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How to: Stage your Home

Writer's picture: Nikki McCallNikki McCall

More often than not sellers tend to spend money on unnecessary “fixes”


A simple and effective way you can showcase your home is to stage. Staging can result in a quicker sale and possibly higher selling price.


Home staging is not the same as decorating. Decorating is about personal style, while staging makes your home appealing to a larger market of buyers.


Staging a home makes it more appealing visually and allows potential homebuyers to envision how the home might look once they move in, making it look more move-in ready.


How-to stage:


1. Clean

A clean home shows potential buyers that you’ve taken good care of the property. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings—and everything in between…don’t forget those air intake grates.


2. Declutter

Clutter distracts buyers from your home’s features and makes it seem like the home has less space.


3. Depersonalize

Buyers need to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove all the family photos, keepsakes, and refrigerator art. Keep clothes hidden away as much as possible, and make sure the bathroom counters are empty (except for hand soap). Put away all the toys and anything else that is highly personal. Imagine what you would expect when house shopping.


4. Focus on Fresh

The age old trick of baking cookies right before a showing never fails. Unless you’re like me and will most likely burn them, in this case stick to lighting a cookie smelling candle. Make sure sinks and garbages have been cleaned and disinfected.


5. Define Rooms

Make sure that each room has a single, defined purpose and make sure that every space within each room has a purpose.


6. Wallpaper and paint

As mentioned in a previous post neutral paint colours will appeal to most buyers. Bright colours and wallpaper tend to deter buyers as it will cause work before they move in


7. Flooring

Stains, discolouring and damaged floor will again deter buyers. Make sure you do a cost analysis before replacing flooring. Will the cost of new flooring make a difference in the overall asking price?


8. Lighting

Open those curtains! Natural light is best to showcase a light and airy room. Also make sure that all lightbulbs in your home are the same colour.


9. Exterior

In the summer make sure your lawn, hedges, trees, and other plants are neatly pruned, and be sure to get rid of any weeds. Wash windows well, and consider adding flowers to brighten them up even more. If you can, power wash your home’s exterior—this can make it look almost freshly painted but with less effort and expense.

In the winter make sure the sidewalks and steps are clear and lay salt/sand


10. Hire a company

If your home is currently empty, you can discuss hiring a staging company with your realtor.

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