Home Staging on a Budget

by Allan Wulff, MBA. Ph.D. 11/26/2023

Home staging doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of simple DIY changes you can make to prepare your home for potential buyers while sticking to your budget. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Organize Closets

Prepare your closets to show off to potential buyers. Closets are a huge selling point and the tidier you can make them, the better impression you'll make. Try removing half of everything in each closet to highlight the amount of usable space. Another great way to enhance your closets is to swap out plastic hangers for ones made of wood or metal. Clear the floor space or utilize smart modular shoe storage to show off the possibilities to potential buyers.

Remove Personal Items

One of the most important things to remember when staging your home is to de-personalize. You want potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the space, and that's more difficult to do when distracted by personal photos or hobby-related decor. Anything personally identifying should be stowed away, but you don't have to remove everything. Keep the more neutral decorative pieces like framed nature photography or artwork to add interest to the space without causing distraction.

Declutter

Getting rid of general household clutter should be the first step in your staging journey. However, you can take it further by applying it to your furniture and larger decorative items as well as small belongings. Examine each room in your home and find at least one furniture piece you can remove to make more space. Unless you already have an extremely minimalist design style, you should be able to create the illusion of more square footage for free just by moving furniture.

These are just a few ways you can DIY your home staging. While working with a professional stager is still an excellent idea for any home seller, these strategies will get you started and save you money.

About the Author
Author

Allan Wulff, MBA. Ph.D.

Hello and thank you for visiting! Selling or buying real estate is very serious business! I provide extraordinary results! Prior to real estate I was President/CEO of a number of area technology companies, Vice-Chairman of the INOVA Hospital Association and have been a long time member of the Association for Corporate Growth. With a broker’s training and experience, you get more than just a realtor agent. My negotiating skills and astute problem solving capabilities, honed by executive experience, have proved extremely effective for my clients in achieving their dreams and real estate goals in this current complex and fast paced market. As a long time Northern Virginia resident my experience will benefit you whether you are buying a home or selling a home or are a returning client checking out the many homeowner resources my associates and I offer. Buying a home? I look forward to helping you select the home of your dreams by taking time to listen to your needs and desires. Selling a home? My real estate expertise and many effective marketing programs will give you the exposure and edge you need to sell your home quickly for top dollar. Testimonials. I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve you and hope you take advantage of the valuable resources I provide. Come back to visit often! I consider this community an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you my enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods in the area. I pride myself on providing unparalleled service and look forward to developing a long-term relationship with you. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss how I can best assist you with your real estate goals. Sincerely, Allan Wulff