As you prepare your home for listing, you have a lot of tasks on your plate. Not only do you need to choose a Milton, GA real estate agent who will best help you achieve your selling goals, but you’ll also have to create a marketing plan, make sure your home is priced competitively, and start thinking about where you will move to once your home sells. However, even though you have a list of things you need to do, it’s important to understand the importance of staging Milton, Georgia houses.
Not only do staged homes sell for more (an average of 17% more, according to some sources), but they also sell faster. This makes it well worth the time and effort to add staging to your pre-selling checklist. While hiring a professional stager is always the best way to ensure your home is properly staged, many of those selling Milton, Georgia houses prefer to do the staging themselves. If this is your decision, you need to avoid the following common mistakes that DIY stagers often make.
#1: Not doing a deep cleaning first
No matter how well your home is staged, it still won’t be appealing to potential buyers if you don’t deep clean it first. No matter how well you’ve been keeping up on your regular cleaning, you likely need to take that one step further before you begin the staging process. Consider hiring a professional company that specializes in cleaning Milton, Georgia houses before they are listed for sale. A company like this will have a checklist of what needs to be cleaned and will have the equipment and the know-how to get it done properly.
#2: Allowing clutter
Before you get to the nuts and bolts of staging your home, you need to first take care of any clutter. This includes extra clothes, small appliances that are taking up room on your counters, papers, knickknacks, and anything else that is keeping your home from looking neat and organized.
Milton, GA real estate and staging professionals suggest their clients rent a storage unit prior to the staging process so they can remove clutter and get it away from the eyes of potential buyers. Remember that buyers will be scrutinizing every inch of your home—including closets, basements, and other storage spaces—so you don’t want to pack these areas with your stuff.
#3: Letting your personality shine through
Those who are looking at Milton, Georgia houses for sale don’t want to buy your home. They want to buy their future home. This is an essential distinction for sellers to understand because it means you need to remove as much of your personality from your home as possible. This includes taking down family photos, removing any religious or spiritual symbols, storing away framed diplomas or certificates, and ensuring that unique artwork or décor is safely tucked into boxes in your storage unit. This will help buyers visualize what their lives could look like should they decide to make an offer on your home.
#4: Not repainting
Every Milton GA real estate professional knows that a fresh coat of paint can transform a room. This is especially important if you have rooms in your home that are painted in colors that were trendy five years ago or that have begun to fade or are scuffed.
The best colors to use in homes that will be put on the market are neutral tones like cream or off-white, light grey, and beige. You can also consider light blue or grey colors for the kitchen and bathrooms. Even if your home is already painted in neutral tones, you may want to consider a refresh to brighten the colors and to take care of any odors that may have seeped into the walls.
#5: Letting pets remain in the home
There may be plenty of pet lovers looking at Milton, Georgia houses for sale, but that doesn’t mean they want to see evidence of your pets during showings. If prospective buyers see evidence of pets (or the pets themselves) in a home, they may think the home is dirty, damaged, or not well-maintained. When staging, make sure you remove evidence of pets such as beds, toys, dishes, and pictures. You’ll also want to make sure your pets have somewhere else to stay prior to showings.
#6: Keeping too much furniture
Too much furniture — or too many large pieces of furniture — in a room can make it look cluttered and cramped. During the staging process, remove as much furniture as possible and place it in your storage unit. Each room should have the minimal amount necessary to convey its purpose. For example, a bedroom should have only a bed, a nightstand, and a dresser, while a sitting room should have only one or two chairs and a side table.
#7: Not enough light
Plenty of light makes Milton, Georgia houses more welcoming and makes each room appear larger. Natural light is best, so make sure you remove any heavy draperies or blinds to let as much sunlight come through as possible.
You can replace it with sheer drapes, modern blinds that remain rolled to the top of the window, or go without window coverings altogether. If any of your rooms are dark, add an extra floor or desk lamp and ask your Milton, GA real estate agent to turn on all lights before showings.
If you want to sell your home for the highest possible profit, staging is necessary for the pre-listing process. Using the tips in this article and working with a trusted Milton, GA real estate agent like Trish Hauser, you can nail the staging process and achieve your selling goals.
