Real estate is one of the industries that remain in relative demand even during a public health crisis like COVID-19. No matter the state of the global economy or public health, there will always be people looking for homes to live in, especially since many will find themselves displaced during crises like this. Not all real estate assets will perform the same way they had before the crisis happened, but acting smartly and quickly will help determine the fate of your property during these challenging times.
If you’re looking to sell or rent out your residential property during these times, you need to quickly adjust to what potential buyers and tenants are looking for. Here are some design pointers you can implement to entice buyers and tenants to choose your property during the COVID-19 crisis.
Consult with Experts
There’s a reason professionals like real estate agents exist: They know what buyers and renters are looking for, and they know best how to make a space look good and appealing. So consult with them about how to make your property look best, not just for in-person visits but also with digital tours in mind. An agent will help you give justice to the vision you have for your home and help market the property in the best way possible.
Go clean and minimal.
At the same time, don’t overdesign to the point that the viewers won’t see how they can incorporate their own style into the spaces. Potential buyers and tenants are particularly observant about the cleanliness of the space, so your property needs to look and smell clean, especially if they’re visiting in person.
Before you even think about decorating, go for a deep cleaning session. More than just a regular dust-up, every area of your home needs to be sanitized and disinfected. Next, do a major declutter. Now is the time to get rid of stuff you don’t see yourself bringing with you to your next home. The best staging always calls for a “less is more” approach, so the cleaner they see the space, the better.
Use the furnishings already in your home.
Living in a pandemic means cutting costs where we can. You don’t need to spend more money on smart staging—you just need to be exactly as its name suggests: smart. Here are some ways you can re-use the furnishings already in your home:
- Choose pieces that still look stylish and well-maintained. Remove furnishings and fixtures that are already outdated in style and show wear and tear.
- Make use of cozy objects like throw pillows, blankets, wall mirrors, vases, hardcover books, coffee table books, candles, area rugs, handwoven baskets, and house plants. Narrow down your items from best to worst, and get rid of those you don’t find appealing yourself. If you don’t think they look good, chances are your potential buyers and tenants won’t as well.
- Check the items you’ve tucked away in the attics or cabinets—you might find design elements that are still worth displaying. Give the spaces a dash of whimsy by hanging a guitar or by designing it in a way that makes it look like an Airbnb; like an inviting vacation home they would want to spend most of their days in. Just don’t forget to make sure that everything you display is spotless and dust-free.
Emphasize rooms that can double as a home gym and home office.
In the time of COVID-19, the trick to good staging is to help potential buyers and tenants see the space’s potential. If you can emphasize areas in the home that can be transformed into a home gym and a home office, or a homework station for families with kids, that would be a great incentive for them to consider your home.
Use spaces with good lighting and well-design seating as a potential office space. Even smaller properties can boast of a potential office space or homework station—it all boils down to proper ergonomics and using office furniture with sizes that make sense for the room’s square meters.
Showcase gardening potential.
One of the hobbies that will really capture people’s attention during stay-at-home orders and intermittent lockdowns is gardening. Experts predict that self-sustainability will be a big deal moving forward, especially with the food shortages the world has experienced during the first few months of the pandemic. More and more people would want to start growing their own produce, and a wide, open space would be appealing for that endeavor. Show the front or backyard’s gardening potential by displaying where a vertical garden could go or installing a patio container.
