The 4 C's To Staging A Home For Sale

Simple Home Staging Tips: The Four C’s

As professional home stagers, we always advise sellers to properly prepare their home for sale in order to create a show ready home for potential buyers.  We encourage sellers to transform their home from “a lived in look” to a “ready for a new owner” look!  Here are the Four C’s to get started:  clutter free, clean, creative and hints of color throughout after neutralizing.

1.) CLUTTER FREE.  Start by decluttering the entire home and focus on the main living areas of the home in detail.  Remove and pack away personal items like family photos and collectibles.  Buyers need to focus on the features of the home and not be distracted by sports memorabilia wall hangings or that special owl collection.  Clear off countertops in kitchen and bathrooms and don’t forget those refigerator magnets – yep they have to go too!  We suggest donating items you don’t need anymore to Goodwill.  Any furnishings that may be dated or taking up space to a local consignment store and make some extra cash to boot!

2.) CLEAN.  It is amazing how much dust and dirt will come to the surface after decluttering and removal of furnishings when preparing your home for staging.  We suggest a deep cleanof a home including carpets, wood floors and especially kitchens and bathrooms!  Natural cleaners are best and inexpensive and may be found right in your cupboard.  A simple solution of vinegar and water works well for those hard water stains on windows and shower doors.  A few house plants will also keep the air clean and even allergy free!

3.) CREATIVE. Rearrange the furnishings in your living spaces which may entail removing a piece of furniture and placing it in another area of the home.  Stay away from groupings of small knick knack items and focus more on larger vases for example in a grouping near the fireplace mantel, bowls with decor balls as a centerpiece on a dining room table or a tall stack of books to act as a side table in a den.  These are just a few ideas but it can be fun staging a home for sale!

4.) COLORFUL.  After neutralizing a home it is okay to bring color back into a room.  Focus on allowing color to freshen up a living space by using some attractive pillows on the couch, a piece of unique artwork above a fireplace, an eye catching throw on neutral bedding or a pretty flower arrangement on the dining room table.  Color shouldn’t be on the walls it is best to keep bathroom in hotel white dressings.  Color can easily be brought back into the home with simple decorative items such as the ones suggsted.

Following the four C’s will help get a home in more marketable condition for an agent to sell quickly, knock out the competition in the neighborhood and help a seller get closer to their asking price.  Stick to these simple guidelines and when in doubt – less is always best!

*Photo courtesy of K.B., realtor, Dorsey Alston, Staging of Dining Room by No Vacancy