f you’re an investor or you want to be one, then you have one goal – to maximize returns while not having the property sit forever on the market. There are many ways to do it, but one of the most effective ones is home staging. Buyers want a home that will help them see their future lifestyle, and that’s exactly what staging does; it makes a blank space into a place you can call “home”.
Staging isn’t just a trick; it’s a proven way to sell a property faster, often even for a higher price than an unstaged one. If you have any experience with the real estate market, you know it’s competitive, so every little detail counts. Of course, as an investor, you don’t want to spend too much money on renovations because what’s the point if you do? There’s hardly any profit if you go crazy.
The question is: how to use staging without overspending and what techniques work best? How do you even get your hands on a property if you’re a beginner? We have all the answers!
How to Finance Your Property
We’ll do this in the right order. So, in order to stage a home, you need to buy it first. There are a few options available and, as far as loans go, the terms vary by state so we’ll focus more on examples and general info.
DSCR loans are especially attractive for investors because they focus on the amount of money the property is expected to generate instead of your personal income. This would be an ideal option for Hawaii real estate investments, for instance, because Hawaii has a huge demand for short-term housing, which quickly generates income.
Home equity loans and lines of credit are good options, too. With a home equity loan, you can get funds based on the equity of a property you already have, which is very useful in appreciating markets like California.
A line of credit is more flexible because you can borrow as needed, so it’s excellent for a dynamic market like the one Florida has.
The market plays a big part in choosing a loan, so get familiar with it before jumping into investing.
Home Staging Techniques
Staging is a game-changer and if you want to sell your property as fast as possible, you have to master staging. Here’s what to focus on.
-
Declutter the Space and Remove Anything Personalized
You want the property to look clean and neutral, so remove anything personal like photos, memorabilia, and if there’s a lot of decor, tone it down and remove some pieces. Without clutter, the interior will seem bigger and more organized, so a buyer will be able to focus on the features instead of furniture.
Also, decluttering makes it look like the property has been well cared for, which is important if you want to leave a good first impression.
-
Lighting and Ambiance
Lighting sets the tone and mood, so don’t underestimate it. You want as much natural light as possible, so make sure all windows are clean. If there are curtains anywhere, it would be best if they were sheer. If there are rooms that don’t have a lot of natural light, use floor lamps, wall sconces, or LED fixtures to make them brighter.
-
Arrange the Furniture
The way the furniture is arranged can make or break a person’s perception of space. Place the furniture in a way that there’s open flow through each room to make it feel inviting and airy. There shouldn’t be big pieces of furniture in small rooms, so don’t overcrowd them.
Keep the size of the furniture appropriate; you can go bigger for big rooms, but in smaller ones, don’t go too far with the size or the amount.
-
Highlight Key Features
Every property has something that stands out and you want to highlight that. A fireplace, a built-in bookshelf, large windows, etc. See what’s the main selling point and then milk it.
Keep the focal point free of clutter to draw attention to it, and get rid of decor that’s around it. For example, you can place a modern mantelpiece above your fireplace or frame a big window with sheer, neutral curtains to make them stand out more.
Conclusion
You know how buying something becomes a whole experience if the product is nicely wrapped or packaged? That’s kind of what staging does. You can’t wrap a property into a nice bow, so you have to find other ways to present it. Staging makes the property go from blah to wow, and you don’t even need to do too much to make it happen.
A few key pieces of furniture, some sheer curtains, cleanliness, and you’re golden. Your buyers want an experience, not just a walkthrough, and staging does just that.