alexknowsnashville

[alexknowsnashville]

Sprinkles on Top

There are so many posts about prepping to sell your house. They all start with “clean and declutter”, probably mention getting rid of any personality in your paint choices, and encourage the completion of any outstanding maintenance or repairs. That’s great advice!

 What about staging for photos and showings once your house is on the market? I call this the sprinkles on top. Whether your house is the very first or the 33rd house someone is looking at, you want it to shine bright in their memory and inspire them to say, “THIS is the ONE!” I took a trip to At Home in West Nashville to explore their inventory of decor for inspiration. 

Let’s highlight some suggestions on how to build the narrative of your house, but stick around until the end for some extra tips. 

Start at the door

Your potential buyers start at the front door, so should you! Dress it up. Grab a clean, bright, enthusiastic welcome mat to set the tone. A wreath can dress up a plain front door, but if you’ve made the effort to paint and refresh the hardware, don’t feel the need to cover it up. A tall planter, side table, and stone figure may also be used to create layers and guide focus, but be sure not to crowd the space. 

Create Coziness

Real estate agents know a person sitting down in the house they are viewing means they are getting comfortable in the space. Help them get there! A squishy, squeezable pillow, a blanket waiting in a nearby basket, and lush plants all make your space feel like an oasis to crave. A decent quality faux plant can work here if you lack a green thumb like me! Fresh cut flowers and greenery are great, but perhaps reserve that expense for the open house. And never, ever leave out a lackluster bouquet for a showing.

State the Obvious

Loving the sign trend? Use it! These inspirational messages can influence the mood of a potential buyer to relax, think positively while in the space, and create a key moment to help recall the home later. These little positivity post-its can be worked in on pillows, dishes, bath and kitchen towels, wall art, and table-top trinkets. Try to keep messages general and positive, not personal or sassy. 

Tell Me a Story

Is there a great entertainment space in your house? Where do you take your morning coffee? Make sure the person seeing your house for the first time is shown how space can be used. While it is a great idea to de-personalize the space, it should still illuminate a narrative so your potential buyer can visualize themselves in the space performing those common daily rituals.

Bonus Points

Mirrors can help a potential buyer literally see themselves in the space. Make sure it’s clean and casts their reflection onto a prime backdrop.

Shop your belongings first! Common items can be spray painted, stamped, positioned, grouped, and DIYed to create a compelling photo or vignette. 

Get crafty and thrifty! So many items can be purchased second-hand and/or upcycled that you may be able to invest a little time (and less money) to get a great look. Try hand-lettering on some canvas or wood blocks. Spray paint a tired bauble or planter gold or white. Use cut greenery from (your own) flowers, trees, and shrubs outside. 

Remove more than you add. You just spent all that time decluttering, and I’m telling you to put all this right back out? Right. But it should only be there if it’s adding something to the story.  

Remember that spaces photograph differently than they look in real life. Rely on your photographer and agent to help you get the best look for each application.