Time and time again, studies show that a staged home sells 73% faster than a non-staged home, but what goes into home staging, and is it really something you can do yourself, or should you call in a professional? If you're looking to sell your Denver townhome for top dollar, here are the staging secrets you need to know and use.
Use Neutral Colors
Before you start looking around and praising beige walls and white ceilings, remind yourself that there are a lot of looks that fit the description of "neutral." When a professional designer or stager advises a homeowner to choose a neutral color scheme when putting their house on the market, they don't mean opt for tan everything.
Rather, they're telling you to look for soft colors — clean grays, earthy greens, light blues, and muted yellows — instead of bright, bold colors. Definitely don't opt for beige everything, as that will make your home look drab and take away from its character. So, whether you currently have beige walls or hot pink ones, consider painting with an updated neutral palette.
Declutter Your Spaces
Especially when you're working with a Denver townhouse, which has a limited footprint, it's essential that you put in the effort to clean and declutter. This is a two-pronged approach to improving how buyers perceive your home — dirt and grime make a home feel unwelcoming and overpriced. At the same time, clutter immediately causes a buyer to question how much, or how little, storage space the property boasts.
Buyers are sure to check inside closets and cabinets, so don't think you can "hide" clutter away. Clear off the top shelves, fold things neatly, and take away any items that make an area look like it's overflowing. This goes for places you're less likely to think about, too, like the cabinet under the kitchen sink and the vanity drawers in the bathroom.
Brighten Your Rooms
A dimly lit room feels small, even constricting, and anything but cheery. In many cases, all you need to do to brighten your Denver townhouse is to replace old lightbulbs with LEDs with a high lumen count. In general, avoid cool light, which can look stark and sterile, and opt for "daylight" bulbs if you want a tone that really brightens your space. At the other end of the spectrum, don't go for a light that's too warm as it will throw an unappealing orange hue.
If your home lacks overhead lights, supplement with floor and table lamps where appropriate. Ensure all your light bulbs match each other in their color tone/warmth, or the colors they cast will visually break up the space and affect the perception of paint colors and other elements.
Remove Personal Items
You may love that souvenir you picked up in the Caribbean, but if it stands out in your home, you need to remove it. You want buyers to focus on your home and its functionality. Home staging aims to help the buyer see themselves in your space, so remove family photos and other personal items too.
In general, you want the items in your Denver townhome to be generic items that blend into the space — similar to the unremarkable artwork and decor you'd see in an upscale hotel room. The decor of a nice hotel room is by no means offensive to the eye, but it's not exactly something that grabs your attention, it's just there, filling a blank space that would otherwise stare back at you.
Make Cheap Upgrades
Outlet cover cracked? Replace it. Mismatched light switch? Replace it. Worn-out welcome mat by the front door? Replace it. Invest a couple hundred dollars into a bunch of cheap but noticeable upgrades as part of your home staging plan, and you'll be well on your way to transforming how your Denver townhouse looks and feels. If you have an outdated light fixture, broken set of blinds, or dingy curtains, those little things are also worth upgrading because buyers are sure to notice.
Put Yourself in the Buyer's Shoes
The home staging process is all about exemplifying your Denver townhouse and all the ways the buyer will be able to enjoy it. To do this in the most effective manner possible, consider two things: your ideal buyer and the current season. Throwing some nice garland over the mantle is a smart move if it's mid-winter, but a bad idea come spring. Likewise, patio furniture is worth staging if you're in the warmer months but almost a waste of time if things are covered in snow.
Aside from seasonality, also consider who your ideal buyer likely is. Ask the Real Estate Doctor who's most likely going to be looking at your Denver townhouse, based on its size, location, and price, and then go from there. It's all about knowing your market.
Get the Most Money for Your Denver Townhome
Investing in home staging is a smart move for any homeowner looking to sell their Denver townhouse, but staging is far from the only thing on your to-do list. If you want to get top dollar for your townhome, you need to know your starting point. Ask yourself, what's your townhouse really worth?
