Stage Your Home
SKILL LEVEL 2
We know, all too well, the current state of the housing market. Clearly, you want a competitive edge, which is where home staging comes into play. The goal is to have potential buyers perceive your house as well maintained, plenty roomy and a perfect match for how they live.
2 Skill level
2 out of 5
5 Steps
26 Materials
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Step 2 Make a good impression
Curb appeal matters. If needed, paint the front door and repair any rotting wood trim surrounding it, repair the steps and paint the porch. Keep the lawn mowed and, if needed, watered. Weed and mulch garden beds. Remove tired looking annuals, unhealthy perennials, and overgrown shrubs. During winter keep the paved areas free of snow and ice.
When prepping for a home staging, walk in the front door and imagine that you've never seen the house before — or better yet, have someone who has never been inside walk in the front door. How does the house smell? Is it clean (that includes dust in the corner of the ceiling and behind chairs)? Is it full of light?
And don't forget the areas of the house to which you're blind: paint the basement floor and scrub oil spills off the garage floor. -
Step 3 Create spaciousness
Potential buyers respond to roominess — it helps convince them that all their stuff will fit in your house. So get rid of clutter and anything that makes rooms seem cramped when home staging:
- Clear out excess stuff from closets and cabinets, and then organize what remains so the house looks like it has more than enough storage space. For example, hang just a few coats in the front hall closet and clear the floor except for one or two pairs of boots.
- Clear countertops, leaving just a few small basics that are in good condition and decorative, such as an attractive serving bowl or small appliance.
- If the house is crammed with furniture, put some into storage.
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Step 4 Update your home decor
Unless your decor is frozen in a time that is now retro-chic, bring it into the present. Paint walls if they look bad or the colors are outdated. Choose a popular neutral color (white is so last millennium).
Refresh the bathroom. Which fixtures and accessories you choose to update depends on their condition and how outdated they are. Possible changes include the sink top (an all-in-one sink top is relatively inexpensive and easy to install), faucets, towel racks, light fixtures and flooring. -
Step 5 Guide buyers' visualization
Help buyer's envision themselves in your house by putting away everything that screams of you. That includes family pictures, refrigerator magnets, sewing projects and your collection of ceramic frogs.
And to make the whole house seem livable, furnish any unused room to look like it has a purpose, such as an office, guest room or den.
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Supplies
| Product | Have | Need |
|---|---|---|
| Air purifier | ||
| Bath mat | ||
| Bath towels | ||
| Concrete paint | ||
| Concrete repair mix | ||
| Day bed | ||
| Degreaser | ||
| Exterior paint | ||
| Faucets | ||
| Garden hose | ||
| Garden sprinkler | ||
| Interior paint | ||
| Lamps | ||
| Lawn mower | ||
| Light fixture | ||
| Office desk | ||
| Programmable thermostat | ||
| Pruning lopper | ||
| Pruning shears | ||
| Shower curtain | ||
| Snow blower | ||
| Storage bin | ||
| Storage bins | ||
| Towel rack | ||
| Vacuum | ||
| Window glaze | ||
