How to stage a home for success

You’d never go to a job interview without brushing your hair or polishing your shoes, so why not set your home up for success in the same way? Selling a home benefits from attention to detail and proper staging that can impact the way potential buyers experience your property. Whether you’re hiring a professional or want to stage a home yourself, the right choices can help you to sell your home faster and for more money.

What does it mean to stage a home?

Staging your home allows you to maximize appeal by organizing it to showcase its best assets and help potential buyers imagine themselves living there. If you’ve ever watched a real estate video or seen a celebrity home tour, you’ve seen a staged home.

Why is home staging important?

It can be difficult for us to step outside of our own tastes and personal preferences, and an objective perspective can help make your home appealing to more buyers. A great stager mixes design knowledge with insight into human nature and psychology. Home stagers understand how different demographics of people view a potential home, and what they’re looking for in order to make it their own. Certain colours, fabrics, or textures might make most people feel safe or welcome in a way that others don’t. Details that you don’t usually notice, like clutter or an unkempt lawn, could signal a lack of care to a potential buyer. A simple act like putting a crib in what is now the office or fitness room lets potential new families imagine themselves in the space. The idea isn’t to make your home look most appealing to you but rather to step outside of what your home means to you and imagine how someone else might adopt it in a totally different way.

First impressions matter

The way a home is presented can say a lot about how it’s maintained and who lives there. We all know you can’t judge a book by its cover, but it’s easy to be influenced by outside packaging. Whoever buys your home is identifying with it personally, and may form a subconscious bias from the first moment they see a photo of it or drive past the front door. Once someone has formed an opinion, it’s difficult to undo their perception. Potential buyers make assumptions about houses before they even see the inside. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so boost curb appeal with a well-manicured lawn, a clean front porch, and these other useful exterior grooming tips:

Wash the front windows and address chipping paint.

Mow the front lawn, weed the garden, and trim any hedges or dangling branches. Make sure the walk is salted and shovelled for easy access if you’re selling in the winter.

Get a new doormat to welcome potential buyers and clean off muddy or snowy boots.

Make sure your house number is clear and easy to read.

Reinforce old wobbly steps or bannisters. Repaint and repair the front steps and any noticeable flaws on the front of the house.

Consider leaving one or two lights on in the evening in case potential buyers drive by at night.

Don’t forget to look next door; your neighbour’s overgrown hedges or a porch next door overflowing with garbage can affect how buyers see your property.

Clean from top to bottom

Showcasing a clean home that looks and smells great is one of the easiest and most important steps when it comes to staging your home. Even if you’re someone who regularly sweeps and cleans, it’s time to take it to the next level.

Cleaning tips for staging your home:

Sweep and mop floors, vacuum carpets and clean windows. Get tired carpets professionally deep-cleaned so they look fluffy and fresh.

Deep clean inside cupboards, under the stairs, backsplashes and inside closets. Don’t assume that hidden places will remain unseen.

Follow your nose. Pet smells, mildew and lingering fragrances can be a turn-off for potential buyers.

Ventilate the space well and get rid of smells at the source instead of masking them with air fresheners.

Polish and clean wood surfaces or floors so they shine.

Keep the garbage empty, and make sure the fridge and freezer are clean.

Put out fresh soap and make sure any items you’re showcasing are clean as well.

Declutter

Getting rid of extra clutter makes your home look spacious and appealing; rooms feel bigger, closets look roomier and that empty space will allow the viewers to imagine themselves living in the home. Remember that decluttering benefits you, too — the less you keep, the less you’ll have to move to your new home.

Decluttering tips:

Consider offsite storage units or use a friend’s garage for anything taking up extra space.

Involve your kids in the process. Encourage them to donate or give away toys they aren’t using.

Keep a healthy balance. Your space should feel livable, not so sparse that it’s hard to imagine anyone living in the house. Keep a few strategic items out like a vase of fresh flowers or an unopened bottle of wine.

Clean out cluttered pantries or cupboards and leave a few upscale products or canned preserves for a homey feel. Make sure any items visible to guests are clean, fresh, and look new. Hide your worn-in sneakers, but leave your designer heels on display to show off a closet’s potential.

Get rid of personal toiletries in the bathroom and leave a few simple, high-end products on shelves or in medicine cabinets.

Set the scene

Potential buyers want to imagine themselves in their new home. That might mean family dinners, evenings curled up on the couch, entertaining guests or working productively in a home office. Since you don’t know what the new buyers will be imagining, set the scene for warm, comfortable living that appeals to most people.