Storage Tips for Staging Your Home to Sell

When it comes to selling your home, there are a number of ways you can help it appeal to potential buyers. One of those methods is staging. By staging a home, you can make or break how fast your home sells, and how much buyers are willing to pay for it, making it a critical part of the selling process.

If you don’t think staging a home to sell is important, think again– 82% of agents claim that staging makes it easier for buyers to picture that house as their future home. On top of that, professionally staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than unstaged homes. Further, staged homes sold for 25% more than those without staging in 2019, meaning you could potentially get higher offers and more money than what your home is actually worth.

Most sellers don’t consider the importance of staging a home in relation to storage. Especially for growing families, highlighting storage in a home can help them more easily imagine themselves living there. As buyers walk through the home, people will notice places to put their kids’ toys, collections of antiques, or extensive wardrobes.

It’s important to bring these storage capabilities to the forefront even in the smallest homes. When it seems impossible, you’ll find comfort in knowing there are still countless ways to maximize space in every home. Here, we’ll dive into staging your house so that you can sell it for the right price in a timely manner.

Utilize open shelving

Open shelving is a great way to take advantage of the unused vertical space in your home. Open shelves not only add a stylistic quality to your room, but they’re practical as well. In the kitchen, you can put dishes, fruits and vegetables, and even smaller appliances here. Or, in living rooms and bedrooms, these provide additional space for photos, plants, and other knick-knacks.

This kind of shelving is pretty affordable and easy to install without the help of a professional. When staging your house to sell, incorporate some of these open shelves into common areas so buyers can picture their family photos and cherished items fitting right in.

Take advantage of containers

Containers of any kind can help your home look organized and tidy. They can serve as additional storage and double as decor as well. You can even stack them vertically to maximize all the space you can inside the room. Or, use baskets to help it look homier. Keep storage less than full, as stuffed containers can reveal how tight the space really is, turning buyers away.

While clear containers can be resourceful throughout the moving process, solid colors can tuck away some of your personal belongings as buyers tour your home. The more belongings you stow away unseen, the better the home will look and the greater your chance of a quick resale.

Declutter

The key to successful storage is removing the clutter from your home. The less stuff you have, the less you have to store, and the less cramped the home will feel when buyers enter it. In fact, scientists link clutter to increased feelings of stress. Cluttered spaces can imply to buyers a need for extensive future cleaning, which can translate into more projects and steer them away.

Start by donating or throwing away any seldom-used items from your home. Another option is to hold a garage sale to sell some of the items you can live without to make some extra cash to put toward your big move.

Do a deep clean

While it may not seem obvious, cleaning is a crucial step to staging your home that directly affects how quickly your home sells and for how much. A house that is untidy or even unsanitary can throw up a red flag to buyers that the previous owner may not have taken proper care of it. This could also suggest deeper unseen issues that the owners failed to tend to, hinting at potentially major costs and repairs later on down the road.

Aside from cleaning out the obvious spaces like floors and kitchen counters, take it a step further by hitting other places that buyers will see, such as pantries, shelves, closets, sheds, and garages. Get rid of any dust and debris, and cover up any major stains that could turn buyers away.

Rent storage units

When staging your house to sell, it’s important to remove any of your valuable items and store them away so they’re safe throughout home tours. Also, remember that de-personalizing the space is critical to the buyer’s impression of the home. Family photos, kids’ artwork, and personal clothing can make it difficult for potential buyers to picture the home as their own. But where will you put all these items?

This is where storage units can be a huge help. You can find and rent storage units near you so you can stow away any items that are treasured, too large, or not helpful when it comes to staging the space. Here at West Coast Self-Storage, we can provide space for all kinds of belongings, from wine to vehicles to household storage.

Additional tips for staging your home to sell

Believe it or not, there are countless additional ways to enhance your staging to help buyers fall in love with your home. Consider some of these tips when planning how to stage your home:

• Keep it bright: Brighter colors make spaces look less cramped and cluttered. Apply fresh coats of bright paint to areas with storage before putting your home on the market.
• Consult a professional: When staging your home becomes overwhelming, or is simply beyond your skillset, reach out to a reputable professional staging service who can help you get the best chance at a quick resale and a great deal for your home.
• Think about photography: If your home is listed online, be sure to highlight these bright colors and storage-friendly spaces in photos as well. Don’t be afraid to use a professional real estate photographer along with a professional stager.
• Embrace multi-functional spaces: Multi-functional rooms are becoming more popular as many have adjusted to working from home indefinitely. Rooms that double as home gyms, home offices, or hobby rooms can be a major asset to potential buyers.

Staging your house to sell can get complex and exhausting. But with the help of an expert, some rentable storage, and a revamp of your storage areas, buyers will fall in love with your home, making the process much smoother for you and your family.