We live in a visual world; people form impressions and opinions immediately – far sooner rather than later. As a result, it becomes more imperative to present your property (home) in the best light possible. That means sellers must commit to aesthetics and show the home’s positive attributes.

You can achieve this with effective home décor and interior design.

Selling a home is a visual and emotional experience for buyers – so you want to make that impression. They have to feel connected in order to remember your home and a positive impression can achieve just that. Remember that your house isn’t the only home they’ve seen throughout their journey and many other sellers are attempting to stage their home just as you may plan to – but those with more powerful and lasting impressions, sell quicker and at a higher offer.

To help build a more positive impression, here are some home staging tips – from some of Vancouver’s staging pros based on general consensus. These tips can help get your home in tip-top shape to impress buyers and even make them fall in love.

Focus your staging initially on the room’s entry, which will invite buyers to look at details more closely. Staging your home’s entryway as the buyer enters is at the top of the list because the first view a buyer sees is exactly that – so keep this initial impression in mind when staging.
If you’re on a budget, it’s a good idea to focus more on those renovations with the biggest return on investment (ROI) and re-assess those that are not. Counter-tops, light fixtures, flooring, and hardware can make a huge difference. Stick to classic and neutral choices. It’ll appeal to both traditional and contemporary buyers.
Painting the walls using in-trend warm neutrals is good practice – as these warm tones are liveable, classic and subtle, yet stylish. Use grays and beige, not white; white tends to be more utilized for the modern appeal.
Use wall art, throw pillows, home décor, and colors you know appeal to your target buyer market.
Be sparse on distractions and accessories. Your color palette should be easy on the eyes for every room, especially bedroom interiors.
Experiment and don’t shy away from adding modern pieces and urban accents to your family home. Add a landscape or cityscape art piece, or try metal stools.
Don’t be afraid to be creative. You need your home to stand out instead of blending in with the rest of the market.
You need to de-clutter, clean, and repair your home. Update any home décor before showing your property – if you feel it takes away from the appeal or vibe are trying to create. Also, it’s highly recommended that you opt for deep cleaning the house and carpet of your home, using a professional service.
Create as much square footage as possible. Put away any items not in use, and get rid of oversized furniture as well as anything blocking entryways. Many sellers have an abundance of furnishings. If you need assistance, consider a professional stager to help you create more space, openness, appeal, and flow by rearranging furnishings and décor.
Make sure your home appears to be move-in ready. Most buyers are looking for move-in ready homes. It’s difficult for buyers to imagine a home looking any other way; so it can be difficult to get good offers if your home is not staged in tip-top or even satisfactory condition. If you avoid this home staging tip, you may still get offers, but they’ll tend to be lower than what you opted for or had in mind.
Spotlight something about the home’s community or location: add a landscape painting or portrait. Buyers are drawn to unique but significant locations. For example, if you live near the water, add beach or river inspired items. If you live near the mountains add mountainous terrains. Remember to keep it subtle; don’t go over-the-top. You don’t want a beach-themed home; you want accents of it to highlight its location as a feature-point – as well as any significance thereof.
Lastly, prepare and be prepared: keep empty bins or laundry baskets in areas you feel need your attention, so you can de-clutter immediately for a showing – in particular for those buyers who are late notice. You don’t want items that are out of place to be present during a showing, as it takes away from that all important first impression. Happy home staging!
What are some of your favourite home staging tips? We’d like to hear your opinion.