What rooms should stage if I’m on a budget?
Home staging is a smart investment. But how are you going to make your house undergo staging if you have a tight budget? Should you just let it go and stage the house on your own?
Of course not. It’s always a big mistake to stage your own house whether you have a budget or not. The thing is, you would want to spend your money wisely. And how are you going to achieve that if you don’t know what you are doing? It’s always the right choice to invest in home staging and hire a professional. In this way, you know that your money is spent wisely and efficiently.
You can always stage a home even if you are on a budget. All you need to do is pick the rooms that usually garner attention from the buyers.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) cited that the living room, master bedroom, and dining room are the top three important rooms to stage according to the buyers. 86% consider the living room, 84% for the master bedroom, and 71% for the dining room. The fourth one is the kitchen with 68%.
The living room is important for the buyers because aside from the exterior, it is the first part of the house that they see. It must have an inviting appearance so they can imagine themselves welcoming their guests if ever they buy the house. Remove the huge couch and the family photos. Make it look well-ventilated and spacious– or simply a place where guests can feel comfortable.
The Master bedroom is the most important among other bedrooms in your house. This means every nook and cranny of this room shall be free from all of your personal stuff. The closet should look as if half-empty to make it look big.
Some people believe the dining room is important because it is where the most intimate bonding of the family happen. In here, the family can focus on each other’s stories over a sumptuous meal. This is why the dining room shall have a warm and spacious appearance.
Your professional stager will work on these three while you make sure that the rest of the house is clean, organized, and decluttered. Sometimes sellers with a limited budget only pay for consultation and do the staging themselves. This is acceptable since you are guided by the advice of a professional. Just make sure you do it faithfully. On the other hand, it is much easier to leave the work to the stager since he/she can provide you with the best materials to use, as well as cheap rental of furniture needed in the house. You don’t have to worry about anything aside from other parts of the house which may only require minimal work.
Focus on these three and you’re all set to stand a chance against other houses for sale. Of course, you also have to make sure the exterior is inviting. Otherwise, you cannot make them step inside your home if they weren’t attracted or curious at all on the outside. Give them something to look forward to and then surprise them inside by highlighting the living room, master bedroom, and the dining room.