STAGED TO SELL Your Home Staging Guide

A. CREATING CURB APPEAL

Make your property look good from the outside in by focusing on these five key exterior areas. Make sure to maximize the livable parts of your outdoor space.

A.1.  Landscaping Essentials

• Prune bushes, trees and shrubs, in spring and summer.
• Mow and edge the lawn. Seed, if needed.
• Weed and maintain flower beds, lawns and planters.

Distinctive Touch

• Create a focal point in the yard. Add a bench to areas that curve inward. Add a tree, water feature or decorative brick to flower beds.
• Lay fresh mulch in flower and tree beds.
• Add lighting on walkways, shine lights on trees, keep lights in working condition and remove cobwebs, dirt, etc.

A.2. House exterior Essentials

• Clear roof and gutters of all debris.
• Inspect the paint or siding. Touch up paint where needed and consider power washing.
• Wash all windows and remove screens.

Distinctive Touch

• Make sure the house number is visible.
• Check the mailbox for chips and dents. Replace, if needed.
• Paint front door for a fresh accent.

A.3. Front porch Essentials

• Keep your entryway and porch swept and clean. Put away all toys, bikes, scooters, etc.
• Polish all exterior metal. Replace door hardware, if necessary.
• Make sure doorbell and exterior lights are working properly.

Distinctive Touch

• Create an inviting focal point in your entryway by adding a chair or bench.
• Use large planters filled with flowers or evergreens to welcome visitors.
• Get a new welcome mat that matches the style of the house.

A.4. Rear deck / Outdoor spaces Essentials

• Clean or power wash concrete steps, patios, siding and decks.
• Clean and repaint wood and wicker furniture. Clean or replace cushions.
• Clean and rinse umbrellas. Eliminate mildew.

Distinctive Touch

• Create a separate and inviting outdoor dining and entertainment space.
• Create a warm environment with an outdoor sofa and accent cushions, arranged similar to indoor living rooms.
• Add sealer to decks to make them look almost new.
• Keep open electronically controlled glass doors or screens that fold, slide or drop down to show how indoor and outdoor spaces flow together.

A.5. Driveway Essentials

• Fix pavement/driveway cracks.
• Remove visible oil stains.
• Seal driveway for a fresh look.

Distinctive Touch

• Keep cars off the driveway and away from the front of the house.
• Keep garage doors down during Open Houses, or when the house is shown.
• Power wash garage doors and clean windows.

B. STAGING ROOM BY ROOM

Take the following steps to give each room in your home the greatest appeal possible. Focus on one area at a time, moving through the house and experiencing it as a potential buyer would.

B.1. Foyer Essentials

• Repaint, if necessary.
• Clean interior entry of all clutter.
• Clear and clean out front hall closet.

Distinctive Touch

• Add a large throw rug to a foyer with hardwood or tile floors.
• Upgrade flooring, if needed.
• Add a table or bench with a place for keys. Add a vase of fresh flowers.

B.2. Dining room Essentials

• Repaint walls, if needed.
• Clean light fixtures.
• Clean and refinish flooring.

Distinctive Touch

• Remove tablecloth and add fresh fruit as a decorative touch.
• Remove extra leaf from table to make the room appear larger.
• Keep four chairs and put others in storage.

B.3. Living room / Family room Essentials

• Repaint or touch up walls and ceilings.
• Clean fireplace, mantel and shelving, and minimize knickknacks.
• Shampoo carpets and/or wax wood floors.
• Clean upholstery and drapes and replace or cover worn furniture.
• Clear off all coffee tables and end tables to just two or three books.

Distinctive Touch

• Make a window with a spectacular view, or a fireplace, the focal point of the room.
• Rearrange furniture to showcase the room’s best feature and create additional space.
• Use lamps to create light in darker corners of the room.

B.4. Kitchen Essentials

• Repaint walls. Combine neutral colors with small color highlights for a warmer feel.
• Clean and polish everything inside and out. Make appliances, faucets and fixtures sparkle.
• Clean around tiles and grout with bleach.
• Keep soaps, towels, sponges and cleaning products under the sink, and empty the garbage regularly.
• Remove magnets, photos, etc. from the front of your refrigerator.
• Create more counter space by storing appliances in the cabinets.

Distinctive Touch

• Place an open cookbook next to fresh herbs.
• Turn the lights on and open the curtains. Consider adding recessed lighting around the perimeter.
• Highlight charging stations and places to use smartphones and tablets.

B.5. Bathroom Essentials

• Repaint walls, if needed. Consider removing any wallpaper.
• Clean tile and grout and re-grout, if necessary.
• Reduce toiletries to a few decorative pieces and minimize shower accessories.
• Clean or replace shower curtain, preferably with a solid color.
• Remove toilet seat covers and throw rugs.

Distinctive Touch

• Consider updating bathroom fixtures.
• Keep toilet lid down at all times.
• Consider adding new, fluffy towels and coordinate them using two colors, at most. They can suggest luxury for little cost.

B.6. Bedroom Essentials

• Repaint walls, if necessary. Use neutral colors.
• Remove most personal mementos and clear off bedside table, except for a small lamp and one book.
• Streamline closets by removing off- season clothes and organizing contents.
• Consolidate toys in children’s rooms.

Distinctive Touch

• Consider investing in new bedding.
• Make beds every day.
• Remove all but essential furniture: bed, nightstand and dresser.

B.7. Basement Essentials

• Paint walls, as needed.
• Be aware of smells. Use odor absorbers, if necessary.
• Repair cracks in the ceiling or walls and clear any drains.
• Organize storage items in bins or boxes.
• Replace light bulbs and/or add lighting, if needed.

Distinctive Touch

• Use a throw rug and couch to create a living space.
• Add a craft table or workbench and tools.
• Make laundry area pleasant and functional. Organize with cabinets and shelving.

B.8. Garage interior Essentials

• Touch up paint in finished garages.
• Remove oil stains from the floor.
• Clean and replace light fixtures.

Distinctive Touch

• Organize tools on a pegboard.
• Add a workbench.
• Group like-items together on shelving units.

B.9. Gym and Wellness Suites Essentials

• Paint walls as needed in a neutral color.
• Clean equipment after each use.
• Be aware of smells. Use order absorbers, or introduce a fragrance like candles or air fresheners if necessary.
• Clean and replace light fixtures.

Distinctive Touch

• Arrange equipment in a nice way that creates an easy traffic flow.
• Add shelving to organize weights.
• Add an area rug or artwork to the walls to soften up the space.