Last year I put my house up for sale. We didn't end up moving because my husband got a job offer in town before we sold. But I sure learned a lot. If you’re looking to sell your home, or currently selling with no result, you should consider the benefits related to home staging. Statistics across the board show that staging your home will allow you to gain multiple offers on your home, for the price point you’re looking for; all while allowing you to sell your home more quickly. Here are a few tips and tricks to get you into the right mindset.





De-Clutter… and Deep Clean

A messy home isn’t simply uninviting – it doesn’t sell. Set aside some time for you (and the family) to clear up the mess around the house. Everything must go, pretty much. For example: excess personal photos, most throw rugs and children’s toys should be set aside. Items other than small appliances should be kept off the counter, just as items other than computers should be removed from desks in home offices. Need some more help?

Once the major clutter is cleared away, do as much cleaning as possible. This means washing and polishing the floors as needed and making sure windows, mirrors and fixtures are squeaky clean.

Garage Sales

This one links up with the previous point. If the weather permits, consider having a garage sale to get rid of items that are eye-sores – you probably won’t be bringing them over to the new house anyway. With these items out of the way, you’ll have some much needed open space, not to mention less items to put in storage. Less is more when it comes to the furniture you have displayed in the home. Consider renting a storage space to get items out of the way for your open house. A storage locker could solve a multitude of problems – it’ll get unsightly or outdated furniture away from buying eyes, as well as allowing you to hide the boxes full of stuff you cleaned off your counters.



Don’t Forget the Front Door

This is a no-brainer, really. The front door is the first thing that a potential buyer will see, sometimes before they even know that they’re interested in the home. Make sure the lawn is maintained in the warmer months, the leaves raked in the cooler months and the snow shoveled in the winter time. Make sure plants are lively and the shrubbery trimmed. If possible, consider pressure washing the house (and make any repairs needed as a result).


Professional Consultation

You don’t necessarily need to hire a professional to reap the benefits of a good looking, staged home. However, if you’d like to take the stress and time out of the equation, have a look at RESA (Real Estate Stagers Association) for a professional in your area who might be able to help. Often times, the consultation alone will give you the ideas, at the very least.




Furniture Rentals 

This is directly related to getting professional assistance with staging your home, actually. A professional who has staged before will have contacts and possible discounts related to renting furniture, which is an absolute must when looking to sell a vacant property.

I wish you luck selling your home! We didn't end up selling last time, but it's just a matter of time, right? Next time around I will totally know what I'm doing!