It’s a proven fact: Staged apartments and houses sell better than empty ones. Furniture makes a big difference. It’s partially about the furniture itself, but it’s also about the placement, quantity, quality, and so much more.
Buyers and renters often have a difficult time envisioning what a space could be, so why not just go ahead and create it for them right off the bat? Here’s how…
Make sure you don’t have too much rental furniture.
People are all about extra space and open floor plans these days. If you pack too much rental furniture into an apartment or if the furniture is too large for the space, then the apartment is going to feel cramped — and if you’ve watched any HGTV at all, then you know that’s going to be a major turnoff to potential buyers and renters.
Position furniture to highlight strengths.
Apartment tours and open houses offer a limited amount of time to show off a space and win a prospect over. Let strategically staged rental furniture do some of the work for you by using it to draw attention to the best features in the living space.
For example, is there a tall bar counter in the kitchen and dining area? Add bar stools to ensure it doesn’t go unnoticed. Is there potential for a reading nook next to that large window? Arrange a chair draped with a blanket, and add a lamp and an end table to complete the cozy setting.
It’s that easy. Just pick your favorite features, and find ways to spotlight them.
Notice furniture flaws.
Just like you need to notice and emphasize all of the best features in an apartment or a house that’s on the market, you also need to notice any flaws in the rental furniture you’re using to stage the space. If prospective buyers and renters notice neglected furniture, they’re going to assume other things are being neglected as well.
Place furniture close together to create an intimate setting.
A big mistake people often make when it comes to staging rental furniture is that they spread it out to the four corners of the room. The assumption is that the more spread out the furniture is, the more it opens up the room, making it feel larger. However, in an attempt to open up the room, you’re actually making it look bare and feel cold.
Instead, arranging furniture closer together will make the space feel much more intimate and cozy. Just keep traffic flows in mind when you’re doing this. People shouldn’t feel like they’re navigating a maze just to walk from one side of the room to the other.
Use symmetry thoughtfully.
Symmetrical spaces are formal and asymmetrical spaces have a more casual feel. This is worth noting because depending on the type of clientele you’re marketing a house or apartment to, you may benefit from arranging your staged furniture accordingly.
Don’t block natural light.
Sunlight can transform a room and even positively affect a person’s mood. Take advantage of every ounce of sunlight you can. Apartments usually have too few windows as it is, so be careful not to position furniture in a way that hinders natural light from getting in.
Pay special attention to the bathroom and kitchen.
Surveys show that the things home buyers and renters pay the most attention to are:
- curb appeal
- bathroom
- kitchen
When it comes to apartments, you can’t do much about curb appeal, but you can make sure the kitchen and the bathroom look their absolute best.
When in doubt, use the oldest trick in the book.
You know this one… Bake some cookies! It’s guaranteed to make your showing stand out and leave a great impression!
At Corporate Connection, our relocation specialists don’t usually bake cookies for our clients, but we do provide all of the services they need when it comes to furniture rentals. Let us know what we can do for you!
