Staging Mistakes That Instantly Turn Off Home Buyers

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Not Cleaning the Interior Thoroughly

If you want to turn off potential buyers show them a filthy house. While cleaning is the first rule of home staging, it is one some sellers ignore. Clean, clean, and clean some more. Make sure that your house is in the best condition – replace the carpeting, scrub floors, and stem-clean tile and grout. If the carpet smells, have it shampooed. If it is old and worn out, get rid of it. It is better to show bare floors than worn-out carpeting. Your home should not only be clean, it should be as neat as a pin.

Not Removing Personal Items

When staging your home, keep in mind that you are staging for buyers and not yourself. Buyers don’t want to know where you went for vacation last year or if you love politics. Remove all personal items from your home and store them in a rental storage facility. When your home is filled with personal items, buyers won’t be able to visualize themselves in the space.

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Bad Odors

Seasoned realtors say that buyers buy homes with their noses. Your home should smell fresh and inviting. Odors are a big no-no, particularly kitchen odors. Avoid cooking pungent food for as long as your home is on the market. Also get rid of pet smells because buyers are bound to notice them. Remember that even if you are a dog person, not everyone is.

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As you stage your home, bear in mind that buyers who come to see it will not look at it the way you do. What may be beautiful to you may be downright ugly to them. With today’s stiff competition and market challenges, you cannot afford to take any chances. Avoid these staging mistakes to gain a competitive edge over other home sellers.

If you’re trying to sell your home, look to Stagetecture’s Home Staging Tips at About.com too!

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Spring Home Staging Mistakes to Avoid

Using Dark Hues

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Spring is the season of color and brightness. One sure way to drive buyers away is by using dark colors. Choose nice pastels which are warm and inviting and avoid dark shades which shrink rooms. You’ll be amazed at what a new coat of paint can do to your home.

Using Too Much Furniture

The furniture you put in a room needs to fit the space. Don’t use a lot of furniture in a tiny living room, prospective buyers won’t have space to move around and will think you are limited for space. Keep in mind that the key purpose of furniture is to define rooms. Make sure that the furniture in your rooms does not block the flow of traffic.

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Not Making Use of Natural Light

Buyers love natural light. Don’t block the path of light with heavy draperies or dark window treatments, use sheers or leave windows open if you can. If your home’s exterior is attractive, make the most of it. Open windows during the day and use large mirrors in rooms to accentuate the views.

Image via: Digsdigs

Decorating with Unbeleivable Artificial Flowers

Home sellers are divided into two categories: those that love fresh flowers and those that love artificial flowers. While fake flowers offer convenience and undying beauty, they can be a major turnoff for buyers. In spring, many flowers are in full bloom. Visit your local garden center and buy a bunch of flowers or a few plants. Many houseplants don’t require a lot of work.

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In this day and age when homebuyers have many options to choose from, staging a home is of utmost importance. However, be careful not to make these home staging mistakes which drive buyers away. Potential buyers want to picture themselves living in your home and it’s hard to do so when all they can see are glaring mistakes.

Are you trying to sell your home this season? Look to Stagetecture’s and the About.com – Home Staging tips.