Whether you’re looking to sell your Austin home quickly or just want to maximize its sale price, staging is key. Follow these tips from local real estate pros to ensure your home will stand out in the competitive Austin housing market.

1. Curb Appeal
2. Depersonalize the Space
3. Declutter and Clear Out
4. Lighten Up
5. Highlight Quality
6. Make it Smell Good
7. Neutralize
8. Stage Strategically

1. Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a great way to make your home stand out in the competitive Austin housing market. It’s the first thing buyers see and can make the difference between a sale and a pass. Austin real estate professionals recommend starting with the basics: freshen up the paint on the outside of the house and trim any overgrown shrubs. This can make a huge difference to the overall look of the home.

In addition to the basics, you can add a little extra pizzazz to your home’s curb appeal. Plant colorful flowers near the entrance or hang a wreath with seasonal decorations. This will add a unique, inviting touch to your home. You can also spruce up your entryway with potted plants, outdoor lighting, and a new front door.

Give your home an extra boost by sprucing up the outdoor living space. Add seating, a fountain, or a fire pit to create a cozy atmosphere that potential buyers can imagine themselves in. If you have a deck or patio, invest in some outdoor furniture and string up some lights. This will make your space more inviting and will give potential buyers a great impression before they even enter the house.

By taking the time to improve your home’s curb appeal, you’ll be sure to make a lasting impression on potential buyers. Keep these tips from Austin real estate professionals in mind and your home will be sure to stand out in the competitive Austin housing market.

2. Depersonalize the Space

When selling your home, it’s important to depersonalize the space to make it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there. This can be difficult if you’ve lived in the home for a long time, as it’s likely full of personal items like family photos, kids’ artwork, and other mementos. Fortunately, Austin real estate professionals have some tips on how to depersonalize your home without sacrificing its cozy, homey atmosphere.

Start by decluttering the space. This means removing any excess furniture and items you don’t need to make the room feel more spacious. You can also rearrange furniture and decor to emphasize open space. This can help potential buyers envision the layout of the room and how they would use it.

You can also put away any personal items, such as family photos, kids’ artwork, and memorabilia. These items have a tendency to distract potential buyers from the potential of the home. Instead, consider replacing them with neutral decor. This can include simple artwork and accessories that won’t compete with the features of the home.

Finally, you can add pieces that create a feeling of warmth and comfort. This could include adding a few cozy blankets and pillows to the living room or a vase of flowers in the kitchen. These small touches can help potential buyers feel at home, while still maintaining a neutral atmosphere.

By following these tips from Austin real estate pros, you can depersonalize your home while still keeping its cozy, inviting feel. This can help potential buyers envision themselves living in the space and make your home stand out in the competitive Austin housing market.

3. Declutter and Clear Out

Are you looking to get your Austin home market-ready? When it comes to home staging, decluttering and clearing out can make all the difference. Removing excess furniture and personal items can make your home look more spacious and inviting, draw the eye to the features you want to showcase, and help potential buyers envision themselves living there.

But, it’s not just about removing items from your home, it’s also about arranging the items that remain in an aesthetically pleasing way. Place furniture in a way that will draw the eye to the best features of the room. Maximize natural lighting by removing any heavy curtains or shades. Place artwork and mirrors around the room to create balance and bring out the best in the space.

It’s also important to remove any items that could make potential buyers uncomfortable. This could include family photos, religious items, and anything overly personal. If you have items that are valuable, but that you don’t want to leave out, consider storing them in a safe place while the house is being shown.

Decluttering can be hard, especially if you’ve lived in your home for a long time. Consider hiring a professional home stager to help you make the most of your space. Having an experienced eye can make a world of difference.

With a little bit of effort and the help of Austin real estate professionals, you can make your home stand out in the competitive market. By decluttering and arranging furniture strategically, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere that potential buyers will love. Get started today and make your home market-ready!

4. Lighten Up

• Create a bright, airy feel with lighter paint and natural lighting. To make your home more attractive to potential buyers, try lightening up the interior with lighter paint colors and natural lighting. A bright, airy feel will give your home a more inviting atmosphere and make it feel larger. If you’re not a fan of painting, you can spruce up the space with light-colored accents, like area rugs and throw pillows, to create a more cheerful palette. If you have curtains or blinds, try to keep them open to let in natural light and make the room appear larger.
• Declutter the space to make it more inviting. When it comes to staging, less is more. Declutter the space to make it feel more open and inviting. Take down family photos and large pieces of furniture, and replace them with neutral pieces. If you have too many pieces, try to rent some furniture pieces to achieve the right balance. This will help potential buyers envision themselves in the space and create an easier flow to the room.
• Bring in personal touches to make buyers feel at home. Adding a few personal touches will help buyers connect with the space. Try decorating with plants to bring life to the room. You can also add small accents, like a new set of towels in the bathroom or a few books in the living room. Just make sure these pieces are neutral and not too busy. This will make potential buyers feel at home and give your space a more inviting atmosphere.
• Clean up the front yard and add inviting accents. When staging your home, it’s important to consider the outdoors as well. Clean up the front yard and add some colorful potted plants to make it inviting. You can also add seating, like a bench or a few chairs, to make the space feel cozier. Make sure the yard looks well-maintained and inviting to potential buyers.
• Create a warm atmosphere with soft lighting and colors. Finally, remember that staging is all about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Use soft lighting and warm colors to give the space a comforting feel. Give potential buyers a reason to want to come and see your home, and make them feel like they can imagine themselves living there. With these tips, you’ll be sure to make your home stand out in the Austin real estate market.

5. Highlight Quality

• Highlight quality features When it comes to staging your Austin home for the market, it’s important to emphasize the quality features that make it unique. Showcase the hardwood floors, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances that you’ve invested in over the years. Doing so will help potential buyers envision themselves in your space. Additionally, make sure to keep your home clean and clutter-free to make it look more inviting and appealing to buyers. Brightening up the space with a few plants or tasteful decorations can also help draw attention to the quality of your home.
• Make it personal When staging your home, it’s important to make it feel like it’s still your home. Utilize some of your personal items to give the space a feeling of being lived in and loved. For example, place a few of your favorite books on the bookshelf or hang a few of your favorite prints on the wall. This will make the space feel more personal and will help buyers imagine themselves in the space. But be sure not to go overboard – too many personal items can make the space feel cluttered and distracting.
• Stage each room When staging your home for the market, it’s important to make sure each room looks its best. Take the time to rearrange furniture and decor to make the space look more inviting and appealing. If a room looks dark or cramped, consider using mirrors or lighter colors to open up the space and make it feel more inviting. Additionally, consider adding extra seating to make the space look larger and more inviting. Taking the time to stage each room will help potential buyers feel more comfortable in your space.

6. Make it Smell Good

Making sure your home smells pleasant is an important part of preparing it for sale. A bad odor can be a major turn-off for potential buyers and make them think twice about putting in an offer. However, achieving a pleasant scent doesn’t have to be a difficult task.

One of the simplest ways to freshen up your house is to light scented candles. A light and pleasant aroma will fill the room and create a calming atmosphere. Whether you opt for a classic scent like lavender or something more unique, like a lemongrass and ginger aroma, candles can be a great way to freshen up the space.

If candles aren’t your thing, you can also opt for an air freshener. Air fresheners are available in a wide variety of scents, from fresh and airy to spicy and exotic. You can even find air fresheners that feature multiple scents in one. Simply set it up in the room and let it do its job.

Finally, an easy trick to make sure your home smells pleasant is to bake something sweet. Whether it’s your favorite cookies or a classic apple pie, the smell of freshly baked goods will fill the house and make it much more inviting.

Whichever option you choose, make sure to test the scent before the potential buyers arrive. You don’t want the scent to be too overpowering or too faint; it should be just right. With a little effort, you can create an atmosphere that is sure to impress.

7. Neutralize

Staging your home is a great way to make sure it stands out in the competitive Austin housing market. One of the best tips from local real estate pros is to focus on neutral colors for walls, furniture, and accents. This can help create a calming atmosphere, and it also helps create a more universal appeal for potential buyers.

Neutral colors like taupes, grays, and whites create a timeless, clean look that can help buyers imagine their own style in a space. Consider painting walls in a warm, neutral shade to give the home an inviting, homey feel. Choose furniture that is also neutral in color and texture while adding a few colorful accents like throws, pillows, and artwork. You can also add texture with wood elements, such as a light-colored wood floor or a natural woven rug.

When it comes to the kitchen, go for a neutral backsplash and countertop. Choose a white, cream, or light gray for the cabinets to create an airy, open feel. Opt for stainless steel appliances for a modern, updated touch.

In the bathroom, choose neutral paint colors and tile to create a spa-like feel. Paint the vanity the same color as the walls for a seamless look. Choose white or cream countertops and backsplash, and opt for chrome or brushed nickel fixtures and cabinet hardware.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your home is market-ready. Neutral colors can be a great way to make your home stand out and appeal to a wider range of potential buyers.

8. Stage Strategically

When staging a home for the market, it’s important to focus on the “big three”: the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom. These are the spaces that potential buyers will likely spend the most time in, so they should be given the most attention.

In the living room, make sure that the furniture is arranged in a way that encourages conversation and creates an inviting atmosphere. Place accent pieces around the room to add a touch of personality, but keep it minimal to emphasize the space.

In the kitchen, make sure all countertops and surfaces are clean and clutter-free. Place items like cookbooks and dishes in a way that shows off the room’s features. If you have a kitchen island, consider adding some barstools to create a more inviting atmosphere.

Finally, the master bedroom should be a peaceful retreat. Place a few accent pieces to create a relaxing atmosphere. Make sure the bed is made and any linens are neatly folded. Keep the color palette neutral, but use different textures to add dimension to the space.

Staging strategically can help you make the most of your home’s potential and ensure that it stands out in the competitive Austin housing market. With a little creativity and planning, you can create an inviting home that will be sure to attract buyers.