While Millennials certainly love their grandmothers, the last thing they want is a home that looks like hers.
Why should you care what those whippersnappers think? Because there are an estimated 80 to 90 million of them—and they’re at the peak age for home buying.
If you want to attract them—and get top dollar for your home—that means making it look like the kind of place they could set up camp. And that’s where staging comes in.
What Millennials Want in a Home
So exactly what are Millennials looking for in a home? They want an open and airy space with a clean minimalistic look, natural textures, and an elegant color palette. What they don’t want is knick-knacks, anything with frills or lace, heavy draperies, recliners, flowered wallpaper, or any kind of collectible.
The first step is to declutter your home and then get rid of any evidence that you actually live there. Pack your collectibles and family photos and store them out of sight. Do the same thing for anything in your closets or drawers that makes them look too stuffed. Temporarily get rid of small appliances like toaster ovens. Stash throw rugs and blankets somewhere else. Edit your bookshelves and make sure all side tables and nightstands have uncluttered tops.
Once your space is decluttered, the cheapest change you can make is on the walls and windows. Take down any wallpaper and curtains (unless they look like they came from Pottery Barn or West Elm) and repaint the house a neutral shade.
The real estate web site Zillow analyzed 3,200 home sales and came up with the shades that resulted in the highest sale prices. Drum roll please … the color greige (an earthy combination of beige and gray) is about the best choice you can make for living spaces. Blue (ranging from light cerulean to cadet blue) is a good choice for bathrooms and bedrooms. Blue works again in the kitchen, but only in lighter shades.
You can go a step further and have your home professionally staged, which generally starts at a few thousand dollars. Your old furniture will be put in storage and new, streamlined pieces and accessories will be brought in.
Self Storage Near You Makes Home Staging Easier
Renting a self storage unit is almost a must when you’re trying to sell your home. It’s not like you can just throw everything in closets or the basement—because those spaces need to look presentable too. Plus, your self storage unit will also make moving to your new home easier. Sometimes closing dates don’t line up and you may need a place for your stuff in the meantime. Or, if your new home needs renovations before you move in, you can use your self-storage unit to keep your belongings out of the way during remodeling.
At StorageMart, we offer affordable self storage units that range from about the size of a closet to the size of a garage—or even bigger. They can be rented on a month-by-month basis and are always clean and well lit. Check out our storage unit size guide or rent a unit online today.