Nestled in Central Virginia along the picture-perfect lake of the same name, Smith Mountain Lake is a breathtaking enclave known for its relaxing lakefront lifestyle. Tourists are drawn to the area for its spectacular landscape, serene atmosphere, and exciting water activities.
Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes are in high demand for their proximity to the region’s great outdoors and their impressive resale values. As of April, 2023, the median listing price in the area was $589,000, but luxury homes can command as much as $4 million or more.
If you’re planning to sell your Smith Mountain Lake property, however, it would be a mistake to think that the area’s sheer natural beauty will be enough to attract the right buyers. To get the best outcome, you need to make your home stand out from the competition and convince buyers that it’s the perfect property for them.
This is where home staging comes in. Time and again, home staging has been proven to be effective in helping sellers attract buyers and get better deals out of real estate transactions.
WHY LUXURY HOME STAGING IS A WORTHY INVESTMENT
Home staging is a sales tactic involving decluttering, redecorating, and temporarily furnishing a property to present it in the best way possible for a sale. Many think of it as “setting the stage” for potential buyers, allowing them to see the lifestyle they can expect when they live in the home.
Is staging a luxury home in Smith Mountain Lake necessary? In today’s competitive real estate market, putting your best foot forward – which essentially is what home staging is all about – can reap you amazing rewards.
Here are some of the perks you can get from sprucing up your property before listing it.
- Sets a lasting first impression
The impression a buyer gets as soon as they walk into a home can determine the outcome of a sale. A beautifully-staged property with a fresh and updated look can immediately pique buyers’ interest and influence their decision to make an offer.
- Increases home value
A 2022 report from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) revealed that staging helps increase a home’s sales price by as much as 20%. Data from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) published in 2021 also show that almost 75% of over 4,500 staged properties were sold over their listing prices.
These statistics only affirm the effect staging has on real estate sales and show how it can help buyers make a higher profit when putting their Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes for sale.
- Sells the home faster
Non-staged properties tend to stay longer in the market than staged homes. The 2021 report from RESA says that houses that were staged before listing only spent about 23 days in the market, while unstaged homes took an average of 184 days to get sold.
- Highlights the home’s strengths
Home staging is a great way to spotlight the property’s best features while downplaying the least attractive ones. Through clever staging techniques, home stagers can draw buyers’ attention to the most desirable elements of the home.
In staging a luxury home in Smith Mountain Lake, for example, amenities such as covered porches, docks, and outdoor living spaces are highlighted to sell not only the property but the laidback lakefront lifestyle that comes with it.
- Depersonalizes the property
Most Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes have been built and designed to suit the owners’ tastes. Since everyone has varying preferences, it is best to redecorate the property and stage it in a style that would appeal to as many buyers as possible.
Removing your personal memorabilia and knick-knacks as well as highly customized features will make it easy for buyers to visualize themselves living in the property. It allows them to see the home’s potential while getting a glimpse of how it is to live in the property.
- Revamps outdated and damaged features
Broken floorboards, paint blisters or bubbles, old appliances, and other outdated elements can drive prospective buyers away. An important part of home staging is to identify features that need to be fixed or updated to give the property a fresh look with a brand new feel.
7 TIPS FOR STAGING YOUR SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE LUXURY HOME
Staging a luxury home in Smith Mountain Lake can have a drastic effect on the property’s appeal and value. Making a few clever tweaks around the house can make the space stand out in the market and help sellers make a good profit.
Here are some tips on how to stage your Smith Mountain Lake home and turn it into a buyers’ dream.
- Keep things simple
Staging a luxury home does not require extravagant furniture or décor pieces. Minimalism is still on trend—and many buyers are drawn to this interior design style’s simplicity, as well as its fresh and airy effect.
When staging Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes, start with essential furniture pieces like sofas, coffee tables, dining sets, and beds. Use them as a guide for accessorizing, but remember to incorporate a breathing room between each design element. Doing so keeps visual distractions at a minimum and lets the buyer imagine what they can add to the space.
- Flaunt unique amenities
Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes often have one-of-a-kind features that showcase the area’s breathtaking landscape and tranquil atmosphere. Highlighting amenities like covered porches, outdoor kitchens, detached guest houses, and docks can help buyers visualize the upscale lifestyle that awaits them in the gorgeous Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Match the property’s setting
A home in Smith Mountain Lake should feel like an extension of the area’s nearby waters, woods, and mountains. It should exude a warm and welcoming vibe through a style that reflects the beauty of its surroundings.
If your home has large windows, style the interior around them in a way that frames the blue reservoir and the Blue Ridge Mountain peaks on the horizon. You can also use color palettes that blur the line between the indoors and outdoors, such as shades of blue, green, and earthy tones. If you want to turn your home into a rustic oasis by the lake and mountains, homey features like wooden dining tables and woven rugs are perfect for the job.
- Bring natural elements in
Incorporating nature when staging a luxury home adds warmth, promotes sustainability, and enhances the property’s aesthetic appeal. Decorating with potted plants and furniture made of natural materials, and letting as much sunlight into the home can help create a space that feels inviting, relaxing, and beautifully balanced.
- Display art pieces
Eye-catching paintings, sculptures, and other art pieces add energy and dynamism to a space. They can work to define your home’s character while bringing other elements of a room together.
Online marketplaces or exclusive outlets are great sources of art pieces and decor for Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes for sale. You can also team up with local artists and promote their talent by displaying their works in your home during open houses.
- Dress up the exterior
Buyers care about a home’s façade and outdoor spaces as much as its interiors. Tidying up the yard, cleaning the driveway and walkways, and sprucing up the decking of your Smith Mountain Lake home can enhance its appeal, increase its value, and expand the property’s usable space.
- Let home staging trends guide you
Everyone has a distinct taste in interior design and home décor, but with home staging, you can style your property such that it appeals to the widest range of potential buyers. By following home staging trends, you can turn a drab and outdated property into an appealing home that meets buyers’ expectations.
LUXURY HOME STAGING TRENDS THIS 2023
Home staging trends come and go with the seasons. Economic factors and individual design preferences influence what buyers want to see in a property—and professional stagers, real estate experts, and home sellers need to stay on top of these trends to determine which elements can have maximum impact on their property.
Consider these luxury home staging trends of 2023 to help enhance the allure of your Smith Mountain Lake home.
- Neutral color palettes
Beige, cream, off-white, gray, and other neutral hues help create an inviting, calming, and sophisticated environment. To elevate neutral-colored spaces, introduce varying textures or a fun pop of color through metallic accent pieces, plush textiles, or vivid artwork.
- One-of-a-kind design elements
Statement pieces like custom furniture, eye-catching light fixtures, and unique art make excellent focal points. If you don’t have them, you can rent them for a fraction of the cost. These interior design elements can make your home stand out from other properties in the area and help buyers remember your property.
- Indoor-outdoor living
Many Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes boast scenic vistas of the glistening lake against the backdrop of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Make the most out of this unique feature by staging your outdoor living space and making it feel like an extension of the indoors. Lush greenery, the right furniture, and cohesive design elements can provide a seamless transition between the indoors and the outdoors.
- Spa-like bathrooms
Many visit and settle in Smith Mountain Lake to unwind and escape from the busy city. Adding spa-like accessories like scented candles, deluxe toiletries, plush towels, soft rugs, and shower benches to your bathroom will highlight the area’s soothing getaway feel.
- Wellness and fitness facilities
Many luxury home buyers look for features that can support a healthy lifestyle. If you have a home gym, yoga area, or outdoor meditation space – or spaces in your home that can be used for these purposes – make sure to highlight these in staging. Decorate the space with yoga mats, scented candles, fresh plants, and so on, and display gym equipment prominently.
- Home offices
For many people, a home office is a must. Staging an area of the home as a dedicated workspace can boost the appeal of the property. Use ergonomic furniture and highlight ample storage space to impress buyers with the perfect work-from-home set up by the lake and mountains.
SHOULD YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGER?
Well-maintained luxury homes in Smith Mountain Lake that look something out of an interior design magazine may not need home staging. On the other hand, houses with highly customized designs or out-of-date facilities can benefit from the quick makeover that home staging provides. Professional stagers know how to revamp these spaces by addressing their flaws and highlighting their best features.
Home stagers can also act as consultants. You can ask these professionals to do a thorough inspection of your home and point out areas that need improvement. Stagers will then give tips on picking out the best color palette, furniture arrangement, and overall aesthetic for the space and even explain why staging a home is important.
HOW A REAL ESTATE EXPERT CAN HELP SELL YOUR LUXURY HOME
Selling a home in the luxury housing market of Smith Mountain Lake involves a complex process that requires the expertise of an experienced real estate professional. Here’s how your agent can help you sell your Smith Mountain Lake luxury home fast and at the right price.
- Reliable connections
Real estate agents typically work with a network of professionals who play essential roles in the home buying and selling process. Your Realtor can recommend a trusted home stager, real estate lawyer, title company, and other professionals so you don’t have to spend time looking and vetting potential providers.
- A filtered list of buyers
Your agent can carefully screen potential buyers and gauge their interest in Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes for sale. They know how to ask the right questions and weed out unqualified buyers or those who are simply looking around to avoid wasting your time. They can also identify buyers who are serious about buying a home and who may be a right fit for your property.
- Accurate pricing
Factors like local housing market conditions and the neighborhood’s property values influence the prices of Smith Mountain Lake luxury homes. Real estate agents stay up to date with these factors so they can help you price your home accurately and devise a pricing strategy to drive interest to your home.
- Increased profit
A real estate professional’s marketing expertise can help give your home better visibility in a competitive housing market like Smith Mountain Lake. And with their highly developed negotiation skills, an experienced Realtor will make sure you get the best price for your property while looking after your interests at all times.
- Paperwork assistance
Selling a property involves a mountain of documents like property deeds, sales contracts, tax documentation, insurance records, and many others. Real estate agents are experts at dealing with these types of paperwork and will make sure all the needed documents are accomplished accurately and on time to avoid closing delays.
- Minimal stress
From devising a plan to market your property to doing after-sales check-ins, a real estate professional will be right beside you throughout the entire home selling process. They will keep your best interests in mind while putting in the legwork required to sell your property, sparing you from the stress that often comes with the process.
SELL YOUR SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE LUXURY HOME TODAY
Thinking of selling your Smith Mountain Lake luxury home? Allow me to help you close the best sale.
As a resident of Smith Mountain Lake since 1984, I have intimate knowledge of the local housing market and extensive experience in marketing luxury properties, which I use to give my clients a seamless real estate experience. I am a Certified Residential Specialist, Short Sales Foreclosure Resource, Luxury Collection Specialist, and Fine Homes Certified Specialist, and I guarantee utmost commitment to helping you achieve your real estate goals.
Reach out today by calling 540.493.1690 or sending a message here.
