It’s easy to spot home staging that is not professionally done, even if you don’t have an eye for design. Great home staging goes beyond aesthetics—it’s about creating a connection with buyers and maximizing a home’s value. If you’re preparing your property for sale, especially in a competitive market like Wilmington NC, avoid these common staging mistakes that can negatively affect your home’s appeal and final sale price.
Mistake #1: Choosing Small Scale Furnishings
Scale plays a big part in staging, especially for MLS photos. Furnishings that are small in scale divide the room disproportionately. For example, a rug that is too small makes the room feel limited. The front legs of the sofa and end tables should be on the rug! Choosing correctly scaled pieces helps the space feel cohesive and balanced. Our staging plans are made specifically for every property – no “one room fits all” staging here. Big living rooms get bigger than usual sofas and small dining rooms get perfectly proportioned 4 top dining tables.
Mistake #2: Overcrowding the Space
Overly large or ornate pieces take away from the home’s features. The wrong size furnishings can impede the flow of traffic. Excess pillows, artwork, and accents are distracting. Professional home staging in Wilmington NC is about enhancing—not overwhelming—the space.
Mistake #3: Inexpert Staging That Ignores the Homes Existing Features
The staging plan should complement and enhance the home’s features. A coastal home at Wrightsville Beach should look and feel different than a historic home in downtown Wilmington. Ignoring these features results in a disjointed look that doesn’t resonate with buyers.
Mistake #4: Generic Staging That Doesn’t Match the Buyers
The style, color palette, and accents create an emotional response in potential buyers. The purpose of staging is to create a vision for a specific buyer and make them feel at home. Professional stagers takes into account location, sales price, and buyer profile when selecting each piece. In Wilmington NC and surrounding areas, we stage to attract the right buyer for each unique property.
Mistake #5: Relying on Virtual Staging
Virtual staging may get a few initial clicks on your listing, but the end buyer experience will fall flat. You can always tell when a home has been virtually staged—it just doesn’t look right. The proportions are off, the styles don’t match, the lighting is wonky. Talk about underwhelming. Plus, the house is empty if seen in person, which turns off most potential buyers. In-person staging delivers results because it creates an emotional connection to the home. A logical purchase suddenly becomes a very emotional “gotta have it” moment when buyers are shown the potential in a property.
Home staging is so much more than decorating. It’s about curating the property to attract the ideal buyer and ensure a fast, profitable sale. Whether you’re selling a beachside home or a downtown bungalow, professional home staging in Wilmington NC makes all the difference.
Ready to stage your home for its fastest, most profitable sale? Contact us — we’ve got your back!
Until next time,
Christa
