8 Things to do Before Listing Your Home

Home staging 101

Thousands of home-staging consultants are in business for good reason: staged homes sell faster. Why? Successful home staging helps a buyer see themselves in your home, not how you’re currently using it. Professional staging consultants do this by following a few simple guidelines.

Divide and conquer

Take a good look around your home. Now imagine it with only half of the belongings. Some consultants even aim to remove at least two-thirds of items from a home to let a room’s features (including size, flooring, and architectural details) come forward so buyers aren’t focusing on your collection of ceramic roosters instead.

Follow a witness protection program

Put your home under a “witness protection program” and remove anything that identifies the owner. That way a prospective buyer doesn’t have to mentally clear you out before they can imagine themselves in your home. At the top of the list are the family photos on the mantelpiece and notes to each other stuck on the fridge. Prospective buyers don’t need to know that Jimmy won the soccer tournament or that you’re out of milk.

Let there be natural light

Open your doors and windows, clean them and don’t block them! Just because you haven’t used that side door in years doesn’t mean that you should ignore it – keeping it hidden will make buyers suspect that there’s something wrong with it. (If there is, fix it.) Keeping windows clean and curtains tied back lets more natural light into your home, which is a big plus for prospective buyers.

Out, out, darn Spot

While few can resist the unconditional love of a pet, many prospective buyers would prefer not to see pet hair or smell evidence of Fifi or Fido. If possible, try to find a place for your pet to stay for a few days and have your carpets steam-cleaned to eliminate any lingering odours. Or keep your pet in one room or on one floor, and thoroughly clean the area before an open house. Also remember to tuck pet beds, litter boxes, and food dishes out of the way.

Peek behind closed doors

Take a good look at your closets and cupboards. What kind of impression would they give a prospective buyer? Are they bursting at the seams or do they provide ample room for all your stuff? Take a minute to organize your items, wipe down shelves and air out your cupboards. Clearing out the clutter will work in your favour; interested buyers will always take a peek, even if they don’t admit to doing it.

Follow your nose

People use all their senses when they evaluate a property, so keep their noses happy. Avoid preparing aromatic foods using garlic, onions or other fragrant ingredients two days before your open house. Tuck fabric softener sheets in areas where you store shoes and sporting equipment. Need to dispel a smell in a jiffy? Open all the interior doors in your home and bake a batch of ready-to-bake chocolate chip cookies. Not only do they smell delish, but you can also leave them out on a plate for people to nibble on as they consider your property.

One focal point

Home staging professionals know the best way to showcase a room is to choose one focal point. It could be a window, fireplace or distinctive piece of furniture—the goal is for it to draw the eye in and then around the room. This is why eliminating clutter and excess furniture is key; you don’t want potential buyers distracted while they inspect the floors, moulding, and overall size and shape of the room. This is when they picture how their belongings will fit in the space.

Minimize the negative

Stand at the entrance to a room. What is your eye drawn to first? If it’s something you prefer buyers not focus on, like a stucco ceiling or sponge-painting gone wild, your best defence is an eye-catching accessory near the front of the room. Home-staging shows do this all the time—they use a bowl of green apples or a vase of fresh flowers to draw eyes away from an offending feature at that pivotal moment when a first impression is made.

By investing time in home staging, you can help ensure your property is set to sell!