Staging has long been a favorite technique of realtors everywhere. After all, showcasing how beautiful a home can look is made easier with trendy furnishings. Human beings love a story, and the best staging provides a narrative. When the narrative is enticing enough, visitors touring the home can easily envision themselves as part of that story.
Property managers can channel that storytelling into the model apartments they show to prospective tenants. Even the smallest of units can become charming with the right flourishes. Clearing out clutter and diving into a deep clean is a great first step. Once you've got a clean slate, choose neutral colors to decorate. By appealing to a wide variety of tastes, your staging will resonate with more visitors.
In your staging, include visual cues to suggest how a space could be used. A sunny window can easily become a cozy reading nook with the right chair and end table. The master bedroom can be luxurious and relaxing with the right fabric choices. Even the bathroom can become spa-like with some accent lighting!
Be careful about overloading small spaces with too much furniture, experts warn. If the unit in question is small, it can be made to seem even tinier with oversized furniture. Instead, stick to a minimalist decor and optimize open spaces. The quality of the furniture matters less than you might expect, too. Remember, these are spaces people will spend ten minutes in, not months. Some professional staging companies will even blow up air mattresses and fit them into bed frames rather than buy a real mattress. After all, under pretty sheets and a comforter, who can tell the difference?
Add in some fresh elements to really liven up the unit. A potted plant or two can go a long way!
Short on cash? Or maybe you just don't have the space to allot for a permanent model unit. Cal Bay Property Management's Scott Safadi recommends new landlords work with a professional staging company. Rent furniture just long enough to take photos to display on your website. Virtual tours can be a great way to give visitors an idea of what the space is like.
Whether you hire a professional staging company or choose to do it yourself, staging a model apartment unit can be your recipe for landing new tenants with ease.
- Scott Safadi, Cal Bay Property Management
