Home staging, which recreates the look of a model home, has been shown to improve sales - both in speed and price, but sometimes the thought of staging your entire home as you try to live there as well can be a bit daunting.
If you don’t feel like staging the whole home, at least stage a room.
Your living room might have a big TV and be comfortable. In addition to a thorough cleaning, put away the clutter and family mementos, and only leave out one remote. Then set out a snack and dip tray on the coffee table, maybe with glasses and cans of soft drinks, paper plates and napkins like you were ready to entertain. Adjust the lighting as you would if you were getting ready to watch a movie or a big game. Make the room look inviting for guests. The buyer will keep this image in their minds.
You may have put together a dream kitchen. Once again, do a thorough cleaning and decluttering. Then think about how it might look if you were going to cook for a party, but hadn’t made a mess yet. Put some vegetables on a cutting board, flowers on the counter, and it will bring your kitchen to life.
Focus on the dining room. Put a fresh flower arrangement out and put out your best dishes.
If you have a fantasy bathroom, you can stage that. Set it up as if you are about to hop in for a soak. A few candles, maybe some flowers, a really nice towel and maybe a book or a glass and bottle of wine by the side of tub can show the room’s potential for relaxation.
Has one of your children got every kid’s ultimate room? Play this up! Clean the room, but then set out some toys or electronics that complement the room’s theme.
Your biggest asset might be outdoor living. You can set aside some drinks on a patio, or add life to the pool by adding some floating toys.
Once you start staging your home with one room, you may find the process is enjoyable and decide you want to do the whole house, or it could be something you build on as you discover what each room needs to bring it to life. Do one room this week, and do the next in a few days.