Home Staging Tips

1. Clear out closets and clutter - sellers can give away or pack up toys, linens, and small kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly tucked away in a garage or basement.
2. Focus most on the most visible areas - the foyer, kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and family room.
3. Depersonalize the home by removing photos, mementos, and dated items.
4. Use plants in colorful pots or inexpensive wicker baskets to fill in empty spaces.
5. Look to home catalogs for little details on beautifying the home. For instance, group books, pictures, and art appealingly on bookcases.
6. Try angling one or two pieces of furniture slightly and move furniture 4 inches to 6 inches from the wall to create more interesting room spaces.
7. To emphasize a focal point in a room, such as a fireplace, position furniture to face it.
8. Put away large collections, porcelains, plates, and so on.
9. Remove valuables, prescription medicine, collectibles, and breakables.
10. Trim trees, prune shrubs, and make sure the lawn is mowed and watered regularly.
11. In summer, turn on the sprinklers for five minutes, 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
12. Arrange fresh or silk flowers throughout the home.
13. Make functional repairs - fix dripping faucets, sticking doors, etc.
14. Organize kitchen drawers and cupboards. Thin and pack unnecessary items. Remove appliances and clutter from countertops. Tastefully boost the appeal of your kitchen with new towels and accessories.
15. Avoid scented candles and heavy air fresheners. Many buyers are sensitive to heavy scents. Tackle the problem of an odor - don't cover it up. Don't cook foods with a heavy odor (like bacon, fish, and garlic) before a showing. Remove the dirty sneakers from the closet. Add open containers of Arm and Hammer Laundry Detergent, and grind a lemon in the garbage disposal.
16. Keep garbage and recycling bins out of sight. Ask your neighbors to help boost the curb appeal of the neighborhood by keeping their lawns cut and clutter out of their driveways. Offer to help by ordering a drop box and let the neighbors use it!
17. Open shades and curtains if you have a great view. Lite the fireplace to create a cozy and warm environment. Install bright light bulbs! Use as much natural light as possible. Add extra lamps in dark rooms or corners.
18. Hire a professional service to clean the home, including the carpets and windows. I recommend Kim and Velma Jones at "Keep It Clean", 503-746-5236.
19. Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.
20. Add a mirror in a pretty frame to make a small room feel more open.