The Five Senses of Staging
Do our senses matter when staging a home? Quick answer: Yes!!! The goal of staging is to help buyers make an emotional connection to a house, to help them envision how their life fits into the house they’re viewing.
Five Senses and How They Affect Buyers
1. Sight.
Staging is truly the epitome of our sight sense. The way a house is set up, the flow of rooms and furniture, and the way the buyers’ eye is directed through the house all play a part in the sense of sight
Paint colors should be mostly neutral and create a natural flow from room to room. Sometimes the colors of walls have a subliminal effect. Buyers might not notice the exact reason; they simply feel a cohesiveness of the rooms as they tour the house.
Floors are like wall paint colors, floors that are the same create an effortless way to transition from room to room.
Pops of Color: Most buyers prefer to see neutral walls, furniture, and flooring. But that doesn’t mean they want bland. Your house needs to look inviting and warm, and introducing elements of color that complement one another is key.
Symmetry: Do you ever feel that a room is “off”, but you can’t quite explain it? It could be the balance of the furniture in the room. Be sure furniture is evenly distributed in each room.
2. Smell
It’s easy to get used to the way your house smells. Ask a neighbor, relative, or friend to be honest and give your house the sniff test. Don’t be offended if they mention Fido’s scent in the bedroom, or onions in the kitchen. Appreciate the fact that you figured this out and take care of it before a potential buyer turns away--or offers a lower price—because of it.
Good Smells
New paint smell is usually a good scent because it implies the house has been updated lately
Citrus. Lemon and orange are often scents that people instantly recognize and don’t have to think about. They also conjure an impression of cleanliness.
The best scents are natural ones. Fresh air, fresh flowers, and freshly laundered linens. In the kitchen, display fresh rosemary or basil, either potted in dirt, or cuttings in small clear vase of water.
Not-so-Good Smells
Candles, electric plug ins, wax warmers, and incense. These imply that there is a bad smell that you are trying to cover up. Better to air out the house.
Smoke. If there’s a smoker in your house, best to ask them to smoke outside. You’ll likely need fresh paint, too, as smoke can get into the walls and ceilings and can stain.
Pets. Deep clean to get out pet smells and consider having your pet stay with a friend until house sells. Buyers could potentially have allergies to pets, too, so keeping pets away during showings will help ensure buyers don’t turn away as soon as they walk through the door.
Strong food smells. Think about putting your garlic, onions, and strong spices away for a few days. Be sure trash is taken outside every day.
Moldy smells. Could imply problems with mold, water leakage, or a plumbing issue. A sewer scent is especially bad, so be sure to flush your sinks, toilets, and tubs at least once a week if they are not being used regularly.
Dirty laundry/smelly shoes. Try to keep up with laundering clothes. Tuck shoes in bins and place in closet, if possible.
Bleach. Yes, it’s a clean smell, but it could also lead buyer to wonder what happened that needed to be attacked with such a strong agent. If you use strong cleaners like bleach, be sure to air out the room.
3. Sound
Some sounds—like traffic or neighborhood noises—are beyond your control. Consider a tabletop fountain to ease the outdoor sounds. Beware of these sounds that are red flags for buyers: dripping faucet, squeaky door, running toilet, creaking floorboards. Rugs, upholstered furniture, pillows, and blankets absorb sound even in large rooms. Good for muffling echoes in big rooms.
4. Touch
Texture is key to appealing to a buyers’ sense of touch. Jute rugs, plush carpets, woven baskets, soft pillows, and blankets create a sense of softness. Natural elements—wood, marble, rope—instill a sense of comfort in a house.
5. Taste
Obviously, buyers aren’t walking around tasting your house. But leaving out a display of cupcakes (real or faux) on a fun, clear cake stand, along with a cutting board and a rolling pin, will help buyers envision the baked goods they can create. Lemons on the counter are not only a nice pop of yellow but conjure a citrus scent and hint at delicious food to be made in the kitchen.
At Shamrock Hill Design, we help you anticipate how a buyers’ senses will affect your house in any market. If you’re selling your house and need a stager, we, along with your realtor, are ready to help you get the most money and a quick sale with styles that highlight the positive aspects of your house. We’ll help you decide how to stage on-trend with your own items, or even bring in items to help you stage. Contact us today at 410-474-5523 or kerry@shamrockhilldesign.com or visit our website at www.shamrockhilldesign.com