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Helpful advice for those thinking about staging their homes for sale.

Here at NQPS, we started by staging our own homes to sell.  Renovating and selling proved profitable. We were staging long before we knew it was “staging”.

Agents here in Townsville consistently tell us that homes that are professionally staged sell for more and sell quicker.  The reality is not everyone will be able to vacate their homes to sell.  we can still help in this circumstance by offering a couple of services.

Firstly, we can go through the house with you, provide you with expert advice as to what you can do to make your home appealing to buyers.  This could be de-personalising, minor repairs and cosmetic changes.  We can certainly do these things for you but you could also do it yourself if you were so inclined.

Secondly, we can do an integrated stage which is working with you to stage the property and installing specific items whilst also utilising your own items.  This can be problematic with pets and children and used very selectively.

Or you could have a go at doing it yourself by following some of the tips below.

Depersonalise! Remove personal photos, sporting trophies, certificates on display and other such items.

Remove anything that is not needed. If you have lots of furniture in a space, it can look cluttered and closed in.  Store the excess items at family or friends or take out a short-term lease on a self-storage unit.

Remove anything polarising. Is someone in your house an avid Ford fan with Ford bedding.  For the sake of Holden lovers switch it out with something neutral.  Same for football teams and similar – you get the idea. You want to be neutral.

Let there be light – have a look at your window furnishings – let the light in and use mirrors to bounce light around the space if needed.

Clean all walls, pull furniture out.  Any marks on walls look unappealing.

Look at your colour scheme – is it in need of a paint job? We have been doing our own homes for years and with practice have achieved a professional finish.  If you are up to it, have a go yourself or get a professional in.  This will include patching any marks and repairing dents on walls etc.

Be mindful of smells. If you have smokers in your household you need to think about not smoking in the home and deodorising.  Nicotine and tobacco are not attractive to non-smokers and the reality is that smokers are in the minority.  If you cook a lot of curries and other strong-smelling foods, don’t do it just before an open home or inspection.  Have air freshener on hand and Invest in an oil diffuser and have oils that are not over-powering.

Embrace having clear benches! Make sure that everything but what is needed is put away.

Once you decide on an agent you need to commit and listen to their advice. You may feel that they are being picky at times, but they are anticipating the concerns and questions of buyers who will look at a home and rationalise reducing an offer because of the presentation.  Yes, this is something buyers will do – we have used this strategy looking at homes that are poorly presented with no care going into them when they are going to market.  With a week’s worth of effort that poorly presented property is turned into a gem which has increased in value.

Staging, however you do it will improve the marketability of your home.  It is likely to increase what your home sells for and in a shorter time frame.

Selling the home is stressful.  You can outsource staging or do it yourself.  Naturally, we hope your agent will recommend North Queensland Property Staging because its what we do and what we love.  It’s not an option for everyone and we hope that these tips will help those who are doing it themselves.