staging your home to sell: some tips

When you're getting ready to sell your home, it is very important that you think about how it is staged. I am by no means a professional stager, but I have some tips to share with you if you're gearing up to put your house on the market just like we are. 

The goal of staging is to help a potential buyer who comes into a home to be able to see the home with as few distractions as possible. It's meant to highlight the best and most beautiful parts of a home. It's meant to show a potential buyer how they can use the space. And most of all, it's meant to help a potential buyer picture themselves living there. 

Here are some of my top tips...

1. De-personalize {is that even a word?!?!} - 
Put away your baby's pictures and your family portraits. Put away those gorgeous wedding canvases. All of it. This is a strategy that helps the buyer start to envision themselves living in your home {instead of staring at your family on vacation in Hawaii and picturing you living there}. So here's how we de-personalized...

​We took down all family photos, filled the holes in the walls, and touched up the paint. Where a frame sat that was crucial to existing decor, I turned that picture around to hide what the frame previously held, but too allowed for the frame to continue to fill its spot. You'll see below that that is what I did for our the frames on our mantle. I also hid anything with my children's names on them {growth charts, toy basket labels, etc}.

2. Remove potentially polarizing materials - 
I know this sounds silly, but sadly, some people may be offended by things you have around your home. Tuck away all polarizing materials such as political or religious items. Pack up your awards or metals or degrees. You never know if your college rival may walk through the door and dismiss your house because you are a fan of their arch-nemesis.  Kidding, but not really. For us this looked like turning our books around. I have a lot of Christian counseling and non-fiction books. Tucking the title away from eyes allows the buyer to see the room, and not our book collection. If you have Bible verses or quotes from polarizing individuals on your walls, I would encourage you to put those suckers away. I know it seems silly, but it is a for real thing. Prejudice still exists in the world, and you never know what may cause a buyer to remove their rose tinted glasses towards your home upon seeing what you do or don't believe.  

3. Hide all valuables and personal information -
Tuck away all of your jewelry and hand-held electronics such as ipads and gaming systems. Buyers will look inside your closets and cabinets/vanities, but should not be going through your dresser drawers.  Stow away those valueables deep within your drawers, or even better, lock them away if you have the ability to do so. Put away all bills and personal paperwork that has your name and info on it. Make sure no personal information is sitting out. Yes, potential buyers will be there with their realtor and should not be riffling through your things, but it's always wise to protect yourself just incase. 

4. Keep counters clear -
Counter tops should be clean and clear. A few small items on the kitchen counters to stage the space are ok, but consider hiding even your small appliances within a pantry or cabinet. Bathroom vanities should be clear outside of a soap dispenser or one other small item. Remember the key is to appear as if you have ample counter space. 

5. Remove clutter - 
Go all Marie Condo on your home. Purge, give-away, hold a yard sale, pack up, donate. Get rid of it. We packed up a huge amount of the kids toys and clothes. We removed coats we haven't used from the closets in a while, we donated clothes we've been wanting to purge for a while anyway. Try to keep the floors clear in the closets and make sure that all of the closets appear to be only about 3/4 full. If you're a type-A organizer like me, chances are your closets and spaces will already be pretty decluttered, but if not, I highly recommend going through each room and each closet with a large bin and removing items to pack away, donate, or sell. Remember, moving is a fantastic opportunity to get rid of all of that clutter. Don't wait until you get ready to pack up and move, do it before potential buyers come check out your space as they will absolutely be opening all of your closets and cabinets. Help them see that there is plenty of storage space in your home {and if there isn't...trick their eyes by removing 1/4 of your stuff so they think there is plenty of room for all of their things}. 

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​6. Take down the things you want to keep -
Now obviously you will take all pictures you have hanging on the walls with you to your new home, but did you know that anything screwed into the walls conveys with the home? Curtain rods and hooks must stay. So take into account what is important to you and what you want to bring with you. It's important to take those things down before potential buyers start coming through the home. For example, this coat rack on the right here was screwed into the wall. To avoid having to leave it behind, we have taken it down and screwed some simple hooks to the wall for staging and use until we move. 

7. Clean - 
Clean, clean, clean. I know this is obvious, but I want you to direct your eyes to the places you don't normally look. Dust your ceiling fans and light fixtures...walk through your house and look UP! Look for dust and cobwebs. Clean out your fridge and freezer, organize and clean out your shed and garage. Walk through your home with fresh eyes, look places you don't normally look because you're so busy living everyday life. Or even better, ask a friend to come through and scrutinize the cleanliness of your home. It doesn't need to be perfect, they know people live there. BUT take some time to truly look at your space from all different angles and from a buyers perspective. 

8. Hide your daily use personal items -
Tuck your shampoos and towels away. Put your shoes in a closet, don't leave them by the door. Hide your medicines in the linen closet or medicine cabinet, don't leave them on the counter. Help your potential buyer imagine themselves being able to move right in. Help them to forget you live there. 

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​And for the day of showings or an open house,  here are some quick and simple tips to help your potential buyers see the best of what your home has to offer...

• Turn on all of the lights and lamps, make it bright and cheery! 
• Set the dining room table with a simple place setting at each chair. This certainly isn't a staging requirement, but definitely a nice touch. Keep it simple,  don't distract with layers of dishes and utensils. Simple setting, subtle colors. 
• Add some fresh flowers to the kitchen island or a bouquet in the middle of the dining room table. It's a simple touch that most people will notice and appreciate. 
• Make sure the trash doesn't stink (or empty the trash all together) and light a neutral smelling candle for a few minutes before you leave the house. This will help ensure there aren't any lingering smells from the last meal you prepared.
• Tuck away all dog/cat bowls and food. Most people will find out you have an animal once they start looking through cabinets or closets, but don't make it obvious. Tuck those things away. Oh, and take your pet with you for showings! 

When you're getting ready to sell your home, you want to do everything in your power to make top dollar back on your investment, amiright?!?  It may take a little work, but it will be worth it in the end to help a buyer recognize that your home has been well taken care of and is ready for them to make it their home. As always, your home doesn't have to be perfect, but work towards giving your home it's best possible presentation for potential buyers. Give it all you've got!  

Have you sold a home recently? I'd love to hear from you--- what did you do to make your home ready to be viewed by potential buyers?