Eliminate Clutter. Everyone thinks of this as the first step in preparing a home to sell. Boxing up extra books, toys, clothes, etc. Homeowners also need to whittle down huge photo displays to a few frames. Pack up collections and knickknacks cluttering bookshelves, desktops, dressers and end tables. By the way – anything that has more than 3 pieces is considered a collection. A good way to utilize those photo collages without having to spackle & paint the walls is to use beautiful prints from magazines or calendars of scenic places you would like to visit or have vacationed, maybe just finding beautiful landscapes, flowers, or beaches. Simply place these images over your family photos and hang the frames again. Now, instead of a wall of family photos, you have a cohesive and simple selection of peaceful images. TIP: Similar frames (examples A & B below), identical matting (example A below ), and similiar images (example C below) make picture groupings work best.
Show Me the Light. Pull up the shades and draw back the curtains! Natural light invokes positive emotional responses. During showings, turn on every light in every room. It is also a good idea to leave some of the lights on in the rooms that face the street in the evening hours so that any potential buyer driving by sees a welcoming house inviting them inside.
Make the Background Neutral. You don’t want potential buyers’ initial thought to be, “Well, I’d have to repaint the whole house, it's crazy in there!” so consider repainting dated colors, trendy colors, and bright-hued walls before you start showing. Neutral is NOT boring and does not need to be antique white. There are many beautiful complex neutrals available today. Safe colors include
Sherwin William’s Softer Tan and Macadamia, but I always try to select colors that complement the homeowner's furnishings so the colors may include green or gold undertones. Remember that a room is balanced and livened up through "movable"colors -- artwork, textiles, lamps, accessories, and rugs. All of which add visual interest, but the buyer knows you’ll take them with you AND they don’t have to repaint anything.
Create a Lifestyle. If you think your home might appeal to someone who entertains, go ahead set the dining room for a formal dinner party. Some Realtors® do not like this staging technique, but it works well in homes clearly built for entertaining. Creating a spa-like haven in the master bedroom is always recommended, especially if the stunning master bathroom is a selling point. If a buyer is looking for an upgraded lifestyle, it will benefit the home owner to help them imagine one.
Neutralize Odors. If possible, open the windows and let fresh air flow through your home. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of trash cans and place a box of it in the fridge to absorb unpleasant smells. Like we often say in Staging, “You can’t sell it if you can smell it.” Place pet bowls and litter boxes out of sight or in the garage for showings.
Soft scents such as lavender in the master suite, eucalyptus in the bathrooms and fresh citrus scents in the kitchens are nice touches.
Clean, Clean, Clean! If you’re selling your home, you can’t stash clutter in the closets or have a fridge full of messy takeout containers. Potential buyers will be inspecting every square foot—and that means you should, too. Store clutter in neatly stacked boxes in the garage or basement if you have one; if not, go ahead and invest in a small storage unit. As
Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging has taught us...the house should be Q-tip clean!
Rethink The Furniture. If taking out a few pieces of furniture would make a room feel more spacious, then don’t be afraid to do it – especially if your furniture is over-sized and overstuffed. Put pieces that are rarely used (like extra dining room chairs) in storage, then rearrange what’s left to maximize each room’s space. One thing to hold on to: items that double as storage, like an ottoman with a lid, where you can stow clutter at the last minute. And remember that it is perfectly okay to have empty corners.
Don’t Forget the Outside. “All of the property should be Staged” is the mantra of the pros. This includes the outside. The house address/house numbers should be big, shiny and easy to read. This is so easy to do with a can of exterior spray paints from any hardware store or
superstore. A $3.00 can of Krylon or similar product provides a fresh new look in 10 minutes! Landscaping should be pristine—and give the impression it’s easy to maintain, so opt for simple over fancy pruning designs. Finally, the garage and shed should be in reasonable order, too.
Music. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this tactic. We all know that not everyone likes the same music and I was recently in a home for sale where I had to ask the homeowner to turn down the music so we could actually hear one another talk. This tactic makes me feel as though I'm in a department store.
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To make a small room seem larger, we recommend staying with one color when doing home staging. However, to make a small room look larger and cozy, you can apply the old 80/20 business rule by painting 80% of the room’s walls one color and 20% another. You can also try 60%/40%, but when you want just an accent color or pattern in a small space, the 80/20 method works really well – especially if the 80% color is neutral and the 20% color is strong. And if you are quite conservative and unsure about an 80/20 paint scheme, you can apply the rule in the overall color scheme of the room by bringing in accessories to give you the 20% accent color.
