Home staging in Toronto – or any city that matter – can offer you tremendous value when you’re trying to sell your home. In today’s market, there is less of a concern about the ability to sell a home so much as attracting the right buyers to sell your home for as much as possible.
It goes without saying that you want your home to look its very best when your REALTOR® is trying to market it to potential buyers. Keep in mind that the photos of your home go a long way. If they aren’t up to snuff, some prospective buyers could very easily pass your home over for another.
You may have bought and sold homes in the past and you may or may not have staged them. If you’re unfamiliar with home staging in Toronto, or in general, here is a description for you.
Home staging, at it’s core, is a method of decorating intended to highlight your homes more impressive features. It helps buyers imagine themselves in the space and envision what it would really be like to live there. If this is done right, you should have absolutely no problem selling your home and likely for much more money than you expected you would.
According to a staging stats report published in 2017 by the National Association of REALTOR®’s:
- 49% of buyer’s REALTOR®’s believe that home staging has a positive impact on how a buyer views a home,
- 77% of REALTOR®’s go on to say that home staging makes it easier for buyers to see a property as their own,
- 21% of seller’s REALTOR®’s report that staging a home will increase the value by as much as 10% or more,
- 39% indicate that it significantly decreases the number of days a home is on the market before selling.
There is so much to gain from home staging in Toronto, or any city really, whether you spend a lot of money on it or not. If you’re considering staging yourself or simply want to understand the process better, here are 10 home staging tips that can help your home sell for more money and much faster.
CAN THE CLUTTER – let’s get to it. Home staging in Toronto and other locations starts with the basics – get rid of the clutter. Clutters takes up space and space is exactly what most buyers are looking for. Create space and your home may have a better chance at selling fast. You don’t have to pitch everything, just make sure you pack it away until you get to your new home. This includes removing items that are out of season and anything you don’t need on a day to day basis. The less clutter in your space, the bigger it will appear and ultimately, be more appealing to buyers.
DEPERSONALIZE – this goes right along with removing the clutter. You want prospective buyers to visualize themselves in the space – you don’t want them to get distracted by photos of you, your family or your furry friends. Try to set the stage as a “blank canvas”. To get this process underway, remove any personal photos (framed and on walls), take any personal items off surfaces and anything that’s overtly religious. This may feel strange but it’s an important step in the process.
PATCH UP ANY IMPURITIES – if painting is on your to do list, make sure you keep your eye out for any holes, nicks, scratches etc., You can try using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for any dirt/scuffs. If the damage goes deeper than that, then you likely need to mud/sand to fix the problem then re-paint. The devil is truly in the details. I recently showed a home and the prospective buyers were noticing a lot of scratches and nicks on the walls. While these could have been very simple cosmetic repairs, they felt like this could be a sign of other issues bubbling under the surface. They didn’t put in an offer and I’m sure they were one of many who felt this way.
THINK NEUTRAL AND NATURAL – you may love the red accent wall in the living room or the bright, vibrant walls in your washrooms, but most buyers probably won’t. This staging tip is a bit more time consuming but it will have a very big difference when it comes to how much you sell for and how quickly. You don’t have to re-paint your entire house, however it is recommended that you neutralize any bright colours with gray, white, beige etc. Buyers could very well want some bright colors themselves, but a neutral home gives them the option to do that – or not.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN – Think spring cleaning on overdrive. You want every square foot of floorings, walls, ceilings and surfaces to shine. This alludes to buyers that the home is in good condition and gives them confidence that it is well taken care of. If you’ve neglected to clean some things, it may raise warning signs to buyers.
FOCUS ON FURNITURE – one of the benefits of hiring a staging company is that they can move out any furniture that may be less appealing to buyers and bring in key elements that will be attractive to them. If you don’t think you can absorb this cost, then try to focus on the following. There should be as much open space to walk around as possible. This will help them visualize the furniture they have or may need in each room. If you have any large pieces, have them removed and put in storage while you’re trying to sell. The same goes for any pieces that are outdated, in a state of disrepair etc. With the furniture you have let, make sure it’s arranged in such a way that makes each room feel as open and as spacious as possible.
LET THE LIGHT IN – bright and ‘airy’ rooms that are well lit tend to denote feelings of calm, peace and happiness. If a room is too dark, people can feel sad, angry or claustrophobic. Open up blinds and curtains, cut back any trees/shrubs that could be casting a shadow into any rooms and turn on lights for showings. You want the home to feel inviting and welcoming. This also saves buyers and their REALTOR® from fumbling around in the dark trying to find switches. In the era of covid, you probably want the least amount of people touching things as possible also.
FRESH FEATURES – next in line for home staging in Toronto and beyond? Let’s talk about plants and flowers. Again, the key is not to overdo anything. A few well-placed healthy plants and flowers can add a lot of life and a feeling of freshness in a home. Put a fresh bouquet of flowers on the dining room table, some small potted plants throughout and maybe one large potted plant or tree in a key living area. Fake plants may also work – but they tend to be more costly.
MAKE IT COUNT – while prospective buyers will be evaluating the entire home, not all rooms are viewed equally. As I’m sure you know, the kitchen is the most important room in the house, followed by the living room then the primary bedroom. If you have limited resources or can only afford to get a few rooms professionally staged, focus on the one’s that will have the biggest impact on a buyer, then try to do the rest on your own. You don’t have to worry quite as much about guest/children’s, washrooms and basement.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER – as soon as a buyer walks up to your home, you want them to be greeted by a positive impression. Curb appeal counts along with the smells and sounds in a home. Consider having some calm, peaceful ambient music playing and plugging in a softly scented diffuser or two. Depending on the time of year, do your best to make the outdoor space just as inviting as the inside. Clean the front porch, add a fresh doormat and plant or two. Bring buyers in on the right foot, so to speak; it will suggest good things to come as they head inside to tour the rest of the property.
Home staging in Toronto may cost a little bit more compared to some other cities across the province, but it’s important to consider this as a worthwhile investment to sell your home fast AND for as much money as possible. Your REALTOR® will be able to help suggest specific changes that will add value and attract buyers to book showings. Once your home is ready, it’s also good practice to make arrangements to stay somewhere else during the period of time leading up to the offer presentation. That will ensure that the home remains spotless and ready for prospective buyers at any time.
I hope you’ve found this article and these tips to be helpful! If you’re considering selling your home and have some questions about how to get starts, let’s talk – 647.896.6584, info@serenaholmesrealtor.com or complete this simple contact form.
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