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Tips for Seniors Selling Their House: Use These Staging Tips to Make It Feel More Modern and Sell Faster

A minimal decorated living room with wooden accents

Selling your home as a senior can feel like a big transition, but with the right staging techniques, you can make your space feel modern, inviting and ready to attract buyers. According to the 2023 Profile of Home Staging, a report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), 58% of buyer’s agents said that staging positively affected most buyers’ opinions of a home, and 81% said staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, which can help the home sell faster. The most commonly staged rooms are the living room at 91%, kitchen and primary bedroom at 81% and dining room at 69%. Also, according to the report, a staged living room was very important to 39% of buyers, followed by the primary bedroom at 36%, and the kitchen at 30%.  

How Important Is Home Staging to Selling Your Home?

Compared to the amount of time and money it requires, staging may be one of the best investments you can make when selling your home. That’s because potential buyers aren’t just looking for a residence – they’re looking for a way to fulfill their dreams and improve their lifestyle. Staging can help create a more emotional purchase for the buyer, which ultimately can generate more money for you. 

What Are the Benefits of Staging Your Home?

A well-staged home will sell for more than one that hasn’t been staged since home shoppers can imagine themselves living there. A home that’s not staged will force a buyer to look past your possessions to imagine the home as theirs. Photos of a properly staged home will also look better in online listings, which help build traffic. 

How Much Does Staging Your Home Cost?

According to the NAR, the median cost of home staging is $675.40. These costs depend on the size, location and price of the home, the exact type of staging services you’re looking for, and whether you need additional furniture, décor or other items. Some agents recommend spending between 1% to 3% of your home’s listing price on staging. 

Tips for Staging Your Home

Home staging is all about ensuring you receive the best possible offer in the least amount of time. Here are some tips to help you achieve both. 

  • Put yourself in their shoes: Walk the path prospective buyers will take, looking for scuffs, fingerprints, knickknacks and furniture that blocks openings or natural walkways between rooms. Ensuring an open flow will make your home more inviting. 
  • Curb appeal: Ensure the buyer is interested in seeing your home. If the front door is not in good condition, paint it to give it a fresh look. Ensure proper lighting outside and remove all outside clutter. 
  • Entryway: The entryway is the first room potential buyers see when they enter your home and the last one, they see when they leave. 
  • Living room staging: This is often the first room buyers go through when touring your home. It is also the place where they may envision themselves relaxing and entertaining. Declutter, reduce furniture and use lighting to make the room feel comfortable. 
  • Kitchen staging: The kitchen is one of the most viewed areas. Clear kitchen countertop and island clutter and reduce the number of visible appliances. Clean and organize kitchen cabinets, drawers, pantry, refrigerator, and microwave. 
  • Main bedroom staging: Depersonalize the primary bedroom so that anyone can picture themselves sleeping there. 
  • Bathroom staging: Ensure all bathrooms are spotless. Use appropriate cleaning products for toilets, sinks or tubs with rust or other issues. Update old lighting fixtures and bathroom cabinet hardware. Consider painting the bathroom cabinetry and investing in new shower curtains, rugs and bathmats. Add items like fluffy towels, candles and fancy soaps to create a spa-like appearance. 
  • Garage staging: Avoid storing excess items in the garage. Consider storing items in a pod or another storage unit. Clean and organize the garage. 
  • Closets and storage areas staging: The buyer will inspect closets, cabinets, drawers and other storage areas. Well-organized storage areas leave a favorable impression on buyers. 
  • Declutter: Buyers need to feel the home is spacious and clean without seeing clutter. (That’s why preparing your home to sell is also a good time to downsize.) Too much furniture, pillows and home accessories can make a home look and feel smaller. An organized and clutter-free home indicates that the owner has taken care of the house. Buyers will also open cabinets, cupboards and closets. 
  • Pets: For the comfort and peace of mind of real estate agents and buyers, consider taking pets for a walk or to a kennel and removing all pet scents. 
  • Depersonalize: Balance the space to avoid a stark empty feeling or excessive personal items such as collectibles, wall hangings and wallpaper. 
  • Think comfort: Adjust the temperature to keep your home comfortable – not too cold or too hot. 
  • Brighten: Allow natural light to flow through living spaces. Open blinds and curtains and turn on lights and lamps. Add more lighting where possible to enhance living and bedroom areas. Also, ensure there is plenty of light in the kitchen. 
  • Carpets: Have carpets professionally cleaned to remove tough stains and odors. If the carpet is worn, consider recarpeting certain areas or all the carpeting. 
  • Use of scents: Avoid powerful scents that could repel a potential home buyer. Use subtle scents like essential oils, fresh flowers or anything mild that makes your home feel welcoming. 

Set the Stage for a More Exciting Retirement

Ready to sell your home? Consider moving to a scenic senior living community with deluxe amenities and services like Lake Port Square! To get started, check out our independent living floor plans and contact us to schedule your personal visit by using our Community Assistant chat feature or contacting us here.