STAGING:
THE ART OF 'SETTING THE STAGE' FOR BUYER'S TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR HOUSE.
The basic idea is to make you your house look like a movie set, or home magazine cover shot. Yes, it is a lot of work. The payoff makes it worthwhile. It could easily cause your house to sell in 1/3 the normal time on the market, and get you an extra 5% - 10% in value! What else can you do in the next week or two that might pay $10,000 or more?
In a few words, CLEAN and SIMPLIFY, remove CLUTTER and SIGNS OF AGE. MAKE THE SPACE FEEL LARGE and INVITING.
We don't want anything in the house to call attention to itself, but we want all elements to make the house seem large, bright, and desirable. Open all walkways, removing obstacles to free flowing travel in the house. Remove and store unnecessary furniture and objects, make it obvious that there is room for the buyer's furniture and posessions.
Here are some more specific suggestions to improve a buyer's first impression of your home. Print this out and use it as a reference or checklist.
You don't have to do every thing in the list. You might do best to fnd your weakest points and improve there first. If you want help with knowing which ones are most important for your particular home or situation, then it would be a good idea to contact a Staging Consultant or Real Estate Agent for advice and assistance with the process.
General
Remove clutter, pack collections and displays
Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
Remove paint splash on floor and cabinets
Clean and polish or replace door hardware and handrails
Clean wall switches and outlet covers
Clean or replace all light fixtures, plumbing fixtures
Clean and tidy basement and attic storage
Add plants and flowers throughout the house
Remove signs of age, including worn furniture or dated decor
House Exterior
Replace or clean mailbox at street
Seal the driveway
Remove weeds from driveway and walkways
Weed and trim the lawn
Trim trees and shrubs
Wash front steps and porch, paint if necessary
Check front doorbell and bell light
Clean or replace welcome mat
Repair and repaint fences and gates
Clean gutters and downspouts
Clean or repaint siding
Wash windows and screens
Clean shutters
Living, Family, Dining Rooms
Repaint or touch up walls, ceiling and trim
Repair or replace damaged moulding
Clean and wax hardwood and vinyl floors
Shampoo carpet
Remove 'tired looking' furniture or window coverings
Bedrooms
Repaint or touch up walls, ceiling and trim
Clean drapes and bedspread
Shampoo carpet
Clean out all closets
Clear all bedroom furniture tops
Put away all clothing
Bathrooms
Paint using light colors
Scrub tile, bleach, and repair grout
Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
Clean floor
Clean out medicine cabinet
Seal around tubs and showers
Replace old toilet seats
Replace shower window curtains
Put out a set of color coordinated bath linens
Polish or replace fixtures
Kitchen
Paint or wallpaper walls and ceiling with light color
Clean floor
Clean cabinets and appliances
Clean out refrigerator and wash interior
Empty dishwasher and clean around controls
Check operation of all appliances
Arrange and clean food storage areas
Clean out cabinets and drawers
Neatly display dishes in cabinets
Clear clutter from counter tops
Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
Wash or replace curtains
Polish or replace plumbing fixtures
Laundry
Check operation of appliances
Clean all appliances
Clean and organize laundry area
Provide adequate light to area
Garage
Check operation of wall sockets
Remove oil and grease from floor
Clean and organize storage
Maintain noisy garage door opener
