Preparing Your Home For Staging

Selling your home can be a stressful process, but taking the right steps before listing in on the market will ensure that your home is in the best position to market and as a result, it will bring you the highest price in the shortest amount of time. Here is what we recommend before we stage your home for sale:

Disassociate from Your House

Letting go of your home can be difficult. You've lived there, possibly for years, and the house holds many memories. To detach from it emotionally, you must realize that without you in it, the house is just a shell to be loved by other occupants. You have new memories up and coming to make in a new home for yourself! 

Depersonalize

You want to present buyers with an impersonal, clean environment so they can imagine the home perhaps decorated with their own photographs, furniture, and art objects. Pack up your personal photographs, family heirlooms, and other objects and clutter that might distract potential buyers and hurt a possible sale. 

Declutter

People tend to collect an amazing quantity of items over the years. Reasons for keeping items include an emotional attachment, an intention to reuse or fix the items in the future, or a wish to pass them on to others. However, for many items, if you haven't used them in over a year, you probably don't need them. Discard items in a useful way by donating them to a charity or nonprofit organization such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill. These items not only help those in need but some are tax-deductible.

Organize Bedroom Closets and Storage Cabinets

Buyers are interested in knowing about storage in a home and will want to check closets and cabinets. It's important to ensure these are organized, as it sends a negative message if your storage spaces are cluttered with items falling out.

When a buyer sees everything organized down to the last detail, it shows that you take care of your possessions and likely took good care of the house. In kitchen cabinets, alphabetize spice jars, neatly stack dishes, and turn the coffee cup handles so they're facing the same way. In closets, shirts should be buttoned and hung together, and shoes should be lined up neatly. Just a few small details that can make a big visual difference. 

Consider Renting a Storage Unit 

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage, along with distracting furniture, artwork, and empty bookcases. 

Make Minor Repairs

In some seller's markets, you can sell a home in lived-in condition without much complaint. But in normal markets or a buyer's market, repairs can make or break a sale. Replace cracked floor or counter tiles and patch any holes in the walls. Fix leaky faucets and doors that don't close properly, as well as kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting walls neutral colors, especially if they're currently hot pink or purple. Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the one with the bright purple bathroom."

Make the House Sparkle

Preparing your home to be viewed by potential buyers may require hiring a professional cleaning crew. Cleaning may include washing the windows inside and out; renting a pressure washer and spraying down sidewalks and the exterior; re-caulking tubs, showers, and sinks; and polishing chrome faucets and mirrors. Make sure all of the dust is removed from under the furniture, in the cabinets and closets, and everywhere else it could be hiding. No one wants to be viewing a dirty home. 

Once it is professionally cleaned, try and keep the cleanliness by vacuuming daily, mopping, dusting furniture, and keeping the bathrooms and kitchen spotless. Hang up fresh guest towels. Also, keep the toilet lid closed when it's not in use. Again, small details can really make a big impact. 

Curb Appeal

Make the exterior more appealing and welcoming by painting your front door and, perhaps, adding a beautiful wreath, or placing one or two flower pots on your front porch. Hire a landscaper to clean up your lawn and add some colored plants. Consider hiring a contractor to fix any cracks on your front steps or walkway. Also, make sure visitors can clearly see your house number. We want buyers to pull up in their cars feeling enlightened and excited to get out. 

The Final Step 

Once you've cleaned and gotten everything repaired and organized, you can begin staging your home. This is where we come in and where the magic will happen! Following these steps thoroughly will make sure the staging process is successful.

If you want to hear more about our staging services and how we can help you get your home SOLD fast and for more, give us a call. We also offer consultations to help you make these decisions all run smoothly and effectively.