Setting the Stage
How you show your home is not the same as how you live in it. Staging your home will give you a competitive edge.
Assess
Be sure your home is clean and meticulously maintained. Make an effort for your personal items to be picked up or put away, and all appliances painted and functioning properly. Take a look at your basic design, are you in step with the current style trends the market demands? Look for ways you can easily and inexpensively add col to create focal points and define traffic flow. Simplicity plus harmony can equal a faster, higher selling price.
Outside
- Stand across the street and take a good look at your home
- Sweep the sidewalk
- Mow the lawn, prune bushes, and weed the garden
- Clean debris from yard
- Sweep driveway. Clean grease and stains
- Add a potted plant or hanging basket to the porch
- Paint front doors an attractive color
- Add a brass kick plate and polish hardware
- Add a wreath
- Spruce up or replace mailbox
- Clean, repair or replace front light
- Replace or add a welcome mat
- Repair or replace house numbers
- Clean windows and storm doors – both inside and out
- Replace any cracked or broken panes
- Make sure paint is not chipped or flaking
- Clean rain gutters
- Paint and repair gates and fences
- Keep porches and patios free of clutter
- Arrange patio furniture and open umbrellas
Inside
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General Appearance
- Turn on lights – is wattage adequate?
- Clean carpets
- Make sure the house smells good-Neutralize pet and smoking odors
- Put away pet food and dishes
- Clean and spruce up all rooms, furnishings, floors, walls, and ceilings
- Remove or replace worn and dirty items
- Be sure kitchen and bathrooms are spotless
- Polish faucets in kitchen and bathrooms
- Replace worn toilet seats
- Make sure the basic appliances and fixtures work
- Replace leaky faucets and frayed cords
- Organize closets and kitchen cabinets
- Keep countertops clear of clutter, magazines and papers
- Clean and organize basements and attics
- Accent with fresh flowers
- Be sure wall art is hung at appropriate heights
- Remove temporary decorations that are thumb-tacked or taped up
- Turn off televisions and radios – Pleasant, subtle background music is acceptable.
- Avoid distractions – remove pets and keep children occupied
Inviting Atmosphere
