Staging your home for next to nothing
Clean, clean, clean. Methodically clean top to bottom, room by room, the entire house, especially the bathrooms and kitchen.
Outside/Yard: It is an extension of your home. Wash windows inside and out. A well manicured lawn and weed free landscaping reflect the time you have spent to make your home look inviting. Don’t forget the back yard, make an outdoor living space with patio furniture and potted plants.
Living Room/Family Room:
De-clutter book shelves, add a vase, bowl, or candle to give visual interest. You will be moving soon anyway so begin by packing books you do not use. Go ahead and stack some books horizontally to break up the rows.
Re-arrange furniture to create intimate conversation areas. Don’t be afraid to angle furniture away from walls.
Get high traffic carpets cleaned. Don’t hide beautiful hardwood floors with carpet or large rugs.
Swap out family pictures for neutral prints or a mirror. You want buyers to picture themselves in the house, not your family.
Although bright bold colors seem to be the fashion of the day, all buyers may not have the same taste. If you have a room that is especially colorful, a fresh coat of neutral paint (cream, beige) may be in order.
Kitchen/Dining area:
De-clutter and organize kitchen cupboards. Pack away seasonal dishes, extra serving platters, anything you don’t use on a daily basis. Overflowing cupboards give the impression that there is not enough cupboard space.
Organize pantry/food storage. Discard old, out of date items and make it look neat and clean.
If you can make your dining room table smaller and still eat your meals, take out extra leaves to make your dining area look larger.
Entryway:
These are usually the most high traffic areas in the house and also the first thing a buyer sees. Give the walls a fresh coat of neutral paint.
Stand outside the front door and look up and around. This is what the buyer will see first, make sure porch/steps are clean and clutter free. The front door may need a fresh coat of paint. Check to make sure the knobs, locks, and doorbell are in good working order.
Master Bedroom:
It is important that the master be warm and inviting. De-clutter and de-personalize. Add a vase of flowers, candles, or potpourri for a resort feel.
You may need to purchase a new duvet cover, something luxurious looking and neutral in color.
Kid’s Bedrooms:
In case you can’t guess: DE-CLUTTER.
Only keep the toys that are absolutely necessary. Pack away all the extra toys, blankets, and stuffed animals.
Although you may not notice it yourself, baby rooms have a distinctive odor. Clean it good and use an air neutralizer/freshener.
Bathrooms:
Make them Q-tip clean, toothbrush in the cracks clean. Re-caulk tub and shower.
Think hotel. Nice shower curtain, coordinating hand towels and soaps. Get rid of all the extra soaps, shampoos, etc out of the shower.
Toilet lids down!!
Closets: Pack away off season clothing and anything you are not using. Clean, organized closets are a must. An interested buyer will open everything and will probably think you take care of the rest of your home if your closets are immaculate.
Pets: If you have them make sure cat boxes are outside and pet dishes out of sight.
If you have a bunch of wedding or house warming gifts that are still packed away, this may be a good time to get them out. Example: A nice pair of crystal candlesticks is a good exchange for a family picture in the bedroom.
Last but not lease. Use your nose. Eliminate any smells especially bathrooms and laundry room. Bake a cake or pie to fill the house with a welcoming aroma.
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