The 5 mistakes you're making when staging your home yourself
There are some recurring common mistakes I see people make when they opt for DIY home staging – unfortunately if you do these things, you’ll most likely miss the opportunity to sell your home quicker and for more money – and end up scaring away your potential buyers!
1. You are unable to find the sweet spot between personal and lifeless
Home staging that is way too personal can really turn off a potential buyer, as it makes it harder for them to imagine themselves living in the space. Try to remove family photographs or furniture and accessories that you might love, but could offend the buyer.
On the other end of the spectrum is when DIY home stagers remove all life from the property to the point the place looks like it’s been robbed! Home staging is about finding the sweet spot that shows the buyer how a space could be lived in but also leaves enough to the imagination for them to see themselves living there.
2. Over-staging (cringe!)
Have you ever been to an open home where there was an open bottle of wine in the kitchen or rose petals floating in the bathtub? What about the open book with reading glasses you don’t wear or the fully set dining table. It really is overkill.
I recommend keeping it simple and avoiding those cringe-worthy elements – stick with cushions and natural materials when you accessorise to make a great first impression.
3. Not knowing your audience
A good home stager knows the exact type of buyer that is going to be inspecting your property – and styles your home accordingly. Do your research, go to other open homes in your area and check out who’s there. Home staging is all about the buyer after all.
4. Not considering light
Light gives life to your home and creates something I like to call ‘space medicine’, in short it’s a space that makes you feel good! Create layers of light at different levels including ceiling, eye and thigh level. Turn on your lamps and light candles on open home day, just make sure the scent is neutral and fresh.
5. Not planning for volume
Some DIY stagers forget that during inspections, there’s going to be multiple people moving around their home. No one wants to bump bumps with a stranger so consider the placement of furniture, widening walkways and creating more space as you style the property.
There you have it, the 5 things to avoid if you decide to DIY home staging when you go to market. Good luck!