Staging a home for sale can be a costly investment, often requiring thousands of dollars upfront with no guaranteed results. However, high-quality staging is reported to deliver nearly a 300% return on investment by helping homes sell faster and at higher prices. If you’re looking to maximize your home’s appeal but don’t have the budget for professional staging, there are cost-effective ways to achieve a polished look. With strategic planning and a few smart upgrades, you can create an inviting space that attracts buyers. Here are three simple tricks to stage your house for less in East Hanover and Morris County.
Trick #1: Declutter the Property
When you walk into a model home, no matter its size, every item has its place, creating a seamless and spacious flow. Over time, it’s natural to accumulate belongings, and the longer you’ve lived in a home, the more likely clutter has built up. Instead of waiting until moving day, start decluttering now to make your home feel more open and inviting to buyers.
Set up three sorting piles: keep, donate, and dump. Pack away items you want to keep but don’t use daily, such as books, seasonal decorations, and extra kitchenware. Donate or discard anything you no longer need immediately. Remove excess pictures and décor from walls, counters, and shelves to create a clean, neutral space. If necessary, rent a storage unit to keep non-essential items out of sight. Once decluttered, give every surface a deep clean to ensure your home feels fresh and move-in ready. This simple strategy will help you stage your house for less and make a great impression on potential buyers.
Trick #2: Position Furniture
The decluttering process should have helped remove excess items, including that oversized recliner taking up valuable space in the living room. When staging a home, less is always more. Many experts agree that renting furniture isn’t necessary to create an inviting, well-staged space. Your East Hanover and Morris County realtor can be a valuable resource, offering guidance on how to best arrange your existing furniture to showcase each room’s potential.
Keep walkways and hallways open and free of obstructions to create a natural flow throughout the home. Maximize natural light by pulling back curtains and blinds, making rooms feel larger and more inviting. If needed, trim overgrown hedges or tree branches outside windows to let in even more light. When staging, don’t stress about making every room fully functional. A home office, for example, doesn’t need much more than a simple desk, ideally positioned away from the wall to create an open, professional look. Small, thoughtful adjustments like these can help you stage your house for less while making a strong impression on buyers.
Trick #3: Keep Everything Neutral
If you haven’t already packed away the family photos and road trip spoon collection, this is the time to do it. Put religious items away for showings or open houses. Just like white walls are neutral, keeping art and décor non-descript allows potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the home. With these items out, potential buyers might make a false judgment about the home.
While most buyers won’t connect with your personal collections—like that extensive spoon display—they will relate to inviting elements such as coffee, candles, and clocks. To stage your house for less, start by decluttering countertops and shelves, leaving only a few carefully chosen, neutral décor pieces. This helps create an open, airy feel that appeals to a broad range of buyers. Keep wall art minimal, opting for a few tasteful pieces that complement the space. Don’t forget to patch holes from removed pictures and touch up paint to give walls a fresh, well-maintained look. Small updates can make a big difference!
Staging gives potential buyers an idea of what to do but is a neutral enough slate to inject their own personal lifestyle in the home. This increases the likelihood of potential offers and selling the house quickly.
