeted to the buyer, so think about the types of people who would be most likely to buy your home. This will allow you to fine-tune the staging process.

Authentic Modern Rustic Interior Design - Luxury Real Estate Property for Sale in Rock Tavern, NY - Almax Realty - The Best Real Estate in the Hudson Valley
Authentic Modern Rustic Interior Design – Luxury Real Estate Property for Sale in Rock Tavern, NY – Almax Realty – The Best Real Estate in the Hudson Valley

#5: Enhance your curb appeal.

How your property looks from the outside is an integral part of home staging. From painting the front door and adding exterior lights to trimming shrubs and removing weeds, simple changes can vastly increase your curb appeal.

#6: Make simple repairs.

If you have been putting off your to-do list, now is the time to get going. Those tiny details will loom large to potential buyers, so take care of them now, before the formal staging process begins.

Luxury Hudson Valley Home for Sale - Almax Realty - The Best Real Estate in the Hudson Valley
Luxury Hudson Valley Home for Sale – Almax Realty – The Best Real Estate in the Hudson Valley

#7: Empty and organize.

If you want to stage your home like a pro, start with a clean slate. That means emptying out the rooms, organizing items and rearranging furniture to maximize space and make the room pop.

Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander
Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

#8: Clean and scrub.

Now that your space is largely empty, it is time for deep cleaning. Cleaning and scrubbing each room is a key part of successful home staging, and no detail is too small.

#9: Depersonalize and declutter.

If you do not need it, put it away, and that includes photos and personal items. Depersonalizing and decluttering your space will make your home staging efforts more successful.

#10: Go neutral with colorful accents.

You cannot predict the personal tastes of the people who will be touring your home, both online and in person. If you want to enhance your home staging efforts, start with a neutral palette, then add some colorful details to make the space pop.

Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander
Staging a House for Sale: 10 Steps to Home Staging Success by Designer/Realtor Maxwell Alexander

Buying a home is a major monetary commitment, but there are commitments on the other side as well. When you sell your home, you are investing your time and effort, and that has monetary value as well. If you want to make the most of that investment, staging your house for a quick and profitable sale is a good place to start. The 10 step plan outlined above can help you sell your home, so you can book your gains and move on to your new property.

If all of the above feels like too much with your busy schedule, find a team of realtors who can help you with all 10 Steps! AlmaxRealty is Hudson Valley’s best team of realtors with direct access to professional staging services, professional real estate photography and world-class global marketing channels.

Home staging is a crucial marketing tool when you are planning to sell your home and to acquire the real worth of your property.

For truly valuable home staging services, it is essential to look for an expert home staging consultant who has experience in real estate sales, with an elevated sense of taste and a deep understanding of the real estate market and how a house can sell for top dollar.

Alexander Maxwell Realty agents have years of experience in real estate sales and interior design and know exactly how to approach the staging process. Alexander Realty Team will guide you and provide professional advice on how to stage your home based on the custom marketing strategy created specifically for you and your home.

Reasons to choose staging consultation from a licensed real estate broker

Improves Appeal and Marketability

We will offer you a plan for preparing and staging your home. In addition to that, we will provide recommendations on how to elevate the overall look of the property. Staging captures the interest of the buyer and attracts online views that lead to more private showings.

Increase in objectivity

The perception of a property for the homeowner/seller and a buyer is very different. Most sellers/homeowners believe their clients will love the house the way it is, just like they love their home. However, that is often not the case, so you should always consider that with our help you will get the highest level of expertise on how to prepare and showcase your house before the sale.

Getting property-specific style and design advice

Our recommendations will be based on experience, market research, and added value. We do not use the blunt “this looks nice” approach.

Costs

At your consultation, we will introduce you to the cost vs value approach and develop a plan that fits your budget. We will ensure that our recommendations are most appropriate for your property and what the current market dictates – this will ensure that your staging expenses will be an investment, rather than a loss.

Authentic Modern Rustic Interior Design - Luxury Real Estate Property for Sale in Rock Tavern, NY - Almax Realty - The Best Real Estate in the Hudson Valley

Authentic Modern Rustic Interior Design – Luxury Real Estate Property for Sale in Rock Tavern, NY – Almax Realty – The Best Real Estate in the Hudson Valley