Staging a home, and keeping it show-ready at a moment’s notice, is by far one of the trickiest parts of selling a home. After all, you never know when potential buyers might be dropping by.
The key is to get the home in showing condition — and keep it there. Below you’ll find tips on exactly how to do that, plus a few secret staging tips.
Preparing your home
The first step is to create a blank canvas for staging. So we’ll start with cleaning. Here are some tips for getting your home ready.
- Move out: To move out, both physically and mentally, you’ll have to change your mindset. Pretend that you’re moving out now, and remove as much of your personal belongings as possible. De-clutter surfaces, drawers, cabinets, and put at least one-third of your stuff in storage.
- Clean, and keep it clean: Do an initial deep clean of your home, followed by some smaller cleaning tasks mapped out for day-to-day cleaning. Try mommy-blogger Kelly Cone’s tips for staging a house with kids in it: clean the shower while you’re in it, cook only in the oven to avoid a greasy stove top, have the kiddos wear catch-all bibs and use placemats at mealtimes.
- Don’t stage alone: As it turns out, professionally staged homes sell for more than 6 percent above asking price according to a survey conducted by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. Staging is a huge part of getting great photos to post online as well as keeping the house nice for showings.
- Get out: The best way to keep your home in pristine condition is to not spend so much time there. Try to get out of the house as much as possible.
- Create a last-minute list: Ready a list of last-minute items that you’ll need to do before you leave the house for a showing. Add things like: check that beds are made, wipe down countertops and bathroom surfaces, double-check kid and pet spaces, etc.
Staging secrets
Stagers have all kinds of tips and tricks to make your home look as perfect as possible. Here are a few secret home staging tips that the pros do that you might not even notice.
- Create vignettes
Vignettes are small scenes that create focus and set a mood in a room. Vignette staging is a top insider trick because it’s easy, and it’s cheap. Here are a few examples of vignettes:
- Sterilize the space
Sellers really want a sterile home, though we’re not suggesting you take bleach to every inch of your home. Instead, look to this HomeLight guide Deep Clean Like You Mean It – Your House Cleaning Checklist for more information on deep cleaning.
- Hide the evidence
Tuck away any evidence that you live there, including trash, cooking wares, towels and cleaning supplies.
Living in a home that’s staged doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. Just make a plan, and stick with it. You’ll reap the rewards when you get that sale check.
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