11 Tricks From Pro Stagers to Make Your House Sell Over Asking

When looking at houses, most buyers want to see fresh, neutral spaces they can envision themselves living in. That’s why many sellers these days hire professional stagers. These design experts give dated houses a quick facelift, which can lead to significant profits—sometimes to the tune of more than a hundred thousand dollars. “A thoughtfully staged and curated home can sell for at least 10 percent more than an unstaged home,” Jessica Buchman, an associate real estate broker at Corcoran, says, noting that about one-fourth of her clients hire professional stagers.

If you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, consider hiring a staging company to zhuzh up your interior, or borrow these simple staging techniques from the pros and do it yourself.

Remove Personal Items

Let’s start with the basics—you may have heard this one before, but it really does make a difference. Potential buyers want to establish an emotional connection with a home and envision their family enjoying it—and seeing pictures of your family hanging on every wall can stand in their way. Take family portraits off the wall, and clear framed pictures off end tables and bookshelves. This principle also extends to any other decorative pieces that may be construed as personal, political, or potentially offensive, says expert stager Terry Mainord, founder of Terry Mainord Design. For example, a mounted deer head over a fireplace could send even the most serious of buyers running out the door, and a provocative piece of art may make some buyers feel uncomfortable.

Paint

The dark green walls in your study and the cabbage rose wallpaper in your powder room may appeal to you (or at least not bother you), but they might turn off some buyers. “A fresh coat of not quite white paint makes a home feel newer and fresher. Try neutral beige tones like Benjamin Moore London Fog or La Paloma Grey,” says celebrity interior designer Cheryl Eisen, founder of Interior Marketing Group, which specializes in luxury staging and interior design. “My mantra is ‘neutral tones sell homes’ because neutral tones have broad appeal.”

There are, however, a few instances in which color can make a space feel more inviting. “In NYC, I stage a lot of brownstones and prewar apartments, which can often benefit from color,” says Mainord. “In stagings this year, I’ve used deep burgundy, soft lavender, steely blue, and a bold, emerald green. In kitchens, we often paint worn wood cabinets and use darker tones to complement existing dark kitchen counters.”

Go For A Minimalist Vibe

Simple, modern furniture in light colors enhances most rooms and doesn’t compete with the architecture. That was Eisen’s mindset when she flipped a Mediterranean-style house in Palmetto Bay, a suburb of Miami. After changing the flooring, removing a few walls, updating the staircase, and making some other improvements, she staged the home with neutral paint, modern chandeliers, and modern art. “The result was a bidding war—and a profit of over 100 percent return on investment,” she says.

…Or Make A Statement

While simple, neutral furnishings are the hallmark of most stagers, a cool, stylish interior can appeal to certain buyers. “My favorite stager is a maximalist. He will create an aspirational experience from the moment you walk in the door. There will be color and texture, and his props are often antiques and curiosities from far-away travels,” says Buchman. This tactic is riskier than opting for a sparse, neutral look, but it can appeal to discerning buyers in high-end areas who want a stylish home they can move right into.

Pay Attention to Scale

Choosing the right size furnishings can make your home seem bigger. “Lower profile furnishings give the appearance of higher ceilings, and the larger the area rug, the larger the room looks,” Eisen says. Large-scale modern art can also add life and energy to a home, but be sure you don’t hang it too high, which is a common mistake. “In general, the center of the artwork should be around 57 inches from the floor, unless it’s hanging over a piece of furniture,” Mainord says.

Replace Light Fixtures

This is one of the quickest and most inexpensive staging techniques—and it can have a huge payoff. Swap out dated chandeliers and sconces with more modern fixtures, and screw in warm 2700K lightbulbs, which provide a soothing, inviting glow. “It doesn’t have to be expensive lighting, but updates like this make a home feel more custom and designed,” Eisen says.

Spiff Up Floors

Dated, worn, or stained wall-to-wall carpeting can make a house feel old and dingy. “Remove old carpet and replace it with neutral area rugs like jute or ivory wool, which work in almost any room and will add an appealing texture,” Mainord says. Also replace worn stair runners (or just remove them if there’s nice wood underneath), sand and/or buff wood floors, and clean the grout in tiled floors.

Try Some Smoke and Mirrors

“Buyers respond to bright, spacious spaces,” Eisen says. To make your home seem brighter, she suggests strategically placing mirrors across from windows to help reflect light. For example, hang a mirror over the fireplace in the family room or above a sideboard in the dining room.

Focus On High-Traffic Areas

If you can’t afford to stage your whole house, zone in on the rooms that buyers see first. “I would suggest focusing on the living/dining rooms and primary bedroom. Those are the main rooms of a home, which usually get photographed,” Mainord says.

Accessorize Wisely

Kitchens and bathrooms can the the most costly and complicated spaces to stage, so be creative when it comes to accessories. “Replacing cabinet hardware and lighting are two ways we like to update kitchens,” Mainord says. “In bathrooms, we strive for a spa-like ambiance, so new fluffy white towels, white shower curtains, and white mats are easy upgrades. Adding plants—even good fauxs—to these areas also makes a difference. Adding something that looks fresh and organic appeals to buyers! ”

Don’t Forget About the Exterior

Painting the exterior of a house is expensive, but when you consider that an unusual or unappealing paint color can cause a house to languish on the market for months, it’s a wise investment. “Curb appeal is incredibly important when selling a house. Pulling up to a wow moment immediately sets the tone,” says Eisen, who suggests painting houses white, which is always a safe bet. To add to the exterior style, “try flanking two topiaries outside the front door to create a welcoming, happy moment,” she says.

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