Home owners are finally accepting the fact that Home Staging is essential if they want to sell their house more quickly – and often for a higher price- than the competition. While they embrace the idea of de-cluttering, painting, doing repairs and decorating appropriately, one key factor that is often forgotten is lighting. Research has shown that buyers tend to avoid rooms that are poorly lit. Why? Because a dimly lit room in a strange house is uninviting – maybe even unnerving- for most buyers. If most of the rooms in a home are poorly lit, then the buyers fail to connect emotionally with the home … and it is very unlikely they would offer to purchase a house that does not excite them.
It is relatively easy to ensure that your house is well lit when showing it to buyers. During the daytime, always allow natural light into the house by raising blinds and shades and opening drapery – unless this allows intense, blinding sunlight into the room. Be sure to update old-fashioned or broken overhead fixtures: these make the house feel drab and outdated. Add more light to the room with table or floor lamps and avoid using very low wattage bulbs. Layering the lighting adds warmth and character. Note that rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom need to be more brightly lit than other areas of the house.
A well lit home doesn’t just show better than one that is poorly lit, it also creates a perception of spaciousness, and buyers are more likely to want to linger in a home that feels airy and spacious. You don’t need to invest a fortune to update the lighting in a house for sale, but the lighting needs to be functional, stylish and the correct size. Lamps or fixtures that are too large tend to overpower a room, whereas those that are too small will not provide enough light. As you start to prepare your house for the real estate market, don’t forget to check each room to assess if the lighting needs an upgrade. Providing adequate lighting is a critical factor in ensuring that your home creates a warm and welcoming ambiance for potential buyers.