Summertime means sunshine and spending time outdoors, whether that’s by the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere in between. But maybe this summer you’ve decided to pack up your things for good and sell your home. Perhaps you’ve decided to move to a new city like Jacksonville, FL or downsize in Vancouver, CA, chances are you’re looking to sell your home for top dollar. And nothing helps potential buyers feel like they’re at home more than the right home staging and design.
To help make your home stand out amongst the rest, we’ve asked the professionals to share their best home staging and design tips to help you sell your home this summer.
Home staging and design starts at the front door. “Every doorway, every intersection has a story,” Katherine Dunn. Dollar for dollar the most creative thing you can do is replace your front door. It is the first thing the buyer sees. A brightly colored front door will make your home memorable. If color isn’t your thing, simply putting in a new steel door or updating your screen door with a glass version where the screen and window are stored inside the door you create an entirely new look. – S&S Remodeling Contractors
Follow these 9 tips for painting the outside of your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late and your out of pocket more than is necessary. 1) Wash the exterior 2) Scrape off loose paint 3) Sand rough spots 4) Fill and repair 5) Apply primer as needed 6) Caulk joints as needed 7) Choose the right paint 8) Apply top coats 9) Practice good maintenance. – Matt Soares, Owner of Gen Pro Painting
And make sure you’ve staged the exterior. This is your one chance to make a lasting first impression during a drive by, online photos, or first glance when they arrive for a showing. Trim and clean up the landscaping. If it seems like the landscaping and outdoor space is too much to take care of then the potential buyers will assume that it is too big of a job for them as well. – Jen Bencho, Lucy Lane Home Staging & Styling
Highlight indoor-outdoor living. Our indoors have become an extension of outside and we want buyers to see this space as an additional living area. When staging to sell in the summertime, we not only want to showcase how functional this area can be but also how relaxing and fun it can be for the whole family. To get the buyer’s imagination going, we recommend adding colorful throw pillows to your multiple seating areas, plush towels along with some reading material to the loungers and a tray of refreshing drinks poolside. – Theresa Ceglio, Founder & CEO We Stage Jacksonville
Strategically place lush, green, low maintenance plants in every room. This helps to bring the easy summer vibe inside. Remember to start with plants around the front door and make your way through the house alternating between small succulents for smaller spaces, to larger plants such as bamboo or palm to fill in large empty spaces. Hanging plants are also a great way to freshen up an empty corner or bring life to a bare area without compromising valuable floor or counter space. – Julia Britton, Founder of Britton Interiors and Staging
Include any outdoor amenities in your home staging and design. Curb appearance of the home and backyard area. Many people still work from home and will continue to do so this year and probably the next too, so having an appealing backyard set up with a DIY fire pit, fireplace, gazebo and great sitting area around it will be an advantage for selling your home above the asking price in the summer. – Rangel Nikolov – Managing Partner at SITL Home Renovation and Design
Embrace nature indoors. Start with adding touches of bright colors by using uplifting artwork and by including a few plants and floral arrangements. Finally, open the blinds and curtains which will bring the nature outside into the room. These small changes will make your home stand out in the summer months and can result in sales. – Kristie Hollinger, Miracle Makeover Designs
Be sure your kitchen stands out. Kitchens sell homes. Your cabinets may look outdated but still have a ton of life left in them. A fresh coat of paint and new hardware can save you thousands and immediately update your space and add instant value to your home. – Denell Shaw, Owner of Painted
Only leave decorative items. Declutter your kitchen work surfaces and what remains should be considered more of a decoration. Less is more. I encourage clients to have only 1-2 items on your countertops especially if they are attractive like a fruit bowl, a nice wooden cutting board or matching jars for staples like sugar and flour. – Amy Carstensen, Professional Organizer Organizing with Amy
Designate each room to a specific purpose. The kitchen should only house cooking/food/eating related items. Bedrooms should have minimal furnishings that promote rest and relaxation. Offices should be minimal and functional and all other bedrooms should represent their intended purpose. Large items like exercise equipment are fine, but best presented with other fitness related objects surrounding any large machines (yoga mats, weights, etc.) – Stacy Thomes, Stacy Thomes Organizing LLC
Rugs help to highlight each space. Since there are some homes with a more open concept layout, we recommend to really help define each space, placing area rugs in each distinct space to give the buyers an idea how to fully utilize each area. It gives them not only a cozy, homey feel but the rug(s) leave the boundaries needed to visualize where, for example, the living area differs from the breakfast nook. – Travis & Leah Harrison, Colorado Premier Staging
Create a luxurious feel in your home. Do you love the luxury of hotel amenities? Give buyers the same feeling of luxury by placing fluffy white towels on the bathroom counter and hanging a luxurious white bathrobe by the tub or shower. Take luxury a step further and slip a dryer sheet between the towels to give the room a subtle yet fresh scent. – Missy Noonan, Sonata Home Design
Don’t be afraid to embrace dark colors. When picking a paint color for a dark room, the answer isn’t white. Counterintuitive? Think of a hospital room that’s low light… down right depressing. Pick instead a rich dark color. – Joanne E Bradley, Joanne E Bradley Interiors
The right accessories can make all the difference. To make your listing stand out this summer, use the power of subtlety and include little moments like a wooden tray on the kitchen island with a glass pitcher, some stacked glasses, and a few lemons (preferably with leaves still attached). The human mind is powerful, and those little hints and teasers are soaking into buyers’ subconscious and telling them a story about the amazing, breezy, beautiful lifestyle they’ll have if they buy. It may seem like a tiny thing, but before you know it buyers will be hooked. – Rough Diamond Studios
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