When you are listing East Hampton or Sag Harbor homes for sale, appearances matter. Before buying a home, most buyers will see detailed pictures or even take a virtual tour before going to view the home in person. As such, your skill and attention to detail when staging the home will make a tremendous difference in your home sale. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare your property to sell.

When you look at property listings, you will notice that most are very well lit. Lighting makes a big difference in the appearance of a home. It affects our mood and our perception of what we see. The proper lighting can also make surfaces appear cleaner and newer and a room more spacious. When you are setting up the lighting in a room, you have several variables to consider, including the brightness, the color or tone of the light, and the lighting source.

Homes tend to look good with plenty of warm, diffuse light from multiple sources. For example, instead of just relying on overhead lights, you might put a couple of lamps in a room. Also, don’t hesitate to open the blinds and let some sunlight in. Natural light looks great and shows off the design elements of your home.

When you are listing East Hampton homes for sale, you want to stage them so as to look like  model homes fit for the magazine cover. There should be adequate furniture and lighting, without too many blank spaces on the wall or empty spaces on the floor. It’s okay to leave a room open a little bit, but a gorgeous rug here or a hanging picture there will help to make the space feel inviting. As much as possible, do not leave rooms or spaces in your home empty. The purpose of staging is to convey the idea that each room has a purpose and that the home is a nice place to live. When buyers see a nicely furnished and thoughtfully staged home, they get an idea of how nice it might be to live there.

Some homeowners have a natural tendency to keep their houses free of clutter. If this does not describe you, don’t worry. There are many things you can do to get your home in model condition. If you have too much stuff in the home to comfortably declutter, consider moving some items into your next property. If this is not feasible, consider getting a storage space for the time being.

To the greatest degree possible, you should deep clean your home prior to staging and showing it. Imagine a curious prospective buyer peeking around your home for the first time. They may open cabinets, pull curtains aside, look inside closets, and otherwise scrutinize the home. The more thoroughly clean the home is, the more impressed buyers will be. If you prefer, you can hire a cleaning service to thoroughly clean your home for you.

There are a few small, inexpensive ways to make an extra impression on potential buyers when they are viewing your home. One great way to wow buyers is to strategically place flowers in a few spots throughout your home. For instance, put a vase on your coffee table, dining table, and maybe one or two other locations in the home. Potted plants can also be a great touch. You don’t have to go crazy with this, as a buyer looking at Sag Harbor homes for sale is probably not interested in owning a plant nursery. However, a few well-placed plants or bouquets can really liven up a home.

If you have any rooms that are a little dull or plain-looking, consider placing an accent rug or brightly colored throw blanket near the center of the room. The point of using flowers and other accents is to create a lively and vibrant feel without going over the top.

When you live in a home for a long time, you stop noticing certain minor details that may be apparent to someone who is viewing the home for the first time. It is important to make sure that there are no visible cosmetic flaws, such as stains or chipped paint. Make small repairs or use touch-up paint where needed. In some cases, it may be advisable to repaint certain spaces.

Buyers who are willing to pay top dollar for Southampton and East Hampton homes for sale may be sensitive to excessive cosmetic flaws, so try to get everything looking its very best.

When you live in a home, you want to make it yours. You may have family photos, memorabilia, and various items of sentimental value throughout the home. You may also be a collector of some kind. While a few decorations may complement the staging of your home, make sure that the appearance of the house is not too personalized.

Keep in mind that you are trying to help prospective buyers to see and feel the possibility of making your property into their future home. Prospective buyers may come from different backgrounds and have different interests than you. As such, you want to use simple aesthetic touches to make the house as universally appealing as possible. Do this with neutral paint colors, and try to create a somewhat blank slate for buyers to imagine their own style in.

Mala Sander has over 20 years of real estate experience, and she has helped with the purchase and sale of many beautiful homes all across the Hamptons area. Whether you are interested in listing or purchasing Sagaponack, Sag Harbor, or East Hampton homes for sale, reach out to Mala Sander to see what she and her team at the Corcoran Group can do for you. Also, you can check out the “for sale” section of Mala’s website to see some examples of elegantly staged luxury homes in the Hamptons. Reach out today to get started!