Staging your home can be a profitable decision as it can increase the dollar value buyers are willing to offer, according to the National Association of REALTORS® “2015 Profile of Home Staging.” In fact, 71% of sellers' agents believe that a well-staged environment can positively impact the home's perceived value. Real estate agent and stager, Terrylynn Fisher, shares a story of two condo listings in the same complex where the staged unit sold for $30,000 more than the unstaged unit, despite having the same size and layout. While staging doesn't guarantee a higher selling price, it's a crucial marketing tool that can help you sell your property faster at the right price. To achieve a well-staged environment, real estate agents and stagers suggest decluttering, repairing, updating, and depersonalizing your home to appeal to a wider range of buyers. We've compiled the ultimate home staging checklist with help from Fisher and other sources to guide you through the process.
How to Stage Your Living and Family Rooms
When staging your home, aim for symmetry in your living room with neutral decor, such as matching accent pillows and table lamps, to please potential buyers.
- Add stylish lamps for extra lighting and decor, and ensure your fireplace is clean and has a new screen.
- If you're using staging furniture or slipcovers, choose light colors to create a welcoming and airy atmosphere.
- To make your living room feel more spacious, remove some furniture, and use coordinated accessories like colorful accent pillows and throw blankets.
- Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere by setting the scene with board games or tea service on the coffee table and arranging furniture in conversational groupings.
- Finally, consider using a slideshow of beautiful images as a screensaver on your television to help buyers imagine their life in your home.
How to Stage Your Kitchen
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Kitchen and Bath Design Professional Wendy Johnson shares these essential tips for staging your kitchen:
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How to Stage Your Bedrooms
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To stage your bedrooms, follow these tips for a clean and simple look:
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Tips for Staging Your Dining Room
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To create an inviting dining room that will appeal to buyers, follow these tips:
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Staging Bathrooms
Preparing your bathroom for staging means it's time to thoroughly clean every surface that comes in contact with steam. Scrub the walls, floor, shower door, and tile grout, and re-caulk around the tub if needed. Repair any leaks or running toilets and replace toilet seats. Instead of replacing outdated bathroom tile, consider painting it with a high-adhesion primer and either epoxy or latex paint. Use vinegar to remove hard water stains on fixtures and odors from drains.
- Clear clutter from countertops, the tub, and the top of the toilet, and clean all surfaces until they shine. Remove personal products, such as medicine and razors, to depersonalize the space and help potential buyers envision themselves in the bathroom.
- Create a luxurious spa-like atmosphere with a fancy soap dispenser, fluffy white towels, decorative baskets, candles, plants, a white shower curtain, and a new bath mat.
- Pro tip: If you're already considering a new sink, try a pedestal sink to maximize the available bathroom space.
Staging the Walls, Windows, and More
Pick up your paintbrush
It's time for a fresh coat of paint. If any rooms are painted in dark colors, repaint white or beige and paint adjacent rooms the same color to make the whole space feel larger. Make sure to patch nicks and holes in walls, and touch them up with paint.
Pro tip: According to a recent Zillow study, homes with blue bathrooms, including lighter shades of blue or periwinkle, sold for $5,440 more than expected, Zillow found. Kitchens with light blue-gray walls sold for $1,809 more than expected, and walls with cool, natural tones like soft oatmeal and pale gray also had top-performing listings.
Sorry, wood paneling, it’s time. Paint over paneling with a neutral color or to really cover your tracks, use wood filler between panels and paint over the entire thing. Make sure every switch plate and outlet cover matches and looks brand new. Wash the windows, inside and out and repair any holes or tears in screens.
Pro tip: If you have standard sized windows, most whole house screen replacements will cost less than $500 and is a small investment that will drive big returns. Check out our vendor page for details.
Replace those family portraits with interesting art placed strategically throughout the house. Avoid leaving dead space on walls.
Pro tip: Have a dark corner or hallway? Brighten it up with a decorative mirror.
Learn about our paint recommendations and, "Colors That Sell"
It's time for a fresh coat of paint. If any rooms are painted in dark colors, repaint white or beige and paint adjacent rooms the same color to make the whole space feel larger. Make sure to patch nicks and holes in walls, and touch them up with paint.
Pro tip: According to a recent Zillow study, homes with blue bathrooms, including lighter shades of blue or periwinkle, sold for $5,440 more than expected, Zillow found. Kitchens with light blue-gray walls sold for $1,809 more than expected, and walls with cool, natural tones like soft oatmeal and pale gray also had top-performing listings.
Sorry, wood paneling, it’s time. Paint over paneling with a neutral color or to really cover your tracks, use wood filler between panels and paint over the entire thing. Make sure every switch plate and outlet cover matches and looks brand new. Wash the windows, inside and out and repair any holes or tears in screens.
Pro tip: If you have standard sized windows, most whole house screen replacements will cost less than $500 and is a small investment that will drive big returns. Check out our vendor page for details.
Replace those family portraits with interesting art placed strategically throughout the house. Avoid leaving dead space on walls.
Pro tip: Have a dark corner or hallway? Brighten it up with a decorative mirror.
Learn about our paint recommendations and, "Colors That Sell"
Throughout the House
Declutter!
Consider it pre-packing for your move. Box up books, clothes, and personal items and place them neatly in the garage or (preferably) a rented, off-site storage unit. Don’t forget to include memorabilia , family photos, diplomas, and the kids’ artwork in those decluttering bins.
Keep closets, basements, and attics as empty as possible to maximize the appearance of storage space.
Transform underused areas of the house, such as the alcove under the stairs or the end of a hallway, into functional spots by adding a desk to create a mini office, or a chair and small bookshelf for a reading nook.
Swap dim lights for high-wattage bulbs.
Check every door, drawer, and cabinet to ensure they open and close easily. Swap out any faulty or dingy hardware. Replace any damaged flooring.
Finally, do a deep (deep, deep) clean. Hire a professional cleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom before viewings.
Consider it pre-packing for your move. Box up books, clothes, and personal items and place them neatly in the garage or (preferably) a rented, off-site storage unit. Don’t forget to include memorabilia , family photos, diplomas, and the kids’ artwork in those decluttering bins.
Keep closets, basements, and attics as empty as possible to maximize the appearance of storage space.
Transform underused areas of the house, such as the alcove under the stairs or the end of a hallway, into functional spots by adding a desk to create a mini office, or a chair and small bookshelf for a reading nook.
Swap dim lights for high-wattage bulbs.
Check every door, drawer, and cabinet to ensure they open and close easily. Swap out any faulty or dingy hardware. Replace any damaged flooring.
Finally, do a deep (deep, deep) clean. Hire a professional cleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom before viewings.
Staging the Exterior
Create curb appeal
Brighten up your porch or front entry way with fresh paint or stain and add a fresh coat of paint to the front door, preferably red, black, blue, or wood stain, so long as it complements the trim and doesn’t blend. Steer clear of unconventional colors like purple.
Power-wash the house exterior, walkway, steps, driveway, and porch until everything sparkles. Repair any damaged wood or shaky bannisters.
Make sure the locks, doorbell, and entryway lights function and are free of cobwebs and insects.
Plant lots of colorful blooms in attractive pots and planter beds. Trim back trees and shrubs from the approach to the front door and get that yard into shape with fresh sod (if needed). KEEP IT CUT! Dress up any imperfect planting area with color coordinated mulch.
Don't forget that decluttering applies to the exterior as well. Store yard equipment and children’s toys out of sight. Hide trash cans, recycle bins, and garden hoses. And don’t forget your outdoor living space. Stage your patio like a second living room, with fashionable furniture, accent pillows, an outdoor rug, and other patio-friendly decor.
Pro tip: This is another place that a small investment can go a long way. Get a hammock or bocce ball game or raised fire pit to show off how fun your yard can be. Hang attractive house numbers that are legible from the road. Buy a new doormat to welcome home buyers. Make that mailbox look clean and welcoming, or get a new one.
Brighten up your porch or front entry way with fresh paint or stain and add a fresh coat of paint to the front door, preferably red, black, blue, or wood stain, so long as it complements the trim and doesn’t blend. Steer clear of unconventional colors like purple.
Power-wash the house exterior, walkway, steps, driveway, and porch until everything sparkles. Repair any damaged wood or shaky bannisters.
Make sure the locks, doorbell, and entryway lights function and are free of cobwebs and insects.
Plant lots of colorful blooms in attractive pots and planter beds. Trim back trees and shrubs from the approach to the front door and get that yard into shape with fresh sod (if needed). KEEP IT CUT! Dress up any imperfect planting area with color coordinated mulch.
Don't forget that decluttering applies to the exterior as well. Store yard equipment and children’s toys out of sight. Hide trash cans, recycle bins, and garden hoses. And don’t forget your outdoor living space. Stage your patio like a second living room, with fashionable furniture, accent pillows, an outdoor rug, and other patio-friendly decor.
Pro tip: This is another place that a small investment can go a long way. Get a hammock or bocce ball game or raised fire pit to show off how fun your yard can be. Hang attractive house numbers that are legible from the road. Buy a new doormat to welcome home buyers. Make that mailbox look clean and welcoming, or get a new one.
Staging for Pet Owners
Don't let your pet be the center of attention
Scrub those pet stains on the carpets and rugs until totally gone or replace them if necessary. Try cleaning formulas made especially for pet odors. Pet odors soak into your best friend’s favorite things. Completely remove pet beds, blankets, toys, play structures, and food bowls. Also repair or remove any furniture that’s been scratched or gnawed on.
Use air fresheners that eliminate odors, rather than simply masking them. There’s nothing worse than the smell of artificial pine with kitty litter undertones.
Clean all pet “presents” from the yard. Keep indoor cat boxes immaculate and hidden away.
When you leave the house for a viewing, take ALL of the family members along with you.
Pro tip: Make a pet hair sweep the last thing you do before you leave the house.
Scrub those pet stains on the carpets and rugs until totally gone or replace them if necessary. Try cleaning formulas made especially for pet odors. Pet odors soak into your best friend’s favorite things. Completely remove pet beds, blankets, toys, play structures, and food bowls. Also repair or remove any furniture that’s been scratched or gnawed on.
Use air fresheners that eliminate odors, rather than simply masking them. There’s nothing worse than the smell of artificial pine with kitty litter undertones.
Clean all pet “presents” from the yard. Keep indoor cat boxes immaculate and hidden away.
When you leave the house for a viewing, take ALL of the family members along with you.
Pro tip: Make a pet hair sweep the last thing you do before you leave the house.
Day of Showing
Last minute prep ideas to make a big impression
Add a seasonal touch. Simmer cinnamon sticks in the fall and set out fresh cut lilacs in the spring.
Tidy like you’ve never tidied before.
Avoid cooking any food for your own meals, but do bake some cookies or
other baked goods to leave a welcoming aroma behind.
Take off! After all that staging work, you deserve a trip to the spa while potential home buyers are busy falling in love with your home.
Lighten up
Let the sun shine in, and turn on the lights. Open all blinds or curtains, and make sure the house is well lit.
Organize
When your house is meticulously organized, buyers will envision themselves living a stress-free life in your home.
Clean
Clean every inch of your house, and don't forget to make your windows and floors sparkle. If your carpet appears old and stained, think about replacing it. Also, make sure there are no offensive odors. Purchase an air-neutralizing spray that will help remove odors without creating an overwhelming masking odor. Clean homes sell!
Temperature
Be sure potential buyers are comfortable when touring your home. If it's freezing outside, leave the heat on, and if it's summer, turn on the air conditioner.
Keep it ready to show
It may be a little inconvenient, but until you accept an offer, keep your home in tip-top shape at all times. What this means is that each room should have a clear purpose, nice flow and be clean and clutter-free. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves and their things in a room, and taking these steps will help ensure that.
Add a seasonal touch. Simmer cinnamon sticks in the fall and set out fresh cut lilacs in the spring.
Tidy like you’ve never tidied before.
Avoid cooking any food for your own meals, but do bake some cookies or
other baked goods to leave a welcoming aroma behind.
Take off! After all that staging work, you deserve a trip to the spa while potential home buyers are busy falling in love with your home.
Lighten up
Let the sun shine in, and turn on the lights. Open all blinds or curtains, and make sure the house is well lit.
Organize
When your house is meticulously organized, buyers will envision themselves living a stress-free life in your home.
Clean
Clean every inch of your house, and don't forget to make your windows and floors sparkle. If your carpet appears old and stained, think about replacing it. Also, make sure there are no offensive odors. Purchase an air-neutralizing spray that will help remove odors without creating an overwhelming masking odor. Clean homes sell!
Temperature
Be sure potential buyers are comfortable when touring your home. If it's freezing outside, leave the heat on, and if it's summer, turn on the air conditioner.
Keep it ready to show
It may be a little inconvenient, but until you accept an offer, keep your home in tip-top shape at all times. What this means is that each room should have a clear purpose, nice flow and be clean and clutter-free. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves and their things in a room, and taking these steps will help ensure that.
Garage - Load it up!! It's OK!
- Start packing and neatly store all boxes in garage. You are moving and people expect to see boxes. The garage is the best option unless you want to rent a storage unit. Store extra furniture or bulky items that make room appear small.
Want more staging tips, check out these fantastic resources
Home Stagers Visual Tricks
12 Ways to Make Fantastic First Impressions
Home Staging for Beginners
4 Easy Ways to Dazzle Buyers
Careful with the Smells
Home Stagers Visual Tricks
12 Ways to Make Fantastic First Impressions
Home Staging for Beginners
4 Easy Ways to Dazzle Buyers
Careful with the Smells
