Home Staging Tips

Step 1) The first thing to do when preparing your home for the market is to downsize and declutter. This means going through your basement, garage, closets, cabinets and attic and eliminating the things you no longer use or need. Pack away things that may clutter your home while "showing" it to potential buyers.

Step 2) Now that all the clutter is cleared away, everything must be sparkling clean.  This includes woodwork, windows, walls, ceiling and fixtures. You may consider a cleaning service for either the initial clean or regular upkeep. 

Step 3) A potential buyer will explore every aspect of your property. Make sure they cannot find fault by ensuring everything is in working order and repairing items that are damaged.  Such as:
- Cracks in ceilings and walls
- Worn flooring, outdoor decks and siding
- Drippy faucets and squeaky cabinet doors
- Clean any grout so it is in immaculate condition
- Ensure all electrical items are working like doorbells, ceiling fans, switches and garage door openers

Step 4) Today’s buyer wants to purchase a home that requires little work, if any.  It is difficult for seller’s to see that some aspects of their home may be dated or not in style. The key items that can classify your home as "out of date" are cabinets, paneling, lighting, wallpaper and bathroom fixtures. 

It isn’t always necessary to spend a lot to update your property. This is where a professional home stager is beneficial.  We can save you time and money by evaluating and making recommendations on how to get the most return on your efforts.

Step 5) This last step is when the finishing touches are made to create an inviting atmosphere where everyone would want to live. 

Here are just some of the many techniques home stagers use:

-Arrange furniture to highlight features in each room such as a fireplace or window
-Create small seating areas in large rooms and avoid using too much furniture in small rooms 
-Hang artwork in relation to furniture 
-Use punches of color with pillows, throws and fluffy bathroom towels 
-Keep table arrangements simple and avoid personal photos and mementos 
-Use lamps rather than overhead lighting when showing

Most people think of just this last step as staging.  But as you can see, preparing your home for the real estate market is a process.

Every property has the potential to “show well”.  By staging your home correctly, you can increase the selling price and decrease the number of days your home remains on the market.