Primed to list
Smallest spaces may need staging the most.
When it comes to getting your home ready for sale, there are some very obvious todos: paint, clear clutter, repair errant nicks or dents, minimize your decor. These rules apply to every room in a house, but they have more of an impact in small spaces, such as bathrooms and hallways, where details matter most.
In a tough-to-stage space like a bathroom, “really get the buyer’s imagination thinking about prepping for their day or ending it,” says Anne Bourne, owner/operator of Toronto-based StagingWorks. For bathrooms, that means going beyond cleaning stained grout, removing watermarks from a toilet or replacing rusted faucets.
Investing in standout items is key. She suggests adding white towels, fresh flowers, a new shower curtain and pretty wrapped soaps.
Big no-nos include leaving decals on the walls or shower floors or such personal items as razors, used soaps or towels or covered tissue boxes out in plain view. Oh, and “[absolutely] no spongy toilet seats.”
Cleaning up a hallway and entryway is a bit more complicated. You want to fill the space with something fulsome yet simple. “If there is space for a console table with a big vase of flowers and art above it, add that into the area. You can even invest in a nice bench with a few colourful throw pillows.”
Bourne also advises people stay away from mirrors, despite commonly held advice that they help enlarge a space. Instead of paying attention to the home, “buyers end up looking at themselves and get distracted by their ‘bad hair day,’ etc.,” she contends.
You’ll want to keep in mind that there will be several people coming in and out of your space during an open house, so it’s key to keep the area clear. “You don’t want to have the first impression be that there’s not enough space. Make the immediate impression that there’s lots of storage.” Remember to clear the area of coats, dog leashes, baseball caps, umbrellas and so on.
For small nooks in condos, Bourne tells clients to invest in some decor items that will make the space feel usable. “Do not just stick a little chair in there — no one will ever sit there, and it just looks sad. Normally a small desk and chair, some art above the desk and maybe a small rug [will do the trick].”
One major throughout-your-home staging no-no is scented room deodorizers.
“This is my biggest pet peeve of them all, or at least in my Top 10. I get raging headaches after working for a day in homes with these. Many people are allergic and [you don’t want people thinking] ‘What smell are they covering up?’”
Your sense of smell will have desensitized to your home’s odours; ask a friend or your agent for a frank opinion. It’ll hit them as they come in the front door, but there can be spots of trouble here and there. Bourne’s advice is to open the windows and clean the home from top to bottom to mask any unsightly odours. Get some fresh flowers or lightly scented natural (emphasis on natural) candles. If candles don’t work, “the carpets and drapes need to be professionally cleaned, and you may want to hire professional cleaners to really give the house a thorough scrub” to give it a fresh springtime vibe. Have a question about prepping your home for resale?
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Absolutely no spongy toilet seats, and no scented room deodorizers