9 Simple Staging Tips To Help Your Home Sell

One of the most difficult part for homeowners is to take an objective look at the house and understand that, while it is your home... with all it's well-loved eccentricities... it will soon be someone else's home.  

And sometimes, those eccentricities make it difficult for anyone else to imagine it as their home.  And if they can't picture living there, they won't want to buy it. 

Most prospective buyers respond to basic home showing recommendations, such as keeping a clean, clutter-free home in good repair.   It's not hard to imagine that homes that owners keep their house in shape for showings receive higher offers than homes that aren't ready for show-time. 

Fresh paint, everything in working order and - of course - a house that is free of clutter, debris and mess make a stronger first, second and third impression. 

Below is an example of a house, pre-staging.  Although to the casual observer, it appears neat, clean and ready for showing... but there are a few basic "don'ts" represented here.  Although sometimes staging requires a complete reconfiguration of the furniture, baring that, here are just a few of the ideas on how to make this room more "show-ready." 

• A fresh coat of paint is recommended, returning the room to a neutral color.
• Although it may seem minor, never leave anything extraneous just sitting on the arm of the couch.
• Clear the coffee table completely, or - at the most - leave an attractive coffee table book.
• Remove the hanging lanterns from the windows. 
• Store the additional green chair that is currently in the corner making the room seem more cluttered. 
• Roll up and store away the carpet in order to show off the hardwood floors.
• Clean the windows to a streak-free shine. 

• Remove most of the items from the fireplace mantle, especially the dried flowers in the vases.  Leave the mantle clock and put the vases together on one side.  
• Clean the glass on the wall lanterns, you may like the "gothic" look of the dark glass, but others will see it as dirty.
• Invest in some slip covers for the sofa and chairs.
• Remove the three pictures that are on either side of the standing lamp.
• Perform some "plant surgery" to remove dead or fading leaves from the plant on the floor.
• Remove all items from the side table by the window.
• Scrub away the soot stains on the fireplace, and clean the fireplace out completely (removing ash and old wood, leave a pile of fresh, clean logs or light the fireplace for showings). 

Although there are more changes required, the above is just to illustrate the little things that can make a big difference in a room. 

There are many small details that people overlook when getting ready to sell their homes, which is why professional staging experts are now available to help you through that process. 

A staging session normally takes between 7 - 10 hours, depending on the size of your home and the extent of staging required.  And be prepared to pack... a good portion of staging is removing extraneous items from the home to leave it as clear and clutter-free as possible. . 

If you're not able to hire a professional, here are a few useful tips on how you can help prospective buyers through the process of visualizing your home as their home.  

1. CLEAR THE CLUTTER:    

If you're planning on selling your home, plan on having a garage sale. 

Reducing clutter allows the buyer to see your home, not the stuff that's in it.  If you don't want to sell everything, start packing as much as you can and put away items you won't need for the next few months.  

Homebuyers will expect you to be preparing to move, so a few packed boxes here and there will be less distracting that shelves full of knick-knacks. But don't over-pack, as an empty home or one filled with pre-packed boxes might give the indication that your moving date is fast approaching and could lead to reduced offers on the assumption that you might be getting desperate to sell.

Take a tour of some Model Homes for new home developments, and you'll notice a pattern. They are decorated, but not cluttered.  They are attractive, but sometimes impersonal.  There's a reason for this.  

And don't worry about trying to hold on to everything you own, you can always buy new stuff when you move... and isn't that half the fun?

2.  REDUCE THE "YOU" IN YOUR HOME:  

Pack away as many of the family photos as you can.

Prospective buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in the house, so the more pictures you have of your own family occupying the space, the more difficult that becomes.  The more a buyer connects your family to that home, the less comfortable they will feel with the prospect of trying to turn your home into their home.

A few family photos here and there can give a warm appeal, in fact, it is recommended to have pictures of your family enjoying the home in two or three locations in the house (swimming in the pool, having a BBQ on the back patio, etc.).  However, too many (for example, the upstairs hallway covered frame-to-frame in family photos) will create a strong sense of "This is THEIR home," something you do not want.  

Invest in some artwork or tapestries that can be used to replace the wall-of-photos.  Tapestries are a great choice because they provide both visual appeal, a warm tactile feeling as well as providing warmth and noise reduction.  

3. BE WELCOMING:  

The buyer's first impression is your entryway, make it a good one. 

As soon as the buyer walks through the door, their evaluation of your home begins.  Even if they're not conscious of it, the first impression is a critical one.  It's much easier to continue with the good impression throughout the house if there is a positive impression made when they open the door.  

Replace the welcome mat at the front door (but avoid mats with cute sayings or personalization), clean or replace door handles, make sure the light bulb is working or replace the light fixture with something that provides good lighting.  And, of course, make sure the front is clean, clear and clutter-free... right down to the grout in the ceramic tiles. 

Music is another perfect way to welcome people to your home.  Classical and smooth jazz are two favorites for home showings.  And, for that extra touch, why not have it playing through a beautiful vintage-style radio (providing it matches your home's decor style)?

4.  THERE'S A REASON IT'S CALLED "STAGING":

Stimulate a potential buyers' imaginations by setting a scene. 

Leave a coffee-table book open in the living room, set the dinner table with flowers and candles, light the fireplace, bake a loaf of bread...(or - as a cheat - microwave a small bowl of vanilla and water to give off the scent of fresh baking).  Your goal is to set a scene that will encourage buyers to imagine themselves living in your home.  

When you look at the room, try to imagine what kind of scene would be played out in that room.  If the image that comes to mind is one of peaceful reflection, romance or warm family moments... you've set the scene perfectly. 

5.  PAY ATTENTION TO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES:

It may not be your belief system, but it could be an affront to someone viewing your home. 

Feng Shui is a very common element in home design, and one that is often overlooked during the staging process.  Although nobody expects you to completely rearrange your lifestyle to meet the requirements of Feng Shui, it is important to avoid those things that would be considered "bad" Feng Shui, or you will eliminate a good number of potential buyers. 

"Good" feng-shui means good livelihood and fortune, and "bad" feng-shui means hardship and misfortune.  Understanding this, you should be able to understand why someone would not wish to own a home filled with "bad" feng-shui.   Although this topic is heavily debated amongst those who practice Feng Shui, it is probably best to remove (either discard or pack away) any dried flower arrangements, as many practictioners of Feng Shui believe that dried (or dead) flowers represent the ending of the flower's life-cycle and therefore remove positive energy from a room. 

Beyond Feng Shui, avoid including too many religious or cultural icons in your home.  Once again, the objective is to allow the potential buyer to imagine your home as their home while they are walking through it.  Confronting them with symbols which are in complete opposition to their religious or cultural beliefs will make that process more difficult. 

One notable exception is Christmas.  Although staging experts differ on this topic, many firmly believe that having your home tastefully decorated to celebrate the holiday season can have a very positive impact.  The trick to this is "tastefully."  If it looks like Santa's workshop has exploded in your house, you've probably gone too far.  And, of course, this does not apply after January 1st. 

6. FOR ONCE, DON'T CONSERVE ENERGY. 

Let there be light, and lots of it 

Kitchens, bathrooms and the laundry room should be bright, so increase the wattage.  Brighten up dark hallways and corners with lamps or brighter bulbs.  And, if a showing is planned in the evening, turn on the lights in every room.

Make sure to replace any dead bulbs and remove and clean all glass fixtures so that the light can shine through. 

7.  IF IT SMELLS, IT WON'T SELL 

Unpleasant odors is one of the biggest turn-offs for buyers 

As the sense of smell is critical to creating a pleasant atmosphere.  Use cleansers of all kinds to make the home smell fresh, from carpets to closets.  Either rent or buy a good carpet cleaner and/or hard-surface cleaner. . 

You can also use the sense of smell to your advantage by having fresh-baked cookies or an apple pie on the kitchen table, creating a welcoming sensual environment for your potential buyers.

8. CREATE A SENSE OF SPACE 

Space is, after all, the final frontier.

No matter how much storage space we have, we almost always manage to fill it.  However, overstuffed closets and cupboards give a sense that storage space is an issue.  Therefore, clean out the entry closet and put only a few hangers in it, so that the buyer can visualize winter coats. Pack away clothing that you won't need for a few months so that bedroom closets appear spacious. 

This also goes for living rooms.  You may have squeezed that overstuffed lounger into the family room because it's soooo comfortable, but the buyer won't know that.  Move oversized furniture to a storage facility. 

The same with kitchen cupboards... make sure everything is in place, neatly, to give the impression that there is space to fit another family's needs. 

And, of course, kitchen counters.  Store away extra appliances. Put away dish racks, soap dishes and other clutter. Decrease kitchen clutter further by removing magnets from the refrigerator.  If your knife set is old and ratty looking, replace it with a new one.

Finally, make sure entrances to all rooms have an open flow.

9.   AVOID ECCENTRIC DECOR. 

Anything that might be considered "out there" should be "out of there"

De-personalize by removing unusual posters or any decorative item that could be construed as offensive or even odd.  Your collection of antique doilies, or the way you've fabric-wrapped every door-knob in the house to coordinate with the wallpaper may be appealing to you... others may find it to be overbearing.

One final thought...

Many people go through this process just before they sell their home, making it "perfect" for a brief period of time before they leave it.  Why not go through this process once a year, staging your home for your own use and enjoyment? 

Not everything in the list above will be practical or applicable, but you should find that at least 4 or 5 of the points above will make your home more inviting and enjoyable, every day.

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