An Overview of Home Staging with Tips to Do It Yourself

Why should I stage? While sellers have always thought in terms of cleaning up their home to prepare it for sale, the concept of “staging” has only taken hold within the past decade.  Staging, also known as styling, is the process of setting up your home to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in the home.  Home staging will visually prepare your home for sale by creating buyer appeal.

How do I do it? We can provide contact information for recommended professionals to assist with the staging process.  Alternatively, there are numerous resources available to tackle the staging process yourself: the internet, home catalogs and books are excellent places to look for suggestions.

How do I do it myself? Focus most on visible areas - the entry, kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and family room.  Try to see them through the eyes of a buyer.

Clear out clutter and organize closets.  Keep in mind that buyers will want to peek into closets, the pantry and laundry room.

Depersonalize your home.  Personal photos and mementoes actually detract from the home itself and can make it less appealing.  You want the buyer to picture themselves living there, in their lifestyle, with their belongings, not yours.

Consider furniture arrangement.  Too many pieces of furniture in a room can be overwhelming and give a cramped feeling.  Consider storing excess items.  Place the remaining furniture 4-6 inches from the wall to make the room feel larger.  To create a more interesting room, place a few items at different angles rather than in “L” or “T” shapes.

Set the mood in each room.  Consider lighting, candles, mirrors, baskets and flowers (silk or fresh) to enhance each room’s appeal.

Paint color.  Walls are best kept in neutral tones, those that are most likely to match any buyer’s current furniture.

Make functional repairs.  Fix dripping faucets, sticking doors, etc.

What will a professional Home Stager do for me? Home Stagers arrange, accessorize, and light the home in a way that gives buyers a sense of possibility.  They will give paint recommendations, remove clutter, and organize problem areas while adding key visual elements.