Selling your home can be both thrilling and overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can create a space that captivates buyers and sells for top dollar. The “FEEL HOME” approach is a tried-and-true method to prepare your property for success. Whether you’re considering vacant home staging or occupied home staging, this strategy ensures that your home is inviting, marketable, and unforgettable.
This is the approach I mastered during my professional certification with the Home Staging Resource:
First Impressions: Captivate Buyers in Seconds
First impressions matter, and buyers often decide how they feel about a property within moments of seeing it for the first time. There are two critical first impressions: the online impression from MLS listing photos and the in-person impression when buyers step through the door. With most buyers beginning their search online, captivating photos are essential for sparking interest and drawing them to your property. Once they arrive, curb appeal and a welcoming entryway create a strong second impression that sets the tone for their visit. Professional Home Staging ensures both impressions are unforgettable by crafting a space that feels like “home.” This vital step establishes a positive emotional connection and enhances the buyer’s experience.
Eliminate Clutter: Let Your Home’s Potential Shine
The word “clutter” has a negative connotation. When we talk about ‘clutter,’ we’re not critiquing your home—it’s about ensuring buyers can see its true potential. Pre-packing non-essential items helps the property’s unique features shine.
Emphasize the Positive While Downplaying the Negative
Every home has its strengths and weaknesses. Our goal is to highlight your home’s most beautiful focal points while drawing attention away from any negative elements. You may be wondering what a negative element may be. It could be a poorly positioned bump-out in a wall or some other structural feature that buyers have a hard time envisioning what to do with. This can be particularly challenging for vacant homes. Professional home stagers appreciate the art and science of strategically placing furniture and home decor, drawing attention to what makes your property special and desirable.
Lighten Up: Bright Spaces Draw Buyers In
Lighting and color play an essential role in home staging. Rooms that are light are welcoming to potential buyers. Some homes need updated paint that photographs well and resonates with potential buyers; other homes may require updated light fixtures, or at least brighter light bulbs. As we make your home feel like home to prospective buyers, we’ll focus on making each room warm and inviting by maximizing natural light, incorporating updated fixtures, and utilizing color palettes that resonate with buyers. A well-lit home feels more spacious and welcoming, helping buyers imagine themselves living there.
Professional home stagers who are also certified in conducting color consultations are well equipped to make the best color recommendations for your home.
Home Buyer’s Appeal: Help Buyers See Themselves Making Memories in the Home
For a buyer to truly “feel home,” they need to envision themselves living there and building their future. Personal photos and unique decor can be a distraction. By depersonalizing your home while retaining warmth through thoughtful placement of neutral accessories, we create an inviting atmosphere through occupied home staging that speaks to all potential buyers.
Obligations: Cleaning and Repairs
The little things matter. Cleaning and addressing minor repairs might seem mundane, but these tasks are vital to a successful home sale. Buyers are quick to notice anything that feels unfinished or neglected. Professional home staging goes beyond making a home present well in photos. During the initial consultation, we identify overlooked repairs that come with years of daily living. We also provide a perspective on what may need a little elbow grease. Focusing on the obligatory cleaning and repairs ensures your home feels move-in ready, eliminating any mental repair lists that could deter offers and decrease the value of your home. This is especially important for unoccupied, empty homes where flaws can stand out even more without furniture to balance or distract the eye. Vacant home staging is even more critical so that potential buyers are seeing a future in the home rather than seeing its flaws. It’s not that home staging is trying to cover up a home’s flaws. Critical fixes must always be addressed. However, staging an occupied or vacant home helps buyers see past the flaws and see the home for its full potential!
Modernizing: Updated Homes Attract More Buyers
Simple updates can make a world of difference. Modernizing a home doesn’t mean costly renovations. Here are some simple updates that can have a big impact!
Simple Modern Updates Buyers Love:
- Add a fresh coat of light neutral paint
- Update kitchen cabinet hardware
- Replace light fixtures whose lifespan has expired
- Swap out decades old furniture with rented furniture or new furniture to bring to your new home
- Replace tired accent pillows to create an inviting place to sit
One of my favorite transformations was for a home where the seller moved into a senior living apartment, vacating the home, and allowing us to modernize the home with new flooring, paint, light fixtures, and staging. After a modest $6,000 investment, the home sold for $50,000 above the original appraised value, giving the homeowner $44,000 additional money in his pocket! You can read the full story on my blog post titled: “The Three Townhomes of Victoria Court”.
Emotional Connection Points: Creating the “Wow Factor”
This is where the magic happens. Emotional connection points are what make buyers fall in love with a home. Have you ever walked into a new construction model home or a well-staged home for sale and felt drawn in? Through thoughtful staging, we create emotional connection points—those cozy reading nooks, vibrant artwork, or dining setups that help buyers imagine making memories in your home — that’s the power of professional staging. We strategically curate these spaces to evoke warmth and excitement, helping buyers imagine their lives unfolding in the home.
Why Choose a Professional Home Stager?
Whether your home is vacant or occupied, working with a professional home stager ensures that every detail is carefully considered and executed. Home staging isn’t just about making a house look good—it’s about selling a lifestyle. By following the “FEEL HOME” approach, you can maximize your property’s potential and attract buyers who are ready to make an offer. Investing in professional home staging is one of the most cost-effective ways to sell your property quickly and at a higher value.
In today’s competitive market, your home deserves to stand out. Contact us now to create a space buyers can’t resist!