Staging Your Home in 5 Easy Steps

Ask yourself this question before you put your house up for sale; is your home priced right and does it look better than the competition? This is an important question to ask because people don’t like to overpay, but they are willing to pay a premium price for “the best” property on the market. If you want your house to look the best that it can, it’s important to stage it. Staging your house gains an edge on the competition and creates positive perceptions from buyers. 

A lot of people base their purchases on emotions, so you want them to have a strong emotional connection with your home. Staging your home can also create a substantial impact and a long-term connection with buyers. You don’t get a second chance to make a lasting first impression. 

Get your home ready with these five easy home staging steps.

1. Plan Ahead

It is vital that you make a great game plan before you sell your house. Here are a few steps you should take:

• Go through each room and criticize it as a potential buyer would. Find the flaws and fix them.
• Consider getting a home inspection done to see if any repairs are needed. You want a buyer’s negative checklist to be as short as possible, so it is important to complete all necessary repairs and maintenance. 
• Hire a contractor to tackle major projects.

2. Clean, De-clutter and Depersonalize

Deep clean your entire home. Don’t forget to:

• Scrub all of your floors.
• Deep clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
• Steam clean the carpets and drapes. Replace the carpet if the stains are too prominent. 
• Get rid of all the dust bunnies and cobwebs. 
• Repair any cracks and holes in the walls. 
• Clean your backyard and pool area.

De-clutter your house. Sell, donate or trash anything you don’t need. It’s important to:

• Organize closets and cabinets to make them look open and inviting. 
• Remove rugs to highlight hardwood floors. 
• Maximize your space by removing oversized furniture and by re-arranging remaining pieces. 
• Put away all small appliances, toys, magazines and pet items. 
• Clean out the garage and store most items offsite.

You also need to depersonalize your home. You can do this by:

• Removing family photos, personal collections and medications. 
• Painting interior walls with neutral colors. Use beige cream or light pastels for bedrooms and living spaces. Pale blues and greens are good color choices for bathrooms. 

3. Maximize Curb Appeal

• Paint the home’s exterior; don’t forget the trim, doors and shutters.
• Power wash the siding and the windows. 
• Make sure the doorbell is in working order. 
• Ensure that the front door, welcome mat and address number look great and appealing.
• Check your roof for any damage and make repairs as needed. 
• Fix cracks found in your driveway and sidewalks. 
• Clean the gutters and downspouts.
• Sweep entryway and walkways.
• Stage your front porch and deck with furniture and potted plants. 
• Take notice of your landscaping. 

Make sure to:

• Mow, water and fertilize your lawn.
• Plant colorful flowers and shrubs.
• Rake up dead grass and leaves. 
• Trim shrubs and trees.
• Dispose of any pet droppings you find. 

4. Pay Extra Attention to Kitchens and Bathrooms

• Make sure the floors are clean and shiny. 
• Clear and scrub the countertops.
• Upgrade cabinet hardware. 
• Thoroughly clean appliances and fixtures. 
• Neatly arrange items in the pantry, drawers and cupboards.
• Fix any caulking around sinks and bathtubs. 
• Breakout the stain remover and get rid of any stains on the sinks, toilets and bathtubs.
• Remember to close the toilet seat lids before an open house. 
• Hang fresh and luxurious looking towels. 

5. Appeal to the Buyer’s Senses

• Make the buyer’s mouth water by baking cookies or by burning scented candles.
• Tastefully serve light refreshments.
• Turn on all the lights and install higher wattage incandescent bulbs to make rooms brighter. 
• Open curtains and blinds to allow in natural light and to showcase any property views. 
• Open the windows and let the fresh air in. 
• Turn off distractive devices like TVs. 
• Relocate pets on the day of the showing. 
• Don’t smoke inside your home.
• Make sure fireplaces are in working condition if you want to create a cozy feel on a cold day. 

If you still need help, you can always contact a professional stager. They will happily help get your home looking gorgeous and ready to sell.