Property staging is the art of making your home appeal to a wide variety of buyers. It’s an important part of selling a property or attracting a tenant – the home’s new occupants will want to imagine what it would be like to actually live there. 

In this blog, we take a closer look at property staging (also called home staging) and share a few of our top tips! 

What is property staging?

Property staging is the name for the process of getting your home ready to go on the market. By cleaning and furnishing the property to show all its advantages (and minimise its disadvantages!), you can help a potential buyer or tenant imagine living there. This helps them to build a more personal connection with the property and could result in them putting in an offer.  

Even if you don’t feel home staging would be important to you if you were a buyer, it’s still important to do it. This is because other sellers are doing it and you don’t want to lose out! 

Our top tips for property staging

1.     Declutter

A tidy, uncluttered property is always appealing. It suggests a tidy way of life for the new residents, as well as creating a sense of space. 

So if your property is cluttered, it’s time for action! If you’re selling the property you’re currently living in, a pre-move clear-out might be in order. Take the unwanted stuff to the charity shop and the broken stuff to the tip. You might also consider renting a storage unit and popping some of your stuff in there until you have a new home to move it into. 

Even if you’re staging a house you’re not living in, furnishing it in a clean, uncluttered way will help potential buyers to visualise living there. 

2.     Clean

With the clutter out of the way, it’s time for a good old clean. Naturally, you’ll clean the bathroom and the kitchen, but don’t forget to dust and vacuum thoroughly and wipe down the woodwork. 

3.     Let in the light

Natural light has a strong appeal for buyers, so clean the windows and push the curtains right back to let in as much light as possible. A well-placed mirror can reflect light into a dark corner, or make a narrow passage seem wider. Be creative! 

4.      Choose neutral paint colours

Give potential buyers a blank canvas to work from. Choose neutral colours for the walls – a buyer doesn’t want their first job to be painting over lurid colours! 

5.     Arrange the furniture 

Arrange the furniture so your rooms look their best. You might need to remove some items to create a greater sense of space. Strike a balance between appearance and practicality – a family home should have enough room for a three-piece suite in the lounge, for example, so everyone can sit down together. 

6.     Take down the family photos

If you’re selling your home, it’s time to start letting go and getting ready to settle in somewhere new. Start by taking down the family photos and anything else personal in your current home. This will make the property feel less personal and more attractive to a new buyer. 

But these photos are still important – pack them away carefully and we’re sure they’ll look lovely in your new home! 

7.     Don’t forget the exterior!

Kerb appeal matters too. Tidy up the front garden, wipe the wheelie bins and sweep the path. Pick up any litter, even if it’s not yours. If you have a flat, check the stairs and area around the exterior door too. 

Sell property in Guildford

If you have property to sell in the Guildford area, we hope you’ll consider Cobbles. Our friendly team are here to help, sharing their expertise and local knowledge to help you find the right buyer for your house or flat. To find out more, explore our site or give us a call on 01483 457 000.