Tips on How to Stage a House Pt 1

At any given time, there are hundreds of homes for sale in Napa, CA. If yours is one of them, staging can help it stand out in a crowded marketplace, including in the luxury real estate market.

House staging is about making your home more attractive to buyers. If a realtor shows prospects three to five properties a day and one of them is staged, it’s a safe bet the staged house will be the one they remember most. That’s because the way you live in your home and how you market it are two distinct things.

This first post in a 2-part series covers the basics of staging a house and explains why it’s such an essential part of selling luxury real estate in the Napa Valley. In part two, we’ll walk you through how to stage individual areas in your home.

Why Should You Stage Your Napa House? 

Today, 90% of homebuyers begin their search online and what they’re looking for is an indication of how they’re going to live in a new space. Staging gives them that and helps them fall in love with your property.

Done right, staging enhances luxury real estate properties, highlighting a home’s beautiful assets without overpowering it with styling.

The Basics of Staging a House

Most home staging comes down to a few basic principles. To show off your home in the most appealing way possible involves:

• Decluttering. It’s a fact of life for just about everyone, but potential buyers don’t want to see it while touring a home. Plus, it makes rooms feel smaller, no matter what their size. Cabinets, countertops, closets, attics, garages, and wherever “stuff” accumulates should be decluttered.
• Cleaning. A home needs to look, feel, and smell clean. Aside from cleaning dirt and grime from all surfaces, be sure to use a deodorizer to deal with pet and other odors. Pay special attention to places that gather hand and fingerprints like door frames, appliances, knobs, and locks. If walls have seen better days, consider repainting.
• Depersonalizing. They mean the world to you, but personal items make it difficult for buyers to picture themselves in your home. Remove family photos, collectibles, and memorabilia. Some pros recommend removing anything that aligns with a specific viewpoint, including political and religious objects.
• Highlighting. Whether it’s a fireplace, crown molding, or hardwood floors, each room in your home has a unique selling point. Make them the focal points people see when they first walk in. Arrange furniture, decor, and lighting in such a way that makes these beautiful details immediately obvious.

The Market for Luxury Real Estate

Does staging affect the selling price of a home? Studies show it can be one of the best short-term investments sellers can make, increasing a home’s sales price by up to 10 percent. St. Helena Real Estate is a luxury real estate agency that can guide you in making your home irresistible to buyers through staging. To learn more about all the services we offer or for information on homes for sale in Napa CA, contact us online today or call us at 707.967.9570!