Brighten up your home and bring in buyers with these easy staging ideas

In a slow real estate market, you can’t afford to stick a sign on your lawn and hope for the best. Your house is competing with every other property in your area and price range, and buyers have a lot to choose from.  The difference between whether someone is motivated to put in an offer now, or wait it out to see how low the price will go, is how much he or she really wants your house. When decorating your house to sell, remember that you are romancing prospective buyers.

Springtime brings sunshine, showers — and plenty of opportunities for home staging. Make the most of the season with these fresh updates that are sure to attract buyers.

Whip your yard into shape. When you’re selling in the spring, you need to get your yard in shape as quickly as possible. Clear winter yard debris, and get frost-resistant plants that won’t be affected if a late cold spell hits. Invest in sod for a touch of green now that you don’t have to wait for.

Do some spring cleaning. It’s natural to want to spruce up your space in the spring, so scrub away! A sparkling home will impress buyers and make your home seem even more appealing.

Box up your winter wardrobe. Bulky winter clothes take up lots of space, so move them out as you de-clutter your closets. You’ll impress buyers with all that space.  Clear away any items that you don’t use everyday, and put all of thee items in storage now.  That way, your house looks open and uncluttered, and you have a jump start on your move down the road.

Spruce up the entryway. If your welcome mat is covered with winter dirt, pick up a new one. A clean, pretty doorway will help set the tone for the entire showing.  Since curb appeal is key, don’t forget your mailbox, house number and front door hardware, which help buyers form a first impression of your home.

Bring spring aromas indoors. Spring is not only a colorful season, but a fragrant one, too. Bring the aroma indoors. Scents have a profound effect on mood, so infusing scent into your decor with diffusers, candles, fresh cut plants and flowers can change the overall feeling of a space.  But be careful not to mix too many scents, or overdo it.

Bring out the bright colors. Tuck away the heavy, winter flannel comforter and pull out crisp linens with coverlets for color. Bring in the spring with floral-designed spreads or colorful solids. Don’t forget accent pillows for added style and comfort.

Decorate for your home’s target market.  If you’re selling a four-bedroom house in a family neighborhood, decorate to appeal to families. Whether you really have children or not, one of the bedrooms should be shown as a kid’s room and one possibly as a nursery.  Create a comfortable and welcoming family room. Remember, you want buyers to imagine their lives in your home. If they can’t visualize where the kids will play, they’ll move on to the next listing.

Don’t try to sell an empty house.  A vacant house looks sad and desperate. Buyers often cannot viualise furnishings in an unfurnished house, and vacant houses can look smaller.  Furniture and accessories can be rented or borrowed to create the right environment to romance buyers. Professional home stagers will provide everything you need, right down to dishes, linens, accessories and artwork, if you don’t have the time or knowledge to tackle this on your own.

Strategically use art.  You’ve probably heard you should remove all family photos and diplomas when staging a home so buyers won’t focus on who you are instead of imagining your house as their home.  Replace these with art.  Avoid religious pieces, most nudes and anything else that could be offensive to prospective buyers. Use pieces appropriate to the size of the wall, and hang your art at eye level.

Use brighter lighting to boost sales.  Lighting counts.  Keep drapes open for showings, use higher watt bulbs and if updating fixtures, keep them consistent with your home’s price point.  If your home will be listed for more than $300,000, don’t use $5 builder’s fixtures, which reduce your home’s perceived value. Using the same reasoning, don’t put an expensive crystal chandelier in a $100,000 starter home.

Update your home’s jewelry.  Give a dated kitchen or bathroom an instant facelift with new cabinet hardware, taps and faucets. Try to be consistent with the type of metal used throughout the house, but especially within the same room. Oil-rubbed bronze hardware is well suited to a traditional home and works well in a space with dark countertops. Brushed or satin nickel or chrome work best with stainless steel appliances and in homes with a contemporary feel.