Staging. It’s not you – it’s everyone else.
So, you’ve spent a small fortune on an interior designer and hours browsing websites, magazines and every single store across the GTA. Now, you’re ready to sell your stunning home and you’re being told you need to consider staging it. Of course, it’s hard not to take offence to this. But don’t. It’s not about you. It’s about everyone else.
When we stage a home, we tell a story.
That’s right, it’s all about how you tell your story. But, if the story is about you, then a potential buyer won’t be able to see themselves in that story. And, we want buyers to envision themselves in a property, right? We’ll do what it takes, whether that’s painting, hanging curtains, taking down curtains, garden, lay a patio floor, install light fixtures…the list goes on. More than this, we’ll definitely move your furniture and art around, and bring in our own. When the staging is complete, we’ll also make sure that as many potential buyers as possible are able to see themselves living happily in your home. Heck, by the time we’re done staging a home, we’ve mentally moved into most of them ourselves!
Here are Fox Marin’s six tried and true staging tips to selling your home:
1. Deep Clean and Repairs
One of the first things we do when we initially visit a property is assess the state of repair (well, and your furniture, art and accessories). At this stage, we take notice of walls that need painting, cracks for repairing, worn floors, tubs in need of caulking, and other minor things that you might not notice on a day-to-day basis. Trust us, a buyer will notice them. That’s why a few minor touch-ups make a huge world of difference.
And, one of the last things we do before we present a home to buyers is clean, like really clean – until everything sparkles. We make sure there is not a stray finger print anywhere and that all windows are spotless.
2. Declutter
You likely have your life beautifully streamlined. Just a coffee maker, a kettle and your toaster oven on the counter. You have a well-placed basket on your coffee table and console for remotes, keys and mail, your toiletries neatly sorted on the counter. But, it’s all visual clutter. Everything goes away – everything. A few carefully placed objects and books speaks volumes and allows buyers to see your beautiful space.
Or, maybe you’re not quite so streamlined and manage to fit three dressers in your bedroom, not to mention the extra bookshelves squeezed into your living area. This too is gone – all of it. Don’t worry, they’re carefully packed away into storage and we bring them back. Your room will look bigger, brighter and, well, less cluttered because less is more when it comes to staging.
3. Depersonalize
Pictures of your family, latest vacation or beloved pet tell your story. However, remember this is not about you – or your story. Staging your home is about creating a story for potential buyers. That’s why we carefully pack away all your treasured pictures, art and artefacts and bring in our own. Don’t take offence. We usually love your story and your own unique design sensibility, but we know not everyone will, so out it goes.
4. Lighting
You might like a moodier environment – and your privacy – but staging is all about letting the light shine in. It’s amazing how many bulbs need replacing when we stage a property. That’s why we make sure that each and every bulb is shining bright (even the ones in your range hood) and at the same levels of brightness. We pull up the blinds and pull down your stunning velvet drapery to let the sun drench your rooms. We might even hang some breezy curtains. And, we make sure that every single light is on because, in the world of staging, brighter is always better.
5. Rooms With a Purpose
A big part of telling a story in staging is showing buyers how they will live in a space, in addition to how much living they can get in a space. We turn your home office back into a second bedroom and we’ll find a nook for a desk and chair. Now, they’re able to picture a home office and an extra bedroom. We almost always create a dedicated dining space. And, we always place a credenza in the living area to show buyers where a television would go. Because we all need some netflix and chill, right? Let’s face it, if a buyer can’t see themselves getting comfortable and living in a space, it just won’t speak to them.
We like to work with what you’ve got. But sometimes your sofa is too big, too small, too dated or too dorm room, so we pack it away and bring in our own – one that really highlights the use of your room. Likewise with headboards, dining room tables, coffee tables…you name it.
6. Florals
Last but not least, this is one of our favourite parts of staging. Once we’ve created a beautiful space and told the story of your property, we go to our local florist and go wild – kind of. It’s like being a kid in a candy shop. Nothing takes a space to the next level like flowers, foliage and greenery.
Staging really is all about telling a story.
And, we love being storytellers! Our whole goal in staging any home is to create a story that any potential home buyer could be a leading character in. When we’re finished staging a property and can see ourselves living happily ever after in it, we too, feel like we’ve done a pretty good job… and that it was worth all the hard work! What’re you waiting for? Check out our FM Design division and start staging your home to sell.
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This article is written by Kathy Mighton, Project Manager and Lead Designer here at Fox Marin Associates. She is FM Design’s creator of well-crafted spaces that inspire and impress! A true design enthusiast, there are not enough walls or surfaces in Kathy’s life to display all the art that she loves.
