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Home Staging Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Home’s Value

Home staging is often thought of as a way to boost the value of your home, and it certainly is a valuable tool to do so.

Posted: 26th October 2022 by
Finance Monthly
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But while you might be expecting an influx of offers when you stage your home, there is always the risk that you're making some common mistakes—and hurting your chances of selling at all. While it's true that many buyers expect to negotiate on the price of a home, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim to sell it for top dollar. It's important to know that certain elements can make your home look cheap or outdated, which will end up costing you in the long run. To prevent that, here are some common mistakes you should avoid during your home staging.

Overfilling the Space for Home Staging

One of the most common mistakes home stagers make is overfilling the space. If you are trying to sell a small house, don't fill it with furniture and decor that is meant for a much larger space. It will make the room look cluttered and messy. Instead, use only a few select items to highlight the features of your home.

Another mistake people make is using too many accessories or making them too big. An accessory should be something that adds value to your home but doesn't take away from its overall appeal. When choosing accessories for staging, it's important to keep in mind that buyers will be looking at your home from an emotional perspective as well as a logical one—which means that if an accessory doesn't feel right for your home, it might not sell!

Finally, avoid using too many colours or patterns together in one room—especially if they're bold or bright colours! This can overwhelm potential buyers and make them feel uncomfortable when they visit your property.

Having Too Many Colours that Don't Coordinate

When it comes to home staging, colours are often a very personal choice. But that doesn't mean you should let your taste dictate the colours you use in your staging. The colours in your staging should be chosen based on their ability to help sell the house, not just because they're pretty.

One of the biggest mistakes home stagers make is trying to go overboard with colours. A lot of people think that more colours are better—and while that might be true if you're painting a canvas, it's not true when it comes to painting a room. Colours have the power to change the feeling of a room. Too many different colours can make a room feel smaller instead of larger and more inviting. Studies have shown that homes with rooms painted in two or three coordinating colours sell for more than those painted in only one colour or with too much variety in terms of shade and hue.

So when choosing colours for your staging, keep it simple and stick to two or three shades from the same family (for example light blue and dark blue). This will give the room an overall cohesive feeling without making it look too busy or cluttered!

Forgetting the Exterior for Home Staging

When you're staging a home, it's easy to forget about the exterior. After all, the inside is where all the action happens. But if you want to get the best return on your investment, you need to give your home's exterior just as much attention as its interior.

It's easy to neglect your property's exterior when it comes time for staging because there are so many other things that need to be done inside. But if you don't make sure that your yard looks its best and that any repairs are completed before putting your property up for sale, then potential buyers will probably think twice about buying your house. After all, if they're going to spend their hard-earned money on a home, they want to feel like it's in good condition and well-maintained—and that includes everything from the roof to the paint job.

When it comes time for staging, you can always go around outside with a critical eye but it is a better idea to consult with real estate brokers, who have gone through the process many times. After you get the recommendations from the experts, make sure everything looks clean and well-kept—and if anything needs fixing or painting, get it done!

Keeping the House Dark

If you're preparing your house for staging, a dark house can be the kiss of death.

To show off your home's best features, it needs to be well-lit and look like it's full of life. This means turning up the lights and adding some natural light if possible. You want to avoid dark corners and keep the windows clear of curtains or blinds that block out too much light.

Don't forget about interior lighting as well! If you have dark walls, you'll need to add light fixtures so that they don't look dingy and dull. If there are dark spots on the floor or ceiling, consider installing sconces or pendants to brighten things up a bit.

Leaving Too Many Personal Items Displayed

Your home is your castle, and you want it to look like the best version of itself possible. But you also want to avoid making any mistakes that could negatively impact its value. The most common mistake homeowners make when staging their homes is leaving too many personal items on display.

It's important to remember that when you stage a room, you want to use it as an example of how it would look if someone were to live in it. If you leave your items in there, it will be hard for potential buyers to see themselves living in that space.

If you want to keep some of your things around after selling a home, but don't want them on display during showings, consider storing them away until after your home sells.

Concluding Thoughts

Staging homes can help sell homes more quickly and for a higher price. However, staging poses challenges too. Besides making sure to avoid some of the above-mentioned mistakes, it is also extremely important to consult with your broker to determine how and how much to stage your home.

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