When selling time comes for a home, prospective buyers will likely scour every nook and cranny looking for the things they desire in a home or things they simply can’t stand. Showing an empty home is out of the question as an empty home is difficult to put into perspective the “potential” for a buyer, so staging a home is a necessary part of selling.

What many sellers and realtors don’t realize is how important some of the finer details can be to swaying the buying jury so-to-speak. Seemingly insignificant additions to staging a home can make a huge difference for truly selling it as a home. Here is our list of staging essentials for a home.

1. Add Some Small Furnishings

While the temptation exists to simply show a home with sparse furnishings so buyers will “get the idea”, the truth is that someone interested in buying a home wants to imagine their life in the space. Small furnishings can make all the difference between a house and a home for an interested party.

Consider adding end tables to living room furniture, lamps and candles to coffee tables and window sills, and pictures and art pieces on the walls. If you know ahead of time if the buyer is a pet owner, think about showcasing a pet bed or other pet necessities to show off the space and add allure to their family-specific interests. Got kids? Highlight that throughout the home.

2. Highlight Utility

No, not the utility room. Often times, buyers fail to see some of the usefulness of different rooms or somewhat quirky parts of the home without a little guidance. This is where your seller’s creativity comes in. Along with showcasing the utility of certain rooms, shelves, appliances, or furniture layouts, adding small furnishings to subtly hint at potential uses can get your buyers’ neurons firing on all cylinders.

Part of this, of course, is understanding your buyer and knowing exactly what they want in a home. If their focus is the kitchen, make sure to draw their attention to certain aspects within the kitchen that suit their desires. Adding some modern Ikea-like twists to a home to display certain storage capabilities is one example to help your buyers see the bigger picture.

3. Rugs and Drapes

One of the things that makes a house more homely for virtually everyone is a photo on the wall and matching curtains and rugs. We’ve already covered the need to have some art on the wall, so let’s focus on some of the more comfortable aesthetics.

Rugs and drapes help make spaces “pop” and have an overwhelming sense of comfort and warmth. The good news? Both can be had at a minor expense. If you’re in the business of selling multiple homes and plan to have them staged in similar fashions, purchasing matching rugs and drapes for a full home may work to your advantage. Make your buyers feel comfortable in “their” new home.

4. Get Cozy with Cushions & Comforters

Often, the rooms that realtors highlight the most such as kitchens, living, and dining rooms aren’t the rooms buyers focus on. These rooms are always the first things prospective buyers see, but may very well be the rooms they spend the least time in. Bedrooms and lounging rooms should be fully-stocked for comfort and highlight the coziness of “home”.

Adding cushions and comforters to bedrooms can make a new homeowner feel cozy and extra comfortable in their new digs while visualizing restfulness. A long, hard day at work is usually only satisfied by a restful night’s sleep or relaxing evening spend in one’s bedroom. Inexpensive, yet colorful cushions and comforters can make your buyers feel right at home.

5. Get Acquainted with Financing

As a realtor, your #1 goal and job is to sell homes. And while this is and should be your #1 focus, getting your buyers comfortable in their own home requires them to be comfortable with their financing options. It’s not your job to sell mortgages, but if your buyer hasn’t gone through the requisite steps to get prequalified for a mortgage, you may be left hanging out to dry.

Be proactive with your buyers’ financing by directing them to loan officers at Tidewater Mortgage Services. Instead of dancing around the idea of home ownership, the professionals at Tidewater can talk with prospective buyers, give them options for their home purchase, and get them prequalified for a mortgage the same day. !