Getting Ready to Sell? Here are 5 Tips for Staging on a Budget…
Getting ready to sell a home can be expensive…
Between making necessary repairs, investing in marketing services, and moving costs, when it’s all said and done, you may not have a lot leftover in your savings! While there are some expenses that can’t be helped when you sell, there are other areas where you can cut corners.
One example of that? Staging! Now, we’re not recommending that you neglect this important step. Instead, find ways to stage on a budget.
Keep reading to learn about 5 ways to stage your property on a budget…
1. Use What You Have
When you see all the magnificently staged homes on HGTV, it can be tempting to splurge on extravagant furniture and decor.
If you have the budget for that, by all means, do what works the best for you! For many people, making a move is already tight financially, so staging is the last thing they want to spend money on.
One of the easiest ways you can stage on a budget is by using resources that you already have. Even if you don’t have the best furniture, some tasteful accents can really tie the space together. Start by removing all the clutter from the walls and start adding back pieces of neutral decor little by little.
You’ll be surprised to learn that by simplifying the decor, the entire space feels much more put together. If you’re not vibing with the design in a certain room, try mixing and matching pieces from other rooms to find a design you’re proud to show off.
Worst comes to worst, grab a few accents to use with your furniture. Buying a few plants, pots, lamps, or wall decorations is much cheaper than trying to replace furniture!
2. Lean on the Dollar Store and Thrift Store as You’re Getting Ready to Sell
There are actually tons of cute decorations for $1 or less at the thrift store and dollar store!
Decorative bins to keep clutter out of the way, faux plants, and wall hangings are just a few inexpensive accents you can find. In addition to finding year-round decor at the dollar store or thrift store, you can often find seasonal decor that will get potential buyers feeling festive while they look at your house.
If you do choose to decorate for a holiday or season, try not to overdo it. While we all love holiday and seasonal decor, too much will cover up the features of the home.
3. DIY or Re-Purpose Decor for Staging
So, you’ve snagged a vase for 25 cents at the thrift store, but it looks like an antique with your modern design theme. No problem! With a little bit of tweaking, the piece can fit right in.
Add a little paint, a candle, a faux plant, or some fruit and you have yourself an inexpensive accent! If you do want to replace some of your larger pieces of furniture, this is a great alternative. For example, if you have an old dresser that you inherited from your grandmother, you may want to give it an update.
If you don’t want to re-purpose old items, you can always make your own accents and decorations. A great place to go for inspiration is your local craft store! Craft stores pretty much always have deals going on, enabling you to get up to 50% (or more) off.
Take advantage of these deals and grab a faux vine to drape across the fireplace. Or, grab a rustic basket to display throw blankets in. The possibilities for DIY-ing decor are truly endless!
4. Invest in Virtual Staging
If you’ve already moved your furniture, or you need to move it, you may find yourself in a bit of a pickle.
Once you’re ready to move into your new home, you’re not going to want to go without your couch, bed, or dining table for the sake of staging. Also, paying for all new furniture to stage the house that you just moved out of will cost a fortune!
So, how can you stage an empty house? Well, virtually!
That’s right, we offer a virtual staging service where we add realistic furniture and decor to the empty rooms in your listing photos. When you order a real estate photo package, the real estate photographer will come to the house and shoot the empty property. During the editing process, our editing team will virtually add the furniture.
Not only will you save money, but you’ll also save yourself some time and stress from having to stage the house yourself.
5. Get to Cleaning
When you’re getting your house ready to sell, cleaning is a crucial step.
If you can’t afford any of our other suggestions, this is a great way to spruce up your property for showings and real estate photos. Start by decluttering or packing away unnecessary items.
These could include…
- Cereal boxes on the counters/top of fridge
- Magnets and homemade art work on the refrigerator
- Toys (from kids or pets)
- Blankets and pillows that aren’t decorative
- Shoes, coats, and hats
Pretty much anything that isn’t adding to the aesthetic of the property should be put out of sight, at least before professional photos. After you declutter, do a deep cleaning of the home to ensure it looks shiny and new for a potential buyer!
How Are You Getting Ready to Sell Your Home?
Getting ready to sell a house can be stressful, especially when you’re on a budget!
While the dollar signs just seem to keep piling up, there are plenty of ways to pinch pennies as you make your home appealing for the next potential owner. Need to have real estate photos taken? Reach out today to learn about this service, as well as our other marketing services to help you sell!