Staging your home for sale

Step 1: De-clutter

• Go through each room and remove any clutter you see. Organize toys in decorative boxes that are hidden away in a storage room (perhaps a room for storage in the basement). You can always take them out again when you don't have any booked showings. Bookcases should be neat and attractive interspersed with a few ornaments. Closets should be cleaned out so that only clothes are visible. Remove storage at top and bottom of closets. Place clothes out of season in storage. In fact, place any clutter you have found in storage as well. You have to move anyway and you will have to pack less later when you do move!

Step 2: Do all necessary repairs

• Fix everything that needs to be fixed- a loose handle, a cracked grout between tiles, scratched floor, a crack on the stairs…

Step 3: Organize

• After de-cluttering, make sure that everything that had to stay in the home is well organized and in “its place”.

Step 4: Depersonalize

• It is a good idea to remove all personal items such as: photos, trophies, religious items…

Step 5: Clean

• The entire home has to be sparkling clean at all times. The statistics show that this is one of the most important impressions that buyers get when entering a home for sale- cleanliness! And remember to air out the home before showing, especially if you have a pet.

Step 6: Make it neutral

• The main color of the interior of your home should be: beige! Paint your home in neutral colors; buy neutral color couch covers, rug, and window coverings. You can “jazz it up” a little with colorful sofa pillows, and some other details such as candles, flowers…
• Change the knobs, faucets, door handles and all the other minor accessories to make your home look more contemporary.

Step 7: Buy furniture pieces and accessories

• You may need to make a few purchases - maybe new bed covers, sofa pillows, window coverings, bathroom accessories, flowers, etc. Make the purchases needed to update the home so that it will show well. You will certainly see a return on your investment.

Pets

There shouldn’t be any signs of a pet in the home. Remove the cat litter, pet toys, and feeding bowls when you have a showing. And remember to air out!

Children’s toys

Keep the toys organized at all times. You can have one box in the playing area, but remember to pick all the toys up before the showing.

Kitchen

The kitchen is a key selling point in your home and must be spotless. Remove all notes, magnets, etc. off the front of the fridge. Keep counter space clean and clear of all items. Clean out under the sinks and organize the pantry and cupboards. Paint outdated cupboards with a neutral color and put new modern knobs on doors for a fresh look.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms should be sparkling! Counters should be clear with no personal items visible. Tub tile grout should be clean and shower curtains and glass shower doors should be free of mildew. Hang fluffy, colorful towels on the towel rods. Put out decorative matching accessories and a new shower curtain and rug for the floor.

Bedrooms

Beds always have to be made. It is not a bad idea to buy new bedding set, especially in the master bedroom. This always leaves a good impression. 

When someone is coming over for a showing make sure the house/condo is spotless. Turn on the table lamps for ambient lighting. Play some soft music for ambiance. Spray a little bit of air freshener before hand to give the home a nice smell – not too much or it might look like you are covering up an odor!

And remember: you are decorating your home for someone else! Keeping that in mind will help you make purchases that will appeal to the masses, and not you necessarily.