Ask a REALTOR

Making your home appealing for potential buyers, otherwise known as staging your house, can seem like a daunting task. That’s why it’s one of the most common things that real estate agents get asked about from sellers. While it’s true that bringing in a professional is the best plan of action in some cases; most of the time, it’s something that you can do yourself. Our agents are here to help you with that by filling you in on their top tips for staging a house as you prepare to show and sell your house.

Hope Galunas

Declutter. Reducing the number of small items that are around the house will make it feel more open to buyers.
Use neutral bright paint. These include various shades of white, beige, and light greys.
Depersonalize to some degree. You want to put the attention on your home and not yourself or your family.
Show off hardwood floors. People love hardwood floors. As long as they’re in good shape, they make a home look and feel nicer overall, they’re easier to clean, and require less maintenance.
Stage at least the living room and master bedroom. If it is not possible to leave personal furnishings, then hire a professional stager to ensure the buyer can envision living in the home.

Liz Schoeneberger

Clean. A clean home will show potential buyers that you have taken great care of the home.
Declutter. Make sure all clutter (things that you don’t need on a daily basis) is out of sight.
House plants. A few potted plants can do wonders to make your home feel fresh and inviting.
Depersonalize your home. Remove family photos, refrigerator art, and keepsakes so buyers can envision themselves in your home.

Brooke Tart

Depersonalize. It is important to depersonalize your home when getting ready to put it on the market! This keeps your personal things private and also allows the potential buyers to picture themselves in the space easier. Things to remove are photos of your family, any degrees or certificates you have out, collections that may feel "cluttered" to someone else, etc. The goal here is to have your home as neutral as possible!
Declutter. When getting rid of clutter, think anything that could go in a cabinet or basket, should! This is a good time to pack up out of season things or items you won't need until after you move. For the things that cannot be packed up, it's a great idea to get a couple of baskets or storage containers to put items in during showings. I tell my clients to put away countertop appliances like your coffee pot or blender! These items take up a lot of room and make your counter space feel smaller.
Create a fresh and crisp feel. First impressions are everything. If it is in your budget to have carpets cleaned and fresh paint, then great! This is a guarantee that things feel fresh. But if not, don't worry. You can attain a fresh and crisp feel by having all of your beds made, everything in its proper place, nothing sitting out on the ground, and minimal things on the countertops. Hiring a professional cleaner right before the house hits the market is one of the best ways that things feel clean when potential homebuyers walk in. This sounds silly, but a fresh toilet paper roll is a good touch! You can also get some air fresheners, but I would avoid any strong-smelling scents that may be too much for some people.
Go neutral. If you plan to move out and stage some things in your house, going neutral is the best way. A pop of color here and there is a fun touch, but you want the home to appeal to most anyone who walks in, so keeping things timeless and neutral is a good way to achieve that goal.
Good lighting. One thing that sometimes gets overlooked is the lighting in your house! Showings happen any time of day, some even at night. If you know there's a room that feels a little dark or there are bulbs to replace, now is the time to do so. This plays into making the home feel fresh and crisp as well.

How to ask us a question

Our agents will be answering your questions every month through the Ask a REALTOR series. If you have a real estate question that you want answered, we’d love to hear from you at marketing@westandwoodall.com.