To Stage or Not to Stage - That is the Question

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Created on Friday, 22 July 2011 01:00

Shakespeare is famous for writing “Life is… but a poor player, who struts and frets his hour upon the stage.” If strutting and fretting describes you as you’re in the process of selling your home, or your house’s showing potential is a “poor player”, home staging might be the solution you need for a quick, high value sale.

What is Home Staging?

Simply put, home staging is the process of making your home as appealing as possible to the widest selection of potential buyers in your market. Realtors have long known how to advise sellers on creating the best possible showing for their homes, although in the past 10 years, home staging has emerged as a separate and popular career path for interior designers and savvy decorators who have developed systems creating welcoming, inviting spaces in homes that are for sale. Well-staged homes, either done professionally by a realtor or a home stager, or tackled by an enthusiastic homeowner, can be the key to getting a fast, maximum price sale for your home.

Simple Home Staging Checklist

The first place to start with staging your home begins simply with de-cluttering; removing furniture and accessories from rooms to give the feeling of space. Personal items which are necessary to daily life (the coffee maker, toothbrushes, the ironing board, etc) should be assigned a place where they can be tucked away easily before showings.

The second step is minor home repairs. If you’ve had a “Honey-Do” list pinned to your fridge for months on end, now is the time to tackle it. Whether replacing missing switch plates, touching up paint, or replacing light fixtures, be sure that the small issues with the appearance of your home are resolved.

The next step is cleaning. A clean home immediately gives the buyer the impression of a well-maintained and fresh space. A thorough scrub of everything from stair treads to windows will do wonders to create the right impression for potential buyers.

The final step of staging is decorating, with the goal of giving each room in your home a universal appeal. Now is the time to examine your furnishings for signs of poor repair or outdated style, and consider replacing them with new pieces, even if they’re simply rented during your home selling process. Consider the paint color in every room and decide if the colors are neutral enough to permit an alternative use for the room (ie new owners using a kid’s room as an office) – if not, it may be time to repaint. Finally, consider a modest investment in coordinated accessories to “liven up” rooms with new throws, pillows, curtains, or area rugs, designed to bring cohesion and create focus points in each room