What is Staging?

Staging is typically performed by a professional real estate agent or someone who has a background in interior design. Staging your home takes full advantage of your current layout by creating a fashionably presentable backdrop for buyers to envision themselves in your home. Leaving your home’s design to someone’s imagination is a bit risky, so staging is an excellent method of making your home the most presentable for a wide range of potential buyers resulting in selling your home faster and for a higher price.

Can I Stage on My Own?

Staging is a really important method to sell your home faster, therefore, you may want to keep in mind that we can be clouded by our personal judgments and feelings when it comes to our own domain. Maybe you are a collector of magnets, a minimalist, or a very color-oriented person, so you assume others will be impressed by your home’s décor. It is essential to look at it objectively, and a professional can do so, all while preparing your home for multiple tastes in home décor and layout.

There are Many steps to staging that you may not pay special attention to, that’s why a staging professional is highly recommended.

Your personal staging specialist will help you with the following necessary steps:

Lose the Clutter

 In our day to day lives, we tend to collect “stuff.” From mail on the counter to children’s artwork on the refrigerator, these are all things people often have in their homes. But, when selling your home, you should store it away. Your personal items can throw off a potential buyer’s vision of themselves in your home. It might sound backward, but de-personalizing your home and creating as much space as possible will make your house feel more substantial and cleaner.

Speaking of cleaning, this is a great time to clean your home as well. As you clear your knick-knacks, personal mementos and every day “messes” we all have, take the time to clean the areas thoroughly. Be sure to box up and store all the extras you are clearing away as throwing them in closets will only create more clutter; hence, they will look smaller.

Remove Unnecessary Furniture

It may seem like a bit of a hassle; however, removing furniture will create a more spacious and welcoming vibe in your home. Buyers should be able to move about your home freely without obstacles. Chairs are often a great item to remove as many homeowners have too many of them for their room size. For example, a rule of thumb in the average size living room is a sofa and two chairs. When you have a large piece, such as a sectional, reduce your chairs to one.

If your furniture is a bit tattered and worn, you may want to think about renting some newer pieces for a bit of time and store away your old pieces. Staging professionals often have their own inventory of furniture and décor, so using their services has its added perks.

Once you have the components you plan to work with, keep them away from walls. Create a floating layout by anchoring furniture together in a smart arrangement and away from bordering walls, which in turn will create an intimate setting surrounded by a spacious floor plan.

Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

Remember the exterior is your first impression opportunity to potential buyers. No worries if your budget is tight. Getting sale ready with outdoor staging is very inexpensive for most and a staging professional can help you save time and money all while adding great appeal.

The first and most crucial staging technique for outdoors and exteriors is cleaning. Think about power washing your house and your walkways to create a more welcoming atmosphere. Keep the lawn trimmed, plants watered and weeds at bay. Add pops of color to your entry with a welcome sign or welcome mats, so your home stands out from the rest. If you are feeling adventurous, paint your main door a bright color such as red, teal or yellow. Sprinkle flower pots on front stoops or patios, and you will create a great first impression.

Add the Special Touches

Now that you have cleaned out and you are left with the essential pieces, a spacious layout, and freedom to move about, it’s time for those added special touches. When you have your home on the market, you are often surprised by showings to potential buyers, so keeping your home in tip-top shape will relieve you from a lot of last-minute stress.

Add fresh flowers to a couple of vases throughout your home to create an airy and bright feeling. Display a couple of candles that create warmth and display a bowl of fruits on the kitchen table to add a welcome home feel. All of these quick and straightforward methods of staging with special touches add value to your home’s appeal.

Conclusion

Strategically staging your home may seem like a lot of work, but in the end, you will be happy with the outcome, especially if you have hired a professional. By staging, you are opening up the possibility for more potential buyers to see themselves in your home and feel great about it!

When you list your home, you can talk with your real estate professional about staging. Great Realtors are big advocates of staging to sell their clients’ homes faster and often; they are experts in staging as well. If you want the best dollar from your home, staging with a professional is a strategic way to do just that! 

(image from pixabay)

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WHAT’S THIS BLOG FOR?

Before I started my career as a real estate agent, I found it quite difficult to find informative articles or websites that provided accurate information catered towards buying and selling houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, there are some out there on REDFIN or Zillow, but those are not catered specifically towards the San Francisco Bay Area. Sometimes, even tips and facts regarded as common knowledge aren’t applicable and outdated from a Bay Area perspective. My original intention of starting this blog, was to help shed some light on the seemingly inscrutable real estate market. As a real estate agent who has been practicing for several years, I wanted to provide accurate and relevant information to those who might be interested in buying or selling a home.

If you’re curious and want to learn more about buying and selling in the San Francisco Bay Area, then this website might be a good starting point to gain some insight!

WHO AM I?

My name is Chiuho Lin. I first found my calling for real estate in 2015, while I was looking for a new home in the San Francisco Bay Area. I found myself inexplicably drawn to this profession and after meeting hundreds of real estate professionals, I made the decision to become a real estate agent myself. To me, being a real estate agent is rewarding not only because I love meeting new people, but also because I have the privilege of helping them find their new home. A home is an essential aspect of people’s lives where families make happy memories together. I am so glad that as a real estate agent, I can help make their vision a reality.

WHAT IS MY PROMISE?

If you are interested in buying a house, as an agent I can promise you that I will be present in all stages of the buying process. This includes everything from consultations to address all your concerns, investigating real estate to find a home that suits all your needs, visiting the houses, providing insights on the neighborhood, assessing the current conditions of the homes that may require additional attention, read various reports filled with technical jargon, to helping you understand contracts. I ensure quality care and commitment in the entire process from start to finish.

If you are interested in selling, then the process would start from an initial consultation, to price assessments, market analysis, repair advice, time-to-market recommendations, staging assessment, style selection, housing listings, posters, social media promotion, marketing media selection, follow-up on house delivery. Once again, I will be active and present in the entire process to make sure everything goes smoothly.

 As a professional, I take pride in my work ethic and ensure the utmost care and consideration while working with all my clients. I’d like to consider myself a trusted adviser to ensure a phenomenal experience throughout your buying/selling process. With that being said, if you ever need a professional consultation or assistance with anything - for example, gardening/landscaping, property manager property lawyer, paint master, decorator, roof repair master, loan broker, registration accountant - please feel free to reach out! I am genuinely passionate about what I do and hope that I can help share my knowledge with you all.

Chiuho Lin DRE#02007082
Keller Williams Thrive DRE#02177478