NiseriN/Getty ImagesYou might love that gallery wall of wedding photos in your living room, but chances are a buyer will not.
The first step when listing a home? "Depersonalize!," real-estate agent Sarah Stone of Douglas Elliman told House Beautiful. "Take down all your family photos and high school diplomas, and yes, even your MVP trophy from your high school tennis team. Then, make sure your home is sparkling clean."
The financial reward for staging a home can be great.
"Staging a home well helps potential buyers visualize themselves living there, boosting their emotional connection to the property," Kevin Garcia of WLM Realty told House Beautiful.
"According to a 2021 study by the National Association of Realtors, staging a home can increase the offered price by 1% to 5% compared to similar unstaged homes on the market," he continued. "Additionally, staged homes spend 70% less time on the market. In essence, staging not only increases the value of a home, but also helps it sell faster."