Crafts & DIY
Sell your home faster with these 21 home staging tips and tricks from the pros
Moving? Here's everything you need to know to stage your home like the pros.
Elle Holder
01.21.21

Have you been thinking of selling your house? Perhaps you are one of the people who have chosen to get out of the city. Maybe because you’re now working form home exclusively, so you can live where you want. Maybe you’ve decided you want to get out the city because they are drenched in disease.

Whatever the reason, the real estate market is hopping in a lot of places.

If you are thinking of moving, you do have the option of hiring a stager. Perhaps your real estate has something they work with and recommend. Of course, it will cost you. So why not learn how to do it yourself and keep some of those expenses in your pocket.

Thankfully, the pros have been quite helpful in providing a list of tips and tricks that can help sell your home faster while getting you more money.

And here they are.

1. Boost curb appeal

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If you have ever looked for a new home, chances are you’ve done a drive-by first. Make sure your home will tempt them with that first glance. You can do things like power washing your siding, plant blooming flowers, make sure the lawn is well kept, windows are washed, and paint is touched up.

2. Make the front porch inviting

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It doesn’t matter if you have a full wraparound porch or a tiny stoop, make it say “welcome.” Depending on space, at potted plants and maybe a few chairs. Also, make sure it’s well-lit once the sun goes down. And if you have a doormat, make sure it’s clean!

3. Clean, clean, clean

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Make sure your home sparkles with cleanliness. Your floors in your windows should gleam, and any grout should be refreshed. If necessary, higher pros to do the job. Remember, you want to put your best foot forward.

4. De-clutter

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If you are a hoarder or even a borderline hoarder, it’s time to get rid of all your junk. Or maybe it’s just clutter. Whatever it is, clear it away. It doesn’t matter if you think it’s not clutter or junk. You don’t want potential buyers being distracted and/or turned off by all your stuff.

5. It should look lived in.

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I know you’re thinking, but you just told me to get rid of all the stuff that makes my house look lived in. But what you want to achieve is a fine balance between clean and lived in. It doesn’t need to look like a surgical arena. So add in a few things like vases of cut flowers or a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter.

6. Create a pleasing dining space.

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Once the dining room table has been cleared off, don’t leave that area of space empty. It just looks uninviting that way. And don’t make the mistake of a single huge centerpiece. Look for a pleasing arrangement of smaller pieces.

7. Deal with those floors!

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Everyone will notice your floors, even if you no longer see them. Take a hard look and make sure they are clean. Sweep and mop hardwood—and have them refinished if necessary. If you can’t afford that, consider placing area rugs where needed. And steam clean carpets.

8. Time to rearrange the furniture?

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Does your furniture need rearranging? To be pleasing to the eye the setup should be symmetrical. Furniture shouldn’t be against the walls. Finally, use pairs of chairs, sofas, and so on to create an area where conversation is easy.

9. Tone down the paint.

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If you have any bold, dark colors in your home, you need to reconsider. You want to have neutral colors, even if you think they are boring. It doesn’t matter what you think. And don’t assume you need to paint your walls white. There are some gorgeous, rich midtone neutrals that will work just fine.

10. A bedroom that will suit anyone.

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The master bedroom should be gender neutral. So no piles of pink frilly or floral things. Go for a clean, tailored lock that could appeal to anyone. Think of crisp linens, subdued artwork, and perhaps a blanket across the bottom of the bed.

11. Think about closet space.

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Anyone looking at your home with the thought of buying is going to be looking in your closets. So make them accessible. Open the doors, and make sure you’ve cleared out any excess. If it’s packed so tight you have to fight to get things out, remove enough to have about 30 percent free space. This gives the allusion of spaciousness.

12. Toys, toys, everywhere.

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Even people that have children of their own probably aren’t interested in seeing your kids toys all over the house. So clean them up. Better yet, don’t just clean them up. Present a kids room that’s beautifully organized. It might impress them so much it sways their decision on your house.

13. Have a extra room?

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If so, what do you do with it? Is it a catch all spot for all kinds of stuff you need to store somewhere? If so, you need to find another spot for it all, like a storage unit at another location. You want each room to have a clearly defined purpose. It should be a guest room, office, or something else. You don’t need to spend a ton of money decorating it, but you do need to do something.

14. Small bathrooms.

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Small bathrooms are a reality, but you can control what you do with them. If you have a small space, maximize by installing a pedestal sink. A big cabinet style sink in a small bathroom will just make it look smaller and potentially turn off buyers.

15. Neat, tidy, and perfect.

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Again, in the bathroom, make sure personal accents are in pristine condition. Whether that’s a robe you leave hanging on a decorative hook, the soap dish or anything else you leave out. Everything in the bathroom should be spotless, including an empty garbage can.

16. Get them to explore.

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Once you have potential buyers in your home, you want to compel them to tour the entire place. So place things that will attract the eyes at the top of staircases or at the end of corridors. It doesn’t have to be something expensive. It could be as simple as a vase of fresh cut flowers or a piece of art on the wall.

17. Those awkward spaces.

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You have to wonder why architects create these spaces. Or if they don’t do it deliberately, at least find a way to minimize them. But if they do exist in your home, find a way to make use of them. A chaise or workstation under a staircase or bookshelves in an odd sized cubby hole in the wall. Turn that odd spot into a feature.

18. Have pets?

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You may be used to their odors. And I’m not saying they are unpleasant odors, but there will be odors. And if you have people that are not pet owners coming into the house, they will smell it. And quite possibly be turned off by it. So make sure rugs and carpets are steam cleaned and all pet toys and bones are hidden away. It’s incomprehensible, but not all people are pet lovers.

19. Help people envision a lifestyle.

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Is your neighborhood known for something? Lush lawns and gardens or being able to spend quite evenings on the front porch? Whatever it is, play it up. Because there is a good chance prospective buyer are looking for that feature in your home. If it’s gardens, make sure your lawn and garden is up to scratch. If it’s the quiet evenings on the porch, make sure your porch invites someone to sit for a while.

20. Stage outside as well.

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Staging doesn’t start once your are inside the door. Buyers are checking things out outside as well. And this doesn’t matter if you have a condo with a micro sized balcony. Set it up with a bistro table and a few chairs. Something that doesn’t have someone thinking, “Wow, this balcony is way too small.” Instead, they are thinking, “Wow, what a cute little spot to sit!”

21. Seasons change.

Make sure you are setting your outdoor scenes in step with the season. So in the summer, your gardens and lawn will look gorgeous. And any summer features like pools and firepits are cleaned and in good shape. And on the crisp, cool autumn and winter days, finish the scene indoors with a nice roaring fire in the fireplace.

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So there you have it. Some of these tips will cost you a bit, and some of they just require you doing a bit of cleaning and moving things around. But hopefully, they will help you sell.

Having said that, here is something important to remember. This is what HGTV has to say on the subject.

“Make no mistake — professional staging is an inconvenience. Your daily routine will be turned, at least temporarily, on its head. And it can be unsettling as you watch your life rearranged to suit the tastes of others. But if selling your home in the shortest amount of time and for the most money is your goal, it is precisely those “others” who should be your focus.”

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North of NYC, HGTV, Flickr –jongorey, House and Hammer

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