If you are getting ready to put your house on the market, you can find a lot of advice and tips on our Home Staging website, Stage It for Selling.
For a typical home, the most important things to do before the house is shown are:
- Outside maintenance for curb appeal. Get rid of weeds in the walkways, trim overgrown shrubs and trees that are in contact with the house, powerwash the exterior and clear the gutters if necessary.
- De-clutter! Clear off counters, the exterior of the refrigerator, any flat surface that accumulates “stuff”.
- De-personalize. Pack up personal photos, attention-grabbing decor, and anything that draws the buyer’s eyes to it, rather than to the house.
- Clean, clean, clean! Buyers look at a dirty house as a neglected house.
- Brighten the rooms. Remove window treatments that don’t let in light. Make sure every room has sufficent lamps and light fixtures, with bright bulbs.
- Fix “minor” problems such as leaking faucets, switches that don’t work, doors that stick or have loose handles, etc. Buyers see minor problems as indicators of larger, hidden problems.
- If rooms need to be painted, use bright, neutral colors.
- Ratty or worn carpets are a huge turn-off. Replace, or just remove if you have hardwood underneath.
