For so long, we’ve been told to keep everything neutral when selling our home to appeal to the widest base. But what if we don’t need to?

To differentiate your home today, you may need to think like a model home interior designer. When you walk through a model, it’s very clear who they think their buyer is. One home features a train theme in the bedroom that screams little boy. Another is merchandised for a millennial couple through and through. In yet another model, there is no sign of children; instead, there’s a wine room where the play room would be. And the downstairs bedroom has been decorated as a warm and inviting guest space.

You can apply these ideas to your own home to get it sold.

When trying to attract millennials buyers, “This shouldn’t be your grandma’s house,” said Zing by Quicken Loans. “The knickknacks, flowery wallpaper and dust need to go. Staging is a must, specifically when marketing to the millennial home buyer. For many of this generation, this will be their first time buying a home. Staging will give them a visual on how they could live in this space.”

According to Paige Elliott, a real estate agent at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate in Park Cities, Texas, millennials “want that glamorous, this-could-be-a-movie-set look,” said the Minnesota StarTribune. “They like that because they’re young and they want the lifestyle.” That means clean lines, a modern color palette, and a de-cluttered space.

A tricycle in the yard. A stylish high chair pulled up to the kitchen table. A crib in a themed bedroom. They’re all signs that a home is family-friendly. If you’re in an area with lots of young families or that’s who you’re trying to attract, but your home is not giving off that feeling, there are some steps you can take.

Start with that tricycle, the high chair, and the crib (borrow if you need to!). Then take a cue from those model homes and get out the paint brush. Create a nursery or young child’s room that brings the “Awww,” and you’re halfway there.

It also helps to have a handout of local school info including area preschools and recommended daycares. While buyers can do their own research to find some of this information, they will surely appreciate having it handed to them—and it will certainly make your home memorable.

“Baby boomers are either retired or reaching retirement age, and they are quickly becoming empty nesters,” said HGTV star Christina El Moussa on Irish Realty & Cooreman Properties. “These aging Americans are looking to downsize because they no longer want or need their five-bedroom, two-level homes. A home that better fits their current lifestyle is much more appealing, especially if it means they don’t have to make the move to a retirement home.”

That gives you a golden opportunity to stage your home as a magnet for this target. A first-floor master suite is key, but if you don’t have one, maybe you have a guest bedroom that could be turned into a master. A first-floor guest bedroom could also be staged as a mother-in-law suite to appeal to a multi-generational household, which is a growing trend across the country.

While making updates to attract baby boomers, concentrate on low-maintenance features. “Boomers love modern appliances that they won’t have to repair, a yard that’s easy to maintain, energy-efficient windows and doors to save on their heating bills, and a large, open floor plan that provides lots of space and natural light,” said El Moussa.

While your home may not meet that standard 100%, there are things you can do to make it more appealing, particularly in the yard. Changing out grass to turf or changing it to pavers to “cut down on yard work” is a good start.

Source: Staging Tips for Selling to Specific Target Markets Realty Times (March 23, 2023) Jaymi Naciri