Home Staging Tips
Watch this video on effective staging by StagingWorks, voted Toronto's top home stager by Toronto Life Magazine
Keep it clean,
Look at your home as though you’re seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, heating and a/c vents and light fixtures. Pay special attention to your bathroom and kitchen - make sure that the tile grout is mildew free and the baseboards scrubbed. Clean the refrigerator and stove as well as the washer and dryer (inside and out). And, don’t forget about the windows! Make sure that all windowpanes, ledges and blinds are spick and span!
Lose the clutter
Your browser may not support display of this image.Have a yard sale or take old furniture, clothing and knick-knacks to goodwill. Organize shelves, put away items and purge your home of unnecessary items. Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom counters are free of small appliances and personal effects.
De-personalize your home
Make your home “anonymous” so buyers can envision it as a potential home. Put away any family photos, sports trophies, collectibles, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. This will also help to remove clutter and create more space.
Freshen-up
Adding a fresh coat of paint and laying new carpet will clean and brighten up your home. Choose neutral colours and make it consistent throughout the home. If you choose to wallpaper, make sure that the paper is properly applied, your colour choice is neutral and patterns are kept to a minimum.
First impressions count
Like a first date or job interview, the first impression of your home is the most important! Walking into a home with a fingerprinted screen door window or cluttered entranceways, can influence the potential homebuyer’s decision. Likewise, strong odours can ruin a sale, so pay close attention to pet, cooking or cigarette smells in your home. Light delicately scented candles or have cookies baking in the oven when you.Re showing. Fresh flowers, especially in the spring and winter, can help to brighten and energize your home.
Curb appeal
Homebuyers decide whether or not to look inside a house by the appearance of your home’s exterior. Paint or wash the outside of your home. Check your gutters and chimney and make necessary repairs. Keep your lawns trimmed and flowerbeds weeded. Clear the driveway and yard of children’s toys and store away unsightly trashcans. Use urns to define walk spaces and ensure that window boxes are full of healthy all-season plants. Replace any broken or dated light fixtures and wash windows and ledges. If you have a garage, make certain it is neat and clutter-free.
Create an illusion of space
To make your home feel more spacious, it is key to de-clutter and re-organize. Start by removing excess furniture to make rooms feel more open and replace any items that are not appropriately sized for the room. For example, oversized sofas, while comfortable, can make a room seem smaller than it actually is. Clean and organize your closets and remove excess clutter from all areas of your home. Store unnecessary items in an out of the way location or rent a temporary storage unit. Strategically placed mirrors can also help to create the illusion of more space.
Modern choices
Ensure that the decor of your home is modern and tasteful. Replace outdated furniture, wall coverings and window treatments. Use neutral tones on your walls and floors and add colour with removable items such as throw pillows or bedding. Steer away from too many personal touches to create a minimalist and contemporary space.
Doggie don’ts
“Love me, love my pets”, doesn’t apply to selling your home. Take your pets with you when your house is being shown, or at least keep them outside. Pets under foot will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive showing. While making sure your house is odour-free and spotless applies to everyone, pet owners should take special care. Be sure to empty and hide unsightly kitty litter, lint brush your furniture and put your furry friend.S toys, dishes, and scratching posts away during showings.
Beautify your backyard
Don’t forget about your backyard. A house showing doesn’t always end at the backdoor. Beyond size and layout, potential buyers can also be influenced by the state of your yard. Keep the lawn, hedges and flowerbeds manicured. Try to recreate an entertaining area (even in winter) by sweeping decks, cleaning and setting-up patio furniture and removing torn bbq covers. Buy exterior storage containers to hide gardening tools, kids toys and pool supplies. If you have a pool, ensure that the cover is pulled back, that the water is inviting and the lining algae-free. Lastly, interested buyers may decide to look inside your shed, so make sure it’s organized and clean.
Keep it clean,
Look at your home as though you’re seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, heating and a/c vents and light fixtures. Pay special attention to your bathroom and kitchen - make sure that the tile grout is mildew free and the baseboards scrubbed. Clean the refrigerator and stove as well as the washer and dryer (inside and out). And, don’t forget about the windows! Make sure that all windowpanes, ledges and blinds are spick and span!
Lose the clutter
Your browser may not support display of this image.Have a yard sale or take old furniture, clothing and knick-knacks to goodwill. Organize shelves, put away items and purge your home of unnecessary items. Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom counters are free of small appliances and personal effects.
De-personalize your home
Make your home “anonymous” so buyers can envision it as a potential home. Put away any family photos, sports trophies, collectibles, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. This will also help to remove clutter and create more space.
Freshen-up
Adding a fresh coat of paint and laying new carpet will clean and brighten up your home. Choose neutral colours and make it consistent throughout the home. If you choose to wallpaper, make sure that the paper is properly applied, your colour choice is neutral and patterns are kept to a minimum.
First impressions count
Like a first date or job interview, the first impression of your home is the most important! Walking into a home with a fingerprinted screen door window or cluttered entranceways, can influence the potential homebuyer’s decision. Likewise, strong odours can ruin a sale, so pay close attention to pet, cooking or cigarette smells in your home. Light delicately scented candles or have cookies baking in the oven when you.Re showing. Fresh flowers, especially in the spring and winter, can help to brighten and energize your home.
Curb appeal
Homebuyers decide whether or not to look inside a house by the appearance of your home’s exterior. Paint or wash the outside of your home. Check your gutters and chimney and make necessary repairs. Keep your lawns trimmed and flowerbeds weeded. Clear the driveway and yard of children’s toys and store away unsightly trashcans. Use urns to define walk spaces and ensure that window boxes are full of healthy all-season plants. Replace any broken or dated light fixtures and wash windows and ledges. If you have a garage, make certain it is neat and clutter-free.
Create an illusion of space
To make your home feel more spacious, it is key to de-clutter and re-organize. Start by removing excess furniture to make rooms feel more open and replace any items that are not appropriately sized for the room. For example, oversized sofas, while comfortable, can make a room seem smaller than it actually is. Clean and organize your closets and remove excess clutter from all areas of your home. Store unnecessary items in an out of the way location or rent a temporary storage unit. Strategically placed mirrors can also help to create the illusion of more space.
Modern choices
Ensure that the decor of your home is modern and tasteful. Replace outdated furniture, wall coverings and window treatments. Use neutral tones on your walls and floors and add colour with removable items such as throw pillows or bedding. Steer away from too many personal touches to create a minimalist and contemporary space.
Doggie don’ts
“Love me, love my pets”, doesn’t apply to selling your home. Take your pets with you when your house is being shown, or at least keep them outside. Pets under foot will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive showing. While making sure your house is odour-free and spotless applies to everyone, pet owners should take special care. Be sure to empty and hide unsightly kitty litter, lint brush your furniture and put your furry friend.S toys, dishes, and scratching posts away during showings.
Beautify your backyard
Don’t forget about your backyard. A house showing doesn’t always end at the backdoor. Beyond size and layout, potential buyers can also be influenced by the state of your yard. Keep the lawn, hedges and flowerbeds manicured. Try to recreate an entertaining area (even in winter) by sweeping decks, cleaning and setting-up patio furniture and removing torn bbq covers. Buy exterior storage containers to hide gardening tools, kids toys and pool supplies. If you have a pool, ensure that the cover is pulled back, that the water is inviting and the lining algae-free. Lastly, interested buyers may decide to look inside your shed, so make sure it’s organized and clean.
