Guide to Staging a Home While Still Living in It

the exterior of a house

Moving into a new home is one of the most significant life changes a person can make. But if you want to sell your home for a high price, you should invest in staging it. A staged home will attract more buyers and leave a better impression. You are probably wondering how you can stage your home if you are still living in it. This short guide shows how easy staging a home while still living in it can be.

Why is staging a home important?

In the real estate business, your home is a product. By staging a home, you are ensuring that it looks its best. Staging a home is a necessity when it comes to selling real estate. You have much higher odds of selling your home if it is staged professionally. Not only that, but it might even sell your house for a higher price, making your investment worthwhile. You will attract potential buyers by showing them everything your home can be. When buyers see a staged home, they can imagine what their live would be like if they moved there. So even though staging a home while still living in it seems like a lot of work, it pays off.

a woman holding up a sign saying that a home is sold

Sell your home at a higher price by investing in staging a home while still living in it.

The first step when staging a home is decluttering

Once you find buyers for your house or apartment, you'll have to pack your things and move them into your new home. If you clear out all the areas of your home beforehand by decluttering your NJ home, you will save yourself a lot of time later on. Packing your things will be much easier when knowing that you've already decluttered and cleaned. When decluttering your New Jersey home, see which items you no longer need or want and put them aside to sell or donate. For those things you aren't sure whether you'd like to keep, put them away in moving boxes so you can deal with them efficiently later on. If decluttering is tiring, and you don't wish to deal with packing, you can always hire a professional to handle this.

Deep clean your home before staging it

Do a thorough cleaning of your home to ensure you haven't forgotten anything essential. Not only will you make it cleaner and easier to stage, but this way, you'll also be able to check every corner for misplaced things. You can hire professional cleaners if you don't have the time to clean your home. Although you want your home to look cozy and lived in, removing any personal photos, kids' drawings, and similar items will be best. Even though you haven't technically moved out yet, it should look as if you're ready to leave as soon as your home is sold.

Work with professionals in order to stage your home

Staging a home while still living in it isn't as easy as it may seem at first glance. It involves a lot of planning, and you need to have a sense of interior design. But, if you choose to do it yourself, you can consult a professional home stager and see whether your plan is realistic. Doing the staging yourself will cost less, but it will take up much more of your time. Before you decide on whether to hire a professional or not, see how much money you'd save and whether it's worth doing it alone.

a professional making plans for staging a home while still living in it

Hire a professional to speed up the staging process

Plan where to go when your home is being shown

You don't have to be present when your home is shown. You'll probably feel more relaxed by not being at the open house. The buyers will feel more comfortable, too, as they won't feel as if they are bothering you. You can plan to spend the day outside with your family and do some activities together. If you have pets, it's better to take them with you than leave them at home. They will feel more comfortable staying with you than being in a house full of strangers. This is also better for your pets' safety.

Another thing that can be helpful is a last-minute checklist. Write down a couple of things that need to be done before you leave the house, such as taking the trash out or washing the dishes. Now, you will be sure you didn't forget to do anything important before leaving.

Staging a home while still living in it with children

Younger kids can have a more challenging time understanding what staging a home means. Try to explain to them that this is just another crucial step in the moving process. Moving can be stressful for children, too, especially if it's a long-distance move. Letting them know what's happening will help them deal better with the entire process. You can also help them by including them in the process while packing and labeling boxes for storage. Your children can even decorate them to keep their minds off home staging and moving. As professionals from Ample Moving New Jersey suggest, you can later reuse then moving boxes as a storage solution in your new home. You kids will feel happy seeing their decorated boxes in the new home and will feel more responsible.

a beautifully decorated, modern open space in a home

A home that is staged well will sell much faster.

Mistakes to avoid when staging a home

Going with furniture that's too bulky will make your home feel smaller than it is. Choose furniture that will fit easily in its designated space and add vertical artwork to create a room that feels big. Another thing to keep in mind is to choose artwork carefully. We all have different tastes and styles, but when it comes to staging a home, pick something neutral that can fit into most homes. Bright colors or extravagant art pieces may turn potential buyers off. It's essential to check whether your home needs maintenance before you stage it. One of the things people tend to forget is to secure their home. Add a security camera to enhance the security of your home before it's sold.

In conclusion

With all of these things in mind, it may seem that staging a home while still living in it is a difficult task However, following these steps will surely pay off. Your home will sell much faster than you may have thought it would, and it will be much easier to move once it's sold.