When it comes to selling your home in the competitive Scottsdale real estate market, first impressions are everything. You want to create an inviting, warm space that buyers feel connected to. To successfully stage your home, each room should be decluttered and depersonalized so that potential buyers can visualize themselves living there. By creating a fresh canvas for your viewers, you can help them see the endless possibilities for the space and increase your chances of making a quicker and more profitable sale.
In this article, we'll explore the benefits of decluttering and depersonalizing your home and how staging can help you sell your property faster and for a better price. So, if you're planning on putting your home on the Scottsdale market soon, keep reading to find out why a little depersonalization can go a long way.
Turn your home into a blank slate
Creating a fresh canvas for your potential buyers can make it easier for them to imagine themselves living in your home. By removing your personal items and unnecessary clutter, your buyers will be free to visualize their own belongings and happy lives there instead. This strategy will give your home a spacious and open feel, which can be a significant selling point.
As another benefit, depersonalizing your property can help you emotionally detach from your house and move forward to the next one. Selling a home can be an emotional time, but by removing your personal items and memorabilia from each room, you can begin to see your home as a product to be sold rather than a place full of memories. While you will always cherish your home and the life you built there, you want to set yourself up for happiness and new memories in your new place.
An in-depth look at decluttering and depersonalizing
Decluttering your home is the first step in creating a blank, neutral canvas for potential buyers. Start by removing any unnecessary items from the space, such as excess clothing, shoes, dog toys, and unused furniture. You want your home to feel as open as possible, with ample space for buyers to walk from room to room. Declutter all countertops and surfaces, and organize your closets to look neat and tidy. Consider renting a storage facility to store away any items that you don't need on a daily basis.
The next step, depersonalizing, doesn't mean you have to strip your home of all personality. It simply means removing items that are highly personal or may distract your buyers. The goal is to remove any items that remind your buyers that the home currently belongs to someone else.
Depersonalizing tips
- Remove family photos and overly personal artwork
- Store away personal collections and memorabilia
- Put away any religious or political items
- Remove any highly personalized decor
- Take down sports trophies or diplomas
Stage your home for maximum appeal
Once you’ve decluttered and depersonalized your space, it’s time to stage it for maximum appeal. This might include rearranging furniture, adding beautiful decor, and creating focal points throughout the home. You want your house to look cohesive and put together.
Well-staged homes enable buyers to see the property’s potential and imagine how they would use each room. This strategy is a powerful selling tool, as it can help buyers connect emotionally with your home and be more likely to make an offer.
Create a neutral environment
Creating a neutral atmosphere is an essential part of presenting a clean slate for prospective buyers. While you want to remove overly distracting items and decor, you can still leave some small decorative touches that create a more alluring atmosphere.
The key is to set up a space that feels warm and inviting without being overwhelming. If you're not sure where to start, consider hiring a professional stager to guide you. They can help you create a cohesive look throughout the space.
Tips for creating the perfect environment
- Add a few well-placed pieces of artwork or decor
- Use soft lighting to create a warm atmosphere
- Add some fresh flowers or plants to bring life to the space
- Use furniture that is appropriately sized for the room (not overly bulky or awkwardly placed)
Showcase your home's best features
With your home decluttered and depersonalized, you’re now ready to showcase your home's best features — the entire point of staging! Whether it's a stunning view or an impressive architectural element, you want to accent the features that make your home unique and compelling. Each room should have a focal point that draws attention to its best traits. This could be a fireplace, a picturesque window, or a cozy reading nook.
When staging, many sellers focus on the most obvious rooms — like the bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms — and forget about highlighting other important areas. Don’t forget about storage spaces! By thoroughly decluttering and depersonalizing throughout, you can show off your home's storage capacity by showing off clean and organized closets, cupboards, cabinets, and garages. These are all important features on many buyers’ wish lists.
The importance of curb appeal
Decluttering and depersonalizing are essential steps for the exterior of your home as well, as you want to set a tone of luxury right from the start. Put away dog toys, playground equipment, unnecessary lawn ornaments, and festive decorations. Make sure the yard, trees, and shrubbery are well-kept and tidy, and add gorgeous in-season plants for a touch of color.
Ready to jump in?
Giving buyers a fresh canvas is a powerful tool when selling. To help buyers imagine your home as theirs, it's best to remove personal items and stage your home in a neutral and welcoming way. Of course, you should always partner up with a reliable agent who can guide you through these steps and help you reach success.
If you're hoping to sell your home without all the stress, reach out to ROCO Luxury Homes. This highly esteemed team of experienced Scottsdale real estate agents is ready to help you navigate the selling process and work toward achieving all your goals. Get started today!
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
