5 Step Staging Guide for All Sellers. Helping You to Get Top-Dollar for Your Home.

Every home seller should have this checklist. Mark off each item to maximize the potential profit from your home sale.

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Prepare your home for viewing with this helpful guide.

 

This guide not only incorporates photography preparation but goes beyond by providing a staging guide with statistically backed recommendations for sellers gearing up to market their homes. It leverages buyer psychology to facilitate a quick sale. Feel free to check off any, some, or none of the suggestions in this 5-step guide designed to assist you in achieving top-dollar sales at a rapid pace.

 

Staging: Prepare a property for sale by styling and furnishing it to showcase its strengths, encouraging potential buyers to imagine themselves residing there. Create an inviting atmosphere that captivates buyers, making them eager to explore and envision the possibilities of the space.

 

STAGING FACTS:

 

94.6% of homes will sell on average in 33 days with staging vs 196 days without staging.

 

83% of buyers' agents said staging makes it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.

 

A staged home can sell for 20% more.

 

1. Smell - Enhance your home’s memorability positively by recognizing that scent, the most influential sense linked to memory, plays a crucial role. Avoid potent or artificial air fresheners, prioritize a pleasant atmosphere for potential buyers. Ensure cleanliness by regularly emptying and cleaning trash containers, concealing any odorous items, and promptly managing waste removal to maintain a favorable impression during showings.
• Consider neutralizing any smells with an ozone machine.
• Good scents to consider: natural smelling enhancers like aromatherapy or spa-like scents using a professional air scent machine for your home; the smell of baking bread in a bread machine; the smell of baking cookies.
2. Repairs: Explore the option of painting your walls, addressing any imperfections with repairs and touch-ups if a full painting isn’t feasible. Ensure a fresh appearance for your garage floor by cleaning it thoroughly and contemplating having it epoxied if it lacks a new look.
1. Repair/replace broken window treatments. Replace bulbs. 
2. Address known repairs in advance, prior to inspections. Having a smaller repair list during inspections is preferable to preventing potential buyers from being alarmed.
3. Seal cracks and touch up paint in cement floors and in stucco.
4. Powerwash walkways, patios and roof. Here is my affiliate link to my pressure washer: https://amzn.to/3vkNwLW
5. Have grout, carpets and windows deep cleaned and bright. Give doors inside and out and baseboards a good scrub and make sure landscaping is extra neat (throw your cleaning team and landscaper an extra tip to make sure they get this right). Remove weeds from driveways and walkways. 
6. All surfaces wiped down, shined or resealed.
3. De-clutter and de-personalize. Box up and put into storage, order a pod, garage or attic space 50-70% of your homey and personal belongings (family photos, calendars, personal reminders), gives off more of a luxurious hotel feel, and a clean slate. You want the buyers to not see your personal connection to the home, or they will feel like intruders. Yes, you still live there, but buyers do not want to think about that. Keep decor warm feeling.  Counters mostly cleared off, including soaps and shampoos put away.
4. Cupboards no more than half-full. Storage concern. Try to narrow down items in closets, cupboards, pantry and garage to essentials to give an open and "ready for a new owner" feel. Contain - try to put items left in closets, cupboards and garages in neat containers.
5. Keep it on-trend or timeless, lean toward minimalistic. Here are some options to put your best foot forward:
1. Change all bedding to crisp white or lighter, hotel-like bedding.
2. Use a well-fitting slipcover to give a newer, lighter look to any heavy designs.
3. Switch out dark pillows and accessories for light colored ones.
4. Switch out darker area rugs to a light-colored solid area rug.
5. Consider adding floor to ceiling drapery to add to hotel-like feel.