Published
April 26, 2024
Objective: Enhance your home's appeal to captivate potential buyers, showcasing its best features and facilitating faster, more lucrative offers.
Staging is all about presenting your home in its best possible light to appeal to the most potential buyers. The goal is to highlight your home's best features and allow buyers to picture themselves living there. Proper staging helps homes sell faster and for top dollar.
Interior Staging
Decluttering & Depersonalizing
- Remove all personal photographs, memorabilia, souvenirs, awards, religious items, etc.
- Minimize knick-knacks, collectibles, and personal effects
- Clear off countertops, dressers, shelves, windowsills, etc.
- Pack away books, magazines, toys, and any extra furniture not needed
- Organize Blogpantry, closets, shelves - buyers will look in them
- Store family heirlooms and anything valuable out of sight
- Make spaces feel as open, airy, and clutter-free as possible
Deep Cleaning
- Thoroughly clean inside and out, including windows, window coverings, walls, ceilings, floors, vents, light fixtures
- Wipe down all surfaces until they sparkle
- Deodorize with air fresheners or natural scents like lemon
- Steam clean carpets and wash area rugs
- Wash all bedding and linens
- Clean out and deodorize garbage disposals and dishwashers
- Make sure there are no pet odors left behind
- Add small touches like new hand soaps, candles, potpourri
Paint & Flooring
- Use neutral wall colors like tans, grays, "greige", or white
- Repaint any bright, bold, or unconventional colors
- Consider an accent wall in each room with a pop of color
- Touch up any scuffs, chips, or cracks in the walls
- Refinish wood floors if they are scratched or look worn
- Clean and deodorize any older carpets and rugs
Furniture Arrangement
- Rearrange furniture to show rooms in their best layout
- Float main pieces like couches away from the walls
- Arrange furniture to encourage conversation areas
- Keep walkways and high traffic areas completely open
- Position mirrors to reflect light and make rooms feel larger
- Arrange dining room tables with properly sized rugs underneath
- Make sure there is a clear view from the entry into each room
Lighting
- Make spaces feel bright, warm and inviting
- Open all window coverings to let in natural light
- Place lamps in dark corners to brighten the space
- Use higher wattage bulbs if existing lighting is dim
- Make sure all light fixtures are working properly
- Consider updating very outdated or damaged light fixtures
Kitchen
- Clear all clutter off countertops and open shelving
- Show off as much counter and cabinet space as possible
- Make sure all appliances are clean inside and out
- Update any dated appliances, countertops or cabinets if needed
- Install new cabinet hardware if yours is looking worn
- Put out a bowl of fresh fruit or baked goods for showings
Bathrooms
- Remove items from counters, tubs, and shower stalls
- Coordinate new towels, rugs, curtains, and décor accents
- Update old shower heads, faucets, and light fixtures
- Regrout any chipped, stained grout and caulk bathtubs
- Add a new shower curtain in a neutral color
- Accessorize with new towels, candles, greenery, etc.
Bedrooms
- Make beds with fresh, neutral colored bedding
- Arrange pillows and throws to look like a model home
- Clear all personal items off dressers and nightstands
- Remove or neatly arrange items in closets
- Make sure closets look organized and have plenty of space
- Add lamps and ambient lighting in the bedroom
Decor & Accents
- Incorporate fresh greenery, flowers, or bowls of fresh fruit
- Place plush neutral throws and pillows on sofas/beds
- Invest in new, plush white towels for bathrooms
- Add pops of color with throw blankets, pillows, artwork
- Accessorize with books, vases, trays, and decorative objects
- Less is more - don't overdo decor or it looks cluttered
Exterior & Curb Appeal
Landscaping
- Mow lawn, rake leaves, trim hedges and trees
- Plant colorful flowers or potted plants by the entrance
- Fill in any bare patches on the lawn with seed or sod
- Add fresh, dark mulch around trees and beds
- Power wash Any grimy surfaces (siding, walkways, patio)
Front Entry
- Paint or refinish the front door in a vibrant accent color
- Replace or repaint the mailbox to look fresh
- Place a new, neutral toned welcome mat out front
- Make sure entryway lighting works properly
- Add potted flowers or greenery around the doorway
Backyard & Patio
- Stage outdoor living areas with patio furniture
- Stain or reseal older looking wood decks/porches
- Open awnings and clean/repair outdoor ceiling fans
- Store garbage cans, garden tools and toys neatly out of sight
- Clean out fireplaces or fire pits
- Freshen any kids' play areas/swing sets
Garage & Driveway
- Park vehicles elsewhere during showings
- Thoroughly clean and organize the garage space
- Sweep out any oil/grease stains from driveway
- Hang pegboard or shelving to showcase storage solutions
- Inspect doors and do maintenance if needed
- Replace old bulbs with new garage lighting
Making necessary repairs and updates, deep cleaning, decluttering, neutralizing, and strategically arranging furniture and decor will go a long way in staging your home to appeal to buyers. Pay close attention to lighting, ambiance, and creating an inviting atmosphere throughout. Taking the time to properly prepare your home can pay off with higher offers and a quicker sale.
