Home staging: Simple tips you must know to get started

Ever heard of home staging? This refers to the process of sprucing up and preparing a home for sale – basically, you’re setting your place up such that it suggests a certain lifestyle that is desirable to house viewers, so that they’re more likely to purchase it!

Why do home staging?

A typical house viewing might last up to 20 minutes – but as with anything else, potential buyers will form their first impression of the place within the first few seconds of stepping in. This first impression is crucial to you if you don’t want your property to be on the market for too long, or if you’re hoping that the potential buyers won’t bargain down your asking price.

How did home staging come about?

Home staging originated in America in the 1970s, and if you’ve seen the reality television shows Property Brothers, The Stagers, or Staged To Perfection – these are basically based on the concept of home staging, with people coming in to help fix up homes, so that the homeowners can subsequently make a sale.

Home staging is different from interior decorating in the sense that interior decorating specifically revolves around the homeowner’s taste, but home staging seeks to remove any personal preferences and create a universal appeal – almost as if you’re returning your home to showroom condition, so that potential buyers can imagine themselves occupying the space.

How much does home staging cost?

Home staging isn’t as widely practiced in Singapore as it is in America, so we don’t have many professional home stagers available locally. However, there are two such companies, Asian Professional Organizers and paper+white, that does home staging. They typically charge from $1000 onwards for their services, but if you’re just looking for a few simple tips to attempt a small-scale home staging on your own, read on – we’ve got you covered!  

DIY home staging tips

1. Declutter

The entire process starts with a necessary evil. If your potential buyers are walking into a house filled with personal memorabilia, chances are, they’re not going to form too much of an attachment to it. Put away framed pictures, awards, and any collectibles that are lying around. Remember: more is less!

2. Do a smell-check

Do you own a pet? You might’ve gotten used to any pet scent or odour that might be lingering in your place, but that doesn’t mean that your potential buyer will be able to do the same. Err on the side of caution and do some heavy-duty cleaning to get rid off offensive smells – and then get an air freshener, essential oils diffuser or scented candles to seal the deal!

3. Brighten up your living room

Let your potential buyers step into a light and airy living room. If you have the time, put on a new, light-coloured coat of paint on the walls. If not, just make sure there’s sufficient artificial lighting and open your windows for fresh air and sunlight!

4. Make your bedroom look luxurious

A bedroom is meant to be your oasis from the world – so make sure your bedroom looks luxurious and relaxing. If you have a desk in your bedroom, sweep it clean of work materials and clutter. If you haven’t already, purchase a quilt or comforter and fluffy pillows in soft, neutral colours.

5. Impress them with your bathroom

Insert some subtle accessories and touches into your bathroom to make your potential home buyers feel like they’re getting the comforts of a spa experience. Stow away unsightly bottles of half-used soap and shampoo, and purchase candles, decorative baskets and the like. Also put out rolled-up white towels for maximum effect!

Using our DIY home staging tips, you can easily refresh the look of your property and transform it into something that is inviting and viewing-friendly! All it takes is a trip to Ikea to stock up on the necessary items, and perhaps a day or a day and a half to clean and decorate – and you’ll (hopefully!) have potential buyers clamouring to make an offer. Good luck!