Selling your home? As a homeowner, you want to make a favorable first impression on every buyer that walks into your home. Home staging is the practice of styling your home and furniture to make it more appealing. Most real estate agents agree that home staging is an investment and a critical step in the selling process. And having an edge over other comparable-priced homes in the neighborhood isn’t going to hurt.
Since all sellers don’t take the extra time and effort to stage their homes, for those that do, there are some clear advantages. Statistics show that staged homes spend less time on the market. But that’s not all. According to a 2025 study by the National Association of Realtors, home staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home. In addition, the study also states that 60 percent of buyers’ agents reported that home staging had a direct effect on the buyers’ view of the home.
The goal of home staging is to create a welcoming environment both inside and outside. Making a buyer feel comfortable while touring your home is essential. If hiring a professional isn’t financially feasible, grabbing a few tips from popular HGTV shows and blogs can get you on your way. Ready, get set, stage!
Devise a Home Staging Plan
Start by checking out each room in your home. Experts advise working on the rooms that will give you the most bang for your buck. Buyers typically focus on three main areas, and it’s probably no surprise that they are the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen, respectively. After all, this is where we spend most of our time when at home. If you are working within a budget, then these are the rooms where you should spend your allotted cash.
Curb Appeal Counts
Start with power washing and sweeping sidewalks and front entrances. Also, clear flower beds of any weeds, trim and cut shrubs, add mulch to garden areas, and keep the lawn cut and maintained. To create a fresh and welcoming appearance, plant new shrubbery or flowers. Nothing gives a warmer welcome than a large planter filled with colorful mums. Other ways to refresh your exterior space include repainting the front door, updating any hardware, or adding direct lighting to accentuate special areas, such as a magnolia tree.
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
Rather than putting things in drawers and closets to simply get them out of view, you’ll be more successful if you devise a plan. Storage bins with lids are great for storing toys, games, and backpacks. Benches with underneath storage are the best of both worlds; they hide clutter and are great accent pieces for decorating. Kitchen countertops and desk tops are also key culprits of holding excessive amounts of clutter. When decluttering, there are a multitude of tips and tricks to get the job done right.
Freshen It Up
Odors from lingering trash, dirty dishes, and stained carpet can be a huge turn-off to buyers. Before showings, open the windows to let in fresh air or strategically place a diffuser or two with the same scent in different parts of your home. Before getting professional photos taken, patch, repair, and repaint walls, clean floors and carpet, fix leaky faucets, and paint baseboards, if necessary. Doing this can quickly brighten and liven up your space. Adding fresh flowers, succulents, and plants does wonders to spruce up décor while adding a touch of natural elegance.
Keep Spaces Free of Personal Items
Free walls, bed stands, coffee tables, and bookcases of all family photos and knick-knacks. You’ll also need to keep bathroom countertops clear and put away any personal care items such as toothbrushes, electric razors, and soaps. Clothes with a permanent home on a chair or the floor should also be stored appropriately away.
Put Cars in the Garage
Before you open your home for viewing, your cars need to be able to fit in the garage. If your garage does double duty as a storage area, then it’s time to clean and organize it. After you complete your garage reorganization, if there’s still no room, it may be wise to rent a storage unit to temporarily store any miscellaneous garage and house items.
Searching for Your Dream Home?
Check out Travisso’s current list of move-in ready available homes today. Specifically built for today’s busy lifestyles, they offer open concept floor plans, media and game rooms, stunning balconies, large gourmet kitchens, and gathering areas that make entertaining a breeze.
Explore a community where gorgeous Texas Hill Country views, a family-friendly neighborhood, and endless recreational possibilities come together to welcome you home.
