There are really two phases when it comes to preparing your home. The first phase is getting ready for the market and the second phase is getting ready for showings. Let’s start with the first phase, getting ready for the market, the best way to do this is to walk around your entire home with a notepad paying careful attention to everything. Check the walls for chips, holes, and uneven paint. Fix all leaky faucets and make sure they shine. Consider replacing them if they don’t. Does your home require minor repairs? Consider curb appeal. It is always a great idea to put a fresh coat of paint on the front door and garage doors. Stain the deck and fence. Trim the garden. First impressions are everything when it comes to attracting buyers.
Once your home is officially for sale you need to make your home sparkle. This is an area where you can’t overdo it. Be sure to concentrate on the kitchen and bathrooms. Your buyer will be expecting a used home, but the brighter your home shines, the easier your buyer can see themselves moving into the house and making it their own.
It is time to unclutter. It’s a good idea to box up any items you haven’t used in a while. It will add visual square footage to your home thus increasing its perceived value. After years of living in your home, clutter collects without you even realizing it. But unfortunately, the buyer does notice it and it is affected drastically by it. Clutter collects on shelves, countertops, drawers, closets, garages, attics, and basements. Pretend you are walking into your home for the first time. Or better yet, get an outsider’s opinion. Ask a friend to point out the clutter. Box it all up and store it until you move. Now might be a good time for a garage sale, if you were going to get rid of anything before you move away, do it now before the house is even shown.
STAGING CHECKLIST
1. CLEAN IT
Clean your house as you have never cleaned before including carpets, drapes, bathroom tile, walls, windows, ceiling and trim etc. You want your house to be Q-Tip clean rather than just presentable. The purpose of a spotless house is the best way to communicate to potential buyers that you take very good care of your home.
OUTDOORS
Sweep all decks, walks, porches patios, and driveways and keep them swept
Remove moss or mold from all decks, walkways, and patios
Decks should be pressure washed
Clean gutters and roof from debris and moss
Remove all yard debris
Rake, weed, and add new bark mulch, lava rock, etc.. to flower beds
Remove and replace dead plants
Mow the lawn and keep it mowed
INDOORS
Remove all dirt and grime from every part of your home
Vacuum and dust often
Clean floors and keep them clean for showings
Clean windows and window treatments
Cleanout fireplace(s), clean glass doors
Clean carpets and polish hardwood floors
Sweep out and organize garages
Clean tile grout with bleach if stained or molded
Clean stovetop, oven, and exhaust fan
Clean or replace the shower curtain and keep drawing at all times
2. FIX IT!
OUTDOOR
Stained or painted the deck if it needs it
Patch lawn discolorations
Trim tree branches (from the bottom up) around the roofline to prevent animals, insects, and foliage from getting on the roof
Trim all shrubs( plants from the top down) to window height that blocks light or view from windows
Repair and paint broken fences
Repair any drive cracks
Repair broken windows or torn screens
Repair and replace siding and shingles
Touch up any peeling paint on door siding and trim
Update door handles, mailbox, number sign, and lights
Check your doorbell and make sure it is working
Make sure windows operate freely and fix broken seals in double-pane windows
INDOORS- GENERAL
Repair any nail holes
Touch up scratches on walls and/or give the walls a fresh coat of paint
Repair and re-paint cracks in the ceilings and walls
Repair or replace broken light switches or switch plates
Consider replacing heavily worn or damaged carpet/flooring
Replace burnt-out light bulbs
Repair dripping or lose faucets
Repair any tile
Consider new kitchen hardware or faucet if the room looks dated
Repair the calking and or tile in the shower or tub
3. DE_CLUTTER!
De-Clutter – go through each room of the house and take all of the accessories, decorative items, magazines, pictures, mirrors, clutter, etc. out of the room. Then divide the items into 2 piles: “keep” and “pack up.” Items in the” keep” pile will be used to stage the room, while those items in the “pack up” get packed away. The furniture that goes, you might be able to use it in another room in the house to give it a fresh look.
OUTDOOR
Move all children's toys to one area of the backyard
Remove any extra items from the yard such as tools, piles of lumber, or auto parts
Reduce clutter on decks and patios
INDOORS- GENERAL
Pack up most or all your family pictures
Reduce the number of house plants to create more space and throw away unhealthy plants
Clear off mantels and hearths except for a few decorative items
Limit kid toys to their rooms or playrooms and keep the rooms looking tidy
Clean out closets, pack away as much as possible, and keep things tidy and organized.
Remove all rugs
Clear off all counters and table tops except the few things you have to use on a daily basis
Keep refrigerator neat, free of magnets, photos, etc. and odor-free
Pack up all collections, valuable items, and little trinkets
Reduce the number of books on a bookshelf
Tidy up entertainment centers, eliminate messy cords and extra DVDs, etc..
4. STAGE IT
Arrange the furniture that stays in the room - Make an initial plan by picking a focal point for the room. Now, in the living room, it may be the fireplace or the view. In the bedroom, it will probably be the bed unless there is a view or other special features in the room. In the kitchen, it probably will be the kitchen island or the eating area. Stand in the doorway of each room. This is crucial as this is where the buyer first looks at the room and will get their first impression. Staging is creating a feeling in the room that makes buyers want to come in, sellers should use this perspective to judge their stage work. Move things around to find the best choices for Staging that room so that is looks the best.
Things to Keep in Mind With Furniture Placement
The most important rule to remember with furniture placement is” less is more”
The room should have space for the buyer to move around in
We want the room to make the buyer feel comfortable to sit down, read a book or watch TV in
The minimalistic approach will make your home look and feel more airy. Spacious and improves traffic flow
Too much furniture clutters a home, spaces look smaller and an empty house is un-effective to gain perspective of how the buyer’s furniture will look in the house. Every room needs a focal point; the focal point may be a fireplace, a large bay window, or a large piece of furniture. Build your room around that focal point.
Avoid putting all your large furniture pieces of furniture together, it will disrupt the balance of the room
Don’t place any large furniture in front of windows they will block the light. Place enough furniture in a room to give that room a purpose. Don’t arrange furniture around walls. Float furniture away from the walls to open up the room and make it look bigger. Create a simple room setting on the patio or deck to remind buyers of the use of space.
5. RE-ACCESSORIZE IT
Begin to place the accessories around the room, either from the same room or from other areas of the house. Without the accessories, the room looks too sparse and bare and does not welcome the buyer into the room. Remember; no clutter and less is more. Staged rooms have accessories and items in them but do not have the overabundance of clutter and things that you see in a house that is not staged. Staging is not decorating, staging
is depersonalizing. Staging a room sets the room off, but does not feel overbearing on the room. This way we sell the room and sell the house.
Reduce the number of wall-hung photos and paintings to a small group of three and make sure they are hung at eye level.
Reduce the number of pillows on the bed to zero or two.
Leave a decorative item on the counter or island such as a bowl of fruit, a basket of bread or a vase of flowers.
Clear off all coffee tables and end tables except for 2 to 3 magazines and one nice vase or decorative piece.
Use color for the accents and accessories.
Bring in the outside and add accents of plants or greenery to each room.
Keep walls and floors neutral in color to create the most spacious feeling throughout the house.
When re-accessorizing use items in groups of three and high, medium, and low levels together for example floor lamp, chair, and plant.
Have a combination of hard and soft surfaces in all rooms for example: if you have hardwood floors add a rug.
Stage beds with fresh matching linens and bathrooms with matching towels.
6. LIGHTING
Take dated window treatments down.
Clean your windows and glass doors and make sure there are no smudges, fingerprints or dirt on them.
Freshen the look-up with a quick coat of paint if needed.
If your blinds are in bad condition or your drapery is dingy, consider replacing them.
Trim trees that shadow the house.
If lighting fixtures are dated consider updating.
Leave all lights on when showing your home to prospective buyers.
Increase the wattage of your lamps and fixtures, this really brightens any room, especially basements. White light is best.
7. SMELLS
Be cautious of excessive cooking or smoking odors, dog or cat odors, and baby, laundry, or mildew odors.
Use products to reduce pet odors
Repair and clean any problem areas to eliminate any pet or musty odors
Clear drains
Use room disinfectant or deodorant sprays
Carpet Clean the carpets
Keep windows cracked open even in hot or cold weather for ventilation
Use potpourri, scented candles, or plug-in scents to freshen the home
DAILY SHOWING CHORES
BATHROOM
Wipe sink and faucet
Clean splatters off the mirror
Wipe the toilet seat and rim
Clean the toilet bowl with the toilet brush
Clean and wipe down the shower
Keep toilet lids down every day
LAUNDRY
Make sure dirty or drying clothing is not visible
Put all cleaners and soaps out of sight
BEDROOM
Make Bed
Put clothes away
Tidy up the night table
Close closet doors
Find a safe place for jewelry and valuables
LIVING ROOM
Clear out clutter
Clear off tables
Light dust
Spot vacuum
KITCHEN
Empty and fill the dishwasher
Wipe countertops, sink, and faucet
Wipe problem spots on the floor
Wipe fingerprints from cabinets and appliances
Keep all counters and sinks clean and empty
Empty garbage to prevent kitchen odor
Remove pet dishes during the showing
Keep all cleaning supplies and garbage out of sight
WHERE TO STORE REMOVED FURNITURE AND PACKED BOXES
Rent a storage unit
With unwanted items, have a garage sale or give them to charity
Store in the attic
Store in the crawl space
Use a portion or corner of the basement
Use part or all of the garage
As a last resort, sacrifice a 3rd or 4th bedroom