Staging your home is a drastically important part of the process of selling it. When listing your home, you want it to look its absolute best for the potential buyers who view it online and in person.

But what is home staging, exactly? It's a method of decorating meant to highlight your home’s most impressive assets and help buyers imagine themselves moving in and actually living there.

Here are eight tips from the experts at Realty San Antonio that you can implement when staging, guaranteed to help drive up the appeal and sell your home quickly.

1. Freshen up the curb appeal
The exterior of your home is a buyer’s first impression, and it matters! Create a manicured look by pressure washing your home and driveway to rid them of dirt and grime and brighten up the colors of your home. Trim your hedges and fill in empty sections of flower beds with seasonal flowers and shrubs, and lay fresh mulch. Adding furniture to your front porch is an added touch that can be both comforting and inviting.

2. Make sensible kitchen updates
Updates to your kitchen don’t have to be expensive. Consider painting your cabinets to get rid of outdated wood tones. You can’t go wrong with neutral colors such as white or gray, plus consider trending contemporary colors like black, blues, and greens. Additionally, you can replace outdated hardware and add a backsplash on the walls. Clear off countertops and declutter cabinets and pantry space.

3. Add a functional office space
More and more buyers are working from home and looking for additional space to set up shop. Many also desire space for homeschooling. If you do not have an extra room for dedicated office space, add a corner desk in a common space.

4. Depersonalize
You want homebuyers to visualize themselves living in the home, and pictures of you and your family, friends, and hobbies make this vision blurry. Remove any photos, diplomas, and personal collections and replace them with general art, house plants, and home decor.

5. Highlight storage space
Storage will always be a high priority for homebuyers. Declutter cabinets and closets and give them an organized look by adding shoe racks, neatly folded clothing, and fresh-smelling linens.

6. Deep clean the bathroom
A scummy bathroom is a huge turn-off. Scrub away hard water stains, any signs of mold, and discoloration in the grout. Declutter counters, cabinets, and the shower area. Remove razors, cosmetic products, and medication, and add in fluffy towels, fancy soaps, and a few simple accessories.

7. Remove unpleasant odors
Most homeowners don’t want to admit that their home has a particular smell that may not be appealing to others — odors can build over time from pets, garbage, and even last night's cooking session. Place diffusers around the home’s focal points, add a scented candle to the kitchen, and include plug-in fresheners in the bathrooms. Fragrant flowers also work, but could irritate allergy-prone buyers.

8. Add luxury touches
Help your buyers envision the primary suite as a serene, luxurious escape. Tuck an oversized comforter into a soft-colored duvet for that plump and plush look you see in high-end hotels. Use a neutral duvet and add color with shams, throw pillows, and extra blankets. Keep nightstands uncluttered and remove personal items.

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