No matter how well-intentioned, when it’s time to sell your home taking the advice of friends and family while disregarding the advice of your agent is a recipe for slowing down your home’s sale. Your professional agent knows the current market and what buyers look for, so when it comes to staging, rely on what they tell you rather than a reality television show or magazine layout. Your market in your city for your size house is too specific for a TV show or professional writer to pinpoint. But your agent can. In fact, your agent may even have specific buyers in mind, so mind your agent’s input for staging your home.

When staging, remember these things and follow your agent’s lead:

  • They know the competition. You agent has seen other homes like yours on the market. They recognize that when buyers see two or three similar houses in the same neighborhood, the one that resonates is the one they choose. Pitting your DIY staging against a professional’s is not the battle you want to take on if selling your home is your goal.
  • Less is always more. Your agent knows that fewer pieces of furniture show your home better. But these aren’t just any pieces of furniture. Specific pieces attract buyers, while others repel them. That means, even though it’s your favorite chair, your ratty recliner may need to sit in storage for a few weeks while your home is marketed.
  • The same holds true for collections. Some buyers cannot see themselves in a home with especially specific memorabilia and collectibles. This group includes sports and competition awards and trophies or doll and figurine collections. Even rock displays can be off-putting. Anything that personalizes your home makes it harder for buyers to see themselves there. For many people, visualizing their own décor over the top of a more powerful one is difficult, if not impossible. Giving them the cleanest canvas to work with is best.
  • Beware of what may offend. Since you don’t know who might look at your home, erotic paintings, suggestive calendars, even band posters may stop a potential sale in its tracks. Your agent knows these things and can point them out to you. Don’t be offended if they ask you to remove certain items. You’re paying them for their expertise, so utilize it and get that home sold. The sooner it sells, the quicker you can display your favorite artwork in your new home.
  • Be willing to paint. Even if the deep ocean blue wall evokes restful imagery to you, it may instill irritation in a potential purchaser. If your agent suggests toning down a color or painting a room in a neutral rather than orange, go with it. People’s perception of color and how light bounces off the walls is personal. What delights one person agitates another. The best options are pale shades of cool or warm neutrals that showcase architectural details such as trim and crown-molding but don’t blast color in the face of someone shopping for a house that speaks to them.

For the most exceptional selling experience, trust your real estate professional. They know the market, the pool of buyers, and the competition. If you’re ready to put your home on the market, call for a consultation today.