Did you know that 80% of potential home buyers will decide if your home is right for them in the very first moment they come in?

If you’re thinking about selling your home, staging your property can give you a competitive edge in the Niagara real estate market.

Let’s look at home staging and how it can help you sell your home faster. 

What is Home Staging?

Home staging is all about showcasing your home’s best features in the most attractive ways possible. Unlike interior decorating where you bring in your personal style, home staging creates a blank canvas for potential buyers. 

Buyers want to envision what their lives would be like in your home. If staging your home, you’ll want to consider organizing your spaces, rearranging furniture and doing renovations. Key spaces to prioritize are the kitchen, living areas and bedrooms - although staging can benefit all parts of your home, including rec rooms and garages.

An important part of staging is clearing out your home to make it feel more open. This includes removing clutter such as small appliances on your kitchen countertops. The process often involves rearranging furniture to make areas more spacious and comfortable. Some sellers opt to replace or rent furniture to improve the layout of their living spaces.

Depersonalization is another key element of staging. As a seller, you want buyers to fall in love with your home. To do this, buyers need to feel an emotional connection. Our McGarr Realty team recommends removing personal items including keepsakes and photographs. Clothing and shoes should be hidden away, as should things like your pet’s food dishes or personal care products. 

Depending on the condition of your home, you may also consider home renovations as part of your staging. Painting is one of the best ways to freshen up rooms. We recommend choosing neutral colours that will appeal to a wide range of buyers. 

To update a kitchen, older appliances can be replaced with new ones. Even if your kitchen is older, changing out the cabinet hardware can make a noticeable difference. The same goes for light fixtures that will improve the appearance of your home.

Benefits of Home Staging

Although staging may seem like a lot of work, it can help strengthen your position in the St. Catharines or Niagara real estate market. For one, your home will photograph better if it’s been staged properly. Many home buyers will first see your home in an online listing and staging can ensure that you are showing the best your home has to offer.

Staging can also reduce the amount of time your home spends on the market. Research shows that un-staged homes spend more days on the housing market. In comparison, staged homes tend to sell faster and can even help net a higher listing price because they are more attractive to buyers.

If you’re considering staging your home, contact our McGarr Realty team for a complimentary marketing analysis. The free service includes a pre-consultation to increase your home’s value. Our REALTORS® will assess how your home is positioned in your neighbourhood, evaluate how to make your home stand out, and provide home staging recommendations.

Learn more about why staging can hasten the selling process of your property and how a REALTOR® at McGarr Realty can help!

Call our office at 905-687-9229 in St. Catharines, or 905-468-9229 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Or send us a message on our contact page, HERE.

The Latest