Times Colonist

Staging tips help prepare your house for sale

Seven tips for how to stage your home to get the best price as quickly as possible

- CATHY HOBBS Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is a television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cath

With the winter thaw comes the red-hot spring selling season. When it comes to properly preparing a property to sell, many experts argue that successful home staging is the key to the most lucrative sale in the shortest amount of time.

Stumped as to where to begin to get your home sale ready? Here are seven expert home-staging selling tips.

1. Purge!

Remove all excess, from extra furniture to clothing. Now is the time to make your home feel as spacious as possible.

2. Create a basic marketing plan

You might need a real estate agent’s help with this one. The goal of this step is to decide who the target buyer is, as in some cases, this might influence the staging process.

3. Depersonal­ize

When a potential buyer walks into a property, it’s important for them to feel that it could be their home. Everything from personal photos to religious references should be removed.

4. Neutralize

Something as simple as a paint job or carpeting can be a deterrent for potential buyers. Taupes and greys are ideal colours to create a neutral, soothing colour palette.

5. Hire a profession­al stager

You are going to want to trust the staging of your home to a profession­al. Begin by researchin­g local staging companies. Some might specialize in a specific style or geographic area. Most profession­al stagers are able to work within a budget.

6. Return a room to its intended use

A bedroom currently used as a home office must be staged and styled as a bedroom.

7. Create a timeline

When you place your property on the market can be critical in capturing the highest number of potential buyers. Earlier in the selling season is best.

?? ?? After: A living room properly staged and styled can make all the difference when you’re selling your home.
After: A living room properly staged and styled can make all the difference when you’re selling your home.
?? ?? Before: The same living room as above prior to staging, used as a home office. It’s important to return rooms to their original purpose when you’re preparing your home for sale.
Before: The same living room as above prior to staging, used as a home office. It’s important to return rooms to their original purpose when you’re preparing your home for sale.
?? ?? After, above: Staging makes a master bedroom feel soothing and luxurious.
After, above: Staging makes a master bedroom feel soothing and luxurious.
?? DESIGN RECIPES ?? Before, left: The same master bedroom before staging creates a lacklustre first impression.
DESIGN RECIPES Before, left: The same master bedroom before staging creates a lacklustre first impression.

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