Staging your house to sell doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By using each of the four tips I share below, you’ll be able to get your home ready to sell in no time!
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My husband and I recently sold our home. Being here for 9 years means that we have accumulated a lot of stuff. As we prepared to sell our home, we knew that staging our home in a way that would be appealing to potential buyers was important. While there are many aspects to consider when staging, I have narrowed it down to four main tips that you can apply to your entire home.
What is staging?
Staging means to present your home in the best possible way. It means getting rid of extra items and making each space look as welcoming and inviting as you can. This allows potential buyers to see the space for what it is and not get distracted by your personal style. The easier they can do this, the easier they can envision themselves in the space.
Tip #1: De-Personalize Your Space
Adding little touches to your home is what makes it yours. But when you have other people walking through your home, removing those personal touches allows them to see themselves in the space. One of the easiest ways to de-personalize your space is to take down all your family pictures. Go through each room and find any pictures of your family, pets, etc and remove them.
Here are a few other items you’ll want to remove/take down:
- Magnets off of your fridge
- Anything that could be considered offensive (art, collectables, etc)
- Holiday or seasonal decor
- Family chore charts and calendars (unless they are in a non-visible space, such as a closet)
Tip #2: Fresh Towels
No one wants to see raggedy towels in the bathrooms as they walk through your home. Having fresh, clean towels in the bathroom automatically creates a feeling of cleanliness. This includes both hand towels and bath towels. Additionally, if you normally have a dish towel in your kitchen, I would recommend removing it completely or having a new one that matches your kitchen.
*PRO TIP* If you’re worried about keeping towels clean and fresh looking while showing your home, you can always just swap out your regular towels for the new ones before a showing.
Tip #3: Minimize What Is Visible
No matter how big or small your home is, the goal when staging your home is to highlight the space. One of the easiest places for clutter to accumulate is the counters, as well as desks, dressers, etc. On the other hand, clean counters, desks and dressers allow the potential buyer to consider how they would use the space. More visible counter space = A greater sense of overall space.
You may hear different thoughts and opinions on how much to clear off your counter spaces when staging your house. Some people say you should have nothing at all visible, while others will say that minimal is the way to go. I’ve included some guidelines below that may help you decide what to keep on/off.
- Kitchen counters
- ON: Stand mixer, soap in nice dispenser, fresh fruit in small bowl, fresh flowers or plant on kitchen table, knife block
- OFF: Scrub brushes, utensil holders, toasters, blenders, other small appliances, electronics (computer, laptop, etc)
- Bathroom counters
- ON: Soap in nice dispenser, small plant
- OFF: Everything else
- Desks
- ON: small plant, computer/laptop, if necessary (keep off, closed down), small decorative items (no more than 3)
- OFF: Pencils/Pens, paper/notebooks, anything that makes desk look cluttered
- Dressers and Nightstands
- ON: Lamp, non digital clock
- OFF: Books, drink coasters
Tip #4: Add Plants/Greenery
Plants are a great way to bring life to a space (literally). Having a few plants around your home creates a feeling of brightness and calm. If real plants aren’t your thing, or you’re worried about keeping them alive, you can definitely get a few fake plants like potted succulents or silk house plants. Consider placing a plant in the main areas of your home, such as the kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom.
What tips do you like to share with friends or family who are staging their house to sell?
