When it comes time to put your house on the market, professional staging can make all the difference. You have probably heard the age-old saying, “never judge a book by its cover” – well, in the housing market this often is just not the case. When a potential buyer walks into a home, the first impression matters.

Staging your home allows it to be shown at its maximum potential, ensuring that first impression is a positive and lasting one. By showcasing your home’s strengths and downplaying its weaknesses, staging typically shortens the amount of time your home spends on the market and increases its perceived value.

When buyers walk in to a home that is not staged, they often find it difficult to envision themselves in the space, making it a harder sell. Clutter, personal belongings, and areas that need updating are all factors that can impede a potential buyer’s ability to emotionally connect to the space.

If you are thinking of listing your home, here are some important tips to keep in mind when staging:

• A great stager will make the whole house feel blended, meaning although the home has been professionally staged, it does not feel like it
• De-cluttering will make the home seem more spacious and inviting
• Repair scratches and scuffs and touch up paint in chipped areas to present your home in the best light
• When it comes to paint, bold coloured accent walls can take away from room’s strengths – so it is a good idea to stick to neutrals like white, grey and taupe
• Leave window coverings open and lights turned on to make the space look as bright and welcoming as possible

By taking the steps to ensure your home is staged well, the focus shifts from solely on the look of a home, to also the feel of the home – which is equally, if not more important.