Have you ever thought about the hours you spend in your living room? It’s a special place where you may spend your time relaxing or entertaining friends and family. That’s what the prospective buyers are planning to do in the living room of the home they buy. They are looking for a cozy living room that’s also large enough to entertain friends and family.
Things that will certainly discourage potential buyers are carpets that are soiled and walls that are dingy. They will certainly be thinking about the cost of updating and replacing everything.
You should stage your living room before you put your home on the market if you want to sell it at a good price. Staging means a lot more than picking up clutter and putting vases of fresh flowers around. Whether you stage your room yourself or hire a professional, keep the following suggestions in mind as you stage your living room.
Step 1: Declutter
A prospective buyer should be able to envision his or her items in your living room. That means you must make room for them. It may be difficult, but you must remove evidence such as your family’s photos from the room. The fewer the items in the room, the better it will appear to prospective buyers.
You should also minimize the number of furniture items in the room. It’s a good idea to remove small pieces of furniture and clear off tables and bookshelves. Trinkets, magazines, and old mail should be removed. There should be only one or two accessories on the tables and bookshelves.
Step 2: Repairs Must be Made
If you think there are mechanical or structural issues in the living room that may be flagged by the buyer at an inspection, you should decide whether you want to correct them before listing your home or decide to take care of them later when you negotiate.
The following cosmetic issues can be done when staging your living room:
- Polish exposed wood floors: Damaged tiles or floorboards should be replaced and scratches on wood floors should be buffed out. Stains on carpeting can be removed by having the carpeting steam cleaned.
- Lightbulbs should be replaced: Burned-out lightbulbs should be replaced to make sure your living room is bright for showing. Since LED lights are brighter and last longer, you should consider replacing lightbulbs with them.
- Walls should be patched: If you plan on painting, patch all holes, peeling paint, and dings.
- A fireplace should be updated: If your living room has a fireplace, you should have it inspected and cleaned. It should be in good working order.
Step 3: Deep Clean Before Listing
- Clean light fixtures: Check your light fixtures and recessed lighting for spiders. Either a long broom or handheld vacuum will help you to dust them.
- Moldings and baseboards should be scrubbed: Chips and scratches may require repainting.
- Windows should be cleaned: Since dirty windows will limit the amount of light coming through them, they should be cleaned with a water-vinegar mixture.
- All furniture pieces should be clean and free of odor: Wood pieces should be dusted with a lemon-scented polish. Sofas, curtains, and rugs should be steam cleaned and sprayed with a fabric refresher to make them odor-free.
Step 4: Paint
Paint the walls with neutral colors such as a light tan, soft beige, or light grey. Dark or bold colors should be avoided. If the trim moldings of the living room are outdated or dark wood, paint them with a contrasting white.
Step 5: Create a Focal Point
The furniture of a living room should be arranged in a way to create a focal point. Your focal point should catch the potential buyer’s eye as he or she enters the room. For instance, the following might be made into focal points:
- Fireplace: If your living room features a fireplace, you should arrange the furniture in such a way to make it stand out. You can make it stand out by hanging a piece of art or a large mirror above it. You should draw the potential buyer’s eye to it. If your living room doesn’t have a fireplace, one can be purchased and placed in the room like a piece of furniture to create a focal point.
- A large window or French doors: These may work well if there is an outstanding view outside. If so, you should be sure to keep your window coverings simple.
- Entertainment centers or built-in bookcases may create a focal point.
