Staging your home is an important step to take before putting it on the market. It helps your real estate photos look more appealing, which brings potential buyers inside your door. And once the buyers are there, a perfectly staged home lets them visualize their family living happily in your home. Home staging mistakes, however, can have the opposite effect.

Our real estate agents point out the following common staging mistakes you might be making in your home.

1. Failing to Start with a Plan
   Start your home staging process by having a plan and strategy. Keep in mind who your home is likely to appeal to and stage your home accordingly.
   
   
2. Neglecting to Make Improvements
   Making quick, inexpensive improvements to your home and fixing major problems that can't be ignored are important to prospective buyers. The most beautiful, appropriate staging won't hide maintenance issues that need to be addressed.
   
   
3. Ignoring Your Home's Lighting
   A home with lots of artificial and natural light will look brighter and cheerier than a dark one. Take down dark or heavy window treatments and replace them with ones that let the light shine through. And add cool LED lighting to any space that has fewer than four lights.
   
   
4. Too Much Furniture
   Including some furniture in your home staging is a good idea. Just make sure you don't have too many pieces since it can make your home seem small and crowded.
   
   
5. Failing to Clean Thoroughly
   Even the nicest, best staged home will turn off buyers if it doesn't look and smell clean. Deep clean all areas of your home including your floors, windows, entryway, and garage floor.
   
   
6. Keeping Things Too Personal
   Your home should have a neutral palette instead of boldly colored paint, furniture, and flooring. Personal items such as photos should also be removed and replaced with geometric artwork or something similar.
   
   
7. Making Your Home Decor Overly Neutral
   Neutral decor is important, but too much of it will make your home seem drab and unforgettable. Include some visual contrast by adding a pop of color with items like a decorative pillow, rugs, and wall art.
   
   
8. Neglecting to Paint
   Paint looks dreary over time, so a fresh coat can help make a home look and smell new. This not only applies to your walls but also your ceilings.
   
   
9. Misplacing Your Furniture
   Don't place furniture like couches and chairs up against walls or hiding in corners. Instead, move them a few feet away from the wall so you create natural pathways. Just make sure you don't create any barriers to a natural traffic pattern.
   
   
10. Ignoring the Outdoors
    Taking care of the inside of your home is vital, but don't neglect the outside of your home. Outdoor areas that are well-tended show that you're taking care of your home. Take a little extra time and effort to add some touches such as a bistro table.

Contact us to learn more about how to avoid staging mistakes so you can present your home in the best possible way. Our agents have a great deal of experience buying and selling homes and can advise you on how to stage your home to attract buyers.