In a word: Yes!
Here, lifelong Washingtonville resident Paul Biagini, owner of Biagini Realty, shares his expertise on staging your home for the quickest and most profitable sale.
According to Biagini, depersonalizing your home is one of the most important steps in the home staging process, and it can be a key factor in selling your home.
What is depersonalizing?
Depersonalizing your home is all about neutralizing, or removing your personal taste from your home decor so that buyers can mentally see themselves living there.
It might seem sad to know that the “personal stamp” you have lovingly placed on your home needs to go, but remember, you are selling your house, not your possessions or your identity!
Your taste and style are important to you, not your buyers.
Believe it or not, many buyers have a poor sense of imagination. They may be unable to see past your ceramics collection or your hanging dried herbs in the kitchen. Your goal is to make them feel like your home could potentially become a place that’s all their own.
If there is something in your home that they don’t like, it will register negatively in their opinion of your home vs. others they are considering.
See with “Buyer’s Eyes”
Sellers need to look at their home with “buyer’s eyes.” This can be hard, because after living in clutter for awhile, home owners tend to no longer see it.
Begin your observation outside at the curb. Try to imagine you’re seeing your home for the first time. What jumps out at you? What can you do to make a better first impression? If you’re having a hard time being objective, ask a neighbor or friend to help you out. And don’t be offended when they offer their opinion. Remember, your ultimate goal is to sell your house quickly and profitably!
Clear clutter.
In addition to clutter, unfinished projects and damage (no matter how small) may scare buyers away or make the home feel smaller and more dated than it actually is. Any perceived “negative” detail could potentially be used as a negotiating tactic.
But Don’t Overdo It
Personalizing your home too much can make your house appear cold and stark. A sterile environment isn’t inviting, and buyers may have difficulty seeing the purpose of an empty room.
In addition, unfurnished rooms can cause that uncomfortable echo-chamber effect. A few pieces of furniture are all you need to indicate the purpose of a room. A desk and chair will do for an office; an attractively made-up bed, bedside table and lamp for a bedroom; and a cozy furniture arrangement placed on an area rug for a living room.
Use your nicest furniture for staging. Remember, fair or not, most buyers will judge a home by its contents.
Call Hudson Valley real estate brokerage Biagini Realty. Paul Biagini can help you sell or find your perfect home in Orange County, Rockland County, Putnam County, Sullivan County, Ulster County, Dutchess County, Westchester County, Albany County and the Philadelphia metropolitan area.