My Top 5 Staging Tips
Virtually all buyers today start their home search online. The photos and tours showing your property communicate so much about your home -- Is the exterior pleasant to look at? Do the interior photos show spacious, appealing rooms? Does it look well-kept? Is it move-in ready? For each question you can answer “yes” to, the better your chances that your home will make the list of properties the buyer wants to see in person.
Here are my top 5 staging tips...for each of these 5 tips, you’ll find links to more detailed blog posts under each of the following categories.
CURB APPEAL
Refresh Ground Covers - Filling in sparse gravel or adding a fresh layer of mulch to all garden areas is an easy, low-cost way to instantly increase your curb appeal.
Tidy Your Existing Landscaping - Pull weeds, shape your shrubs, deadhead flower beds, and prune any low-hanging branches – particularly if they are hanging over walkways and covering windows. A well-manicured yard always looks more appealing, so make sure this is at the top of your list.
For more tips on curb appeal click here
2. ELIMINATE CLUTTER
One of the first tasks in preparing your home for sale is to remove clutter from the rooms in your house. The following are items that should be removed prior to listing your home. Buyers are easily distracted, so you’ll want to remove as many distractions as possible.
As you can see in this photo, all the clutter in this room is distracting, making it impossible for buyers to see the potential it has.
Here are some suggestions to get started with the decluttering process…
Any personal photographs or portraits on walls or tabletops.
Collections of any kind - e.g., figurines, salt & pepper shakers, clocks, dolls, baskets, teapots, perfume bottles - I’m sure you get the idea!
Diplomas, certificates of achievement, trophies or award ribbons.
An overabundance of toys, stuffed animals and games.
To read more about decluttering, check out my blog here.
3. LOOK CRITICALLY AT YOUR KITCHEN
Buyers pay a LOT of attention to kitchens as they tour homes. It’s no wonder because most of us spend significant amounts of time in and around the kitchen. Here are a few tips on how best to present your kitchen.
Clear off the countertops - The first thing to do in any kitchen before putting your home on the market is to clear off the countertops. All small appliances, such as a toaster or blender, should be put away in a cabinet. Only a few select pieces of décor should be left out. Buyers love lots of countertop space in the kitchen, so keeping them cleared off will show yours off and make the kitchen feel larger as a whole.
Update the lighting - Look critically at the lighting in your kitchen. It would be well worth your money and time to replace any fluorescent lights you may have with recessed lights. Replace any ceiling fixtures or chandeliers with something that is more up-to-date. Stick with daylight-style LED bulbs that will make the space feel cleaner and more open.
Click here for more tips on how to present your kitchen!
4. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR WINDOWS
When preparing your home to go on the market, it’s very easy to overlook your windows. Yet, they’re very important as discussed below.
Cleaning windows inside and out (including screens) just prior to the home being listed is a very common recommendation I make to my clients. Nothing beats shining windows with natural light streaming through them! Make sure to open drapes, blinds, shutters each morning so that should a showing take place that day, you’re ready.
For more tips about windows go here!
5. CLEAN YOUR HOME TOP TO BOTTOM!
This can’t be emphasized enough. A clean and wonderful smelling home goes a long way to winning over the hearts of buyers. Here are some suggestions!
When buyers walk into a super clean house, it makes a very positive impression. Aside from simply feeling more comfortable in a clean environment, buyers will also conclude that the house is well taken care of - a very important consideration that may well push your home toward the top of the list of homes for which the buyer is contemplating making an offer.
Clean all ceiling light fixtures.
Remove all cobwebs from corners/ceiling areas.
Wash baseboards, doors, all trim.
To learn about more specific areas to pay special attention to when cleaning go here.
Interested in selling your home quickly and for top dollar? Sign up for my FREE 30 minute consultation to learn how to prepare your home for sale. Schedule now!