As you've looked at homes for sale, you have probably walked into at least one property and thought, "Oh my goodness, what were they thinking?" - or - "This place needs a lot of work!"
That's where staging comes in. The point is to clear away all the excess 'stuff', fix what needs fixing, update what needs updating, do a deep cleaning, and create a sense of space and light.
There's a big difference between interior decorating and home staging:
Interior decorating is tailored specifically to the owner's tastes and budget, as well as to the way the owner lives and uses the space. It should say something about the person who lives there and reflect the owner's style and personality.
Home staging is tailored to appeal to general home buyers who are trying to visualize themselves in the home, like a model home. Furniture is arranged in rooms as 'cues' for how to use the space, but with few extras so buyers can mentally replace what is there with their own things and visualize how they would use the space. You want potential buyers to focus on the space rather than on 'your stuff' and make an emotional connection with your home by suggesting a lifestyle to which they aspire.
Another difference is staging improvements are usually budget-minded. Only improve those things that will add to the bottom line, and keep improvement costs in balance with the cost of the home. For instance, if new carpet is needed you wouldn't install high grade carpet in a starter home, even if that's what you would choose if you were planning to continue living there.
Paint is the least expensive way to drastically improve interiors. If you have trouble selecting colors, it's relatively inexpensive to get a color consultation with a professional designer who will provide you with a suggested color palette for your home.
Only about 10% of buyers can use their imaginations to look beyond what is there to see the potenial in a room. Staging helps the other 90% visualize themselves living in the home.
As far as color is concerned, don't play it too safe...painting everything off-white is boring and a little color can make a dramatic impact. A recent client bought a home with a deep red wall in the dining room and kitchen. She said she really liked it and planned to keep it, but would never have dared paint it that color herself!
