How to Stage Your Home for Sale: Part 2

Chantelle Rose
April, 2024

Are you ready for How to Stage Your Home for Sale Part 2?

Forgive me for the length of this article however it’s an in-depth topic that as an agent, I believe is super important when it comes to selling your home.

So again, grab a coffee or a tea and enjoy the read!

The Importance of Repairs

Before listing your home for sale, ensure all obvious critical repair work is complete. The fact is, the more faults the buyers find with your home, the greater their bargaining position.

Plus, a poorly kept home gives the buyer a bad first impression, which is normally imprinted in their mind within the first 8 seconds of entering your home. Convincing them otherwise will be almost impossible.

The only exception would be if the home is sold as a “renovator’s delight”, where the location or land is the most attractive element of the home.

What to Repair – The Checklist

I understand that budget can impact on what a seller can and cannot repair however here’s a list for consideration:

Floors and ceilings – look for and address any cracks.
Bathroom and kitchen fittings – old or worn taps, handles, towel rails and toilet roll holders.
Lighting and ventilation – ensure all lights have working bulbs and fans and air conditioning units are cleaned.
Doors and windows – ensure they open and close freely.
Paint on the inside and out – one of the easiest and most dramatic things to impact the overall presentation of your home.
Drainage system around the home – pooling water is bad and should be addressed.

If all the above checkboxes are ticked, and the home is well kept, then you can easily justify pricing your home at the top of its value.

Be Accessible

Try to make sure that you are available to your agent to answer any questions prospective buyers might have about your home, despite your schedule. It gives an impression that you have confidence in it and it also ensures your home gets sold quickly and for the right amount.

Owners who are slow to respond to queries lose many potential buyers purely by being inaccessible.

Dogs and Pets

Unusual or weird pets, such as snakes, spiders or rats, might not make the desired impression to most buyers – send them on a holiday while you are selling.

Dogs are also best kept off the premises during an inspection, just in case the buyer is allergic or does not like dogs or pets in general. Cat or dog fur on furniture or around the home is also a big turn-off.

The Stink Factor

Nobody wants a smelly home.

This can be the easiest and swiftest way to get rid of a potential buyer. Blocked drains, the smell of urine (or worse) in the bathroom, cigarette smoke permeating the furniture, rotten smells in the kitchen, burned food, mildew, staleness and dust, are just a few of the unwanted smells in the home.

Even spraying the whole home won’t do it. If a pet soils a rug or carpet and there is that astringent smell you can’t seem to get rid of, put it in storage until you’ve sold the home.

White Walls

For any repainting being done on your home before selling, seriously consider with white or another neutral colour. This actually creates a sense of spaciousness and light, the two most desirable factors buyers seek in a home.

Welcoming Touches

Vases of fresh flowers and freshly baked biscuits tend to invite in the potential buyers inspecting the home. Such things make them want to linger and imagine themselves living there.

Fresh flowers, ventilation, light and good smells are simple details that matter quite a lot in home staging. It also helps in creating the good first impression that might very well influence the buyer to invest in your home.

Check Regularly

Continuous and regular inspections are vital to see everything is in place as long as the home is on the market. Although staging a home might be tiresome, imagine the feeling when your home sells faster at or above your goal price.

Home Staging Step-by-Step

Are you ready for the final section of How to Stage Your Home for Sale?

Great! Well, the best thing about staging a home is that it can be done professionally, or you can do it yourself.

Engaging a home-staging professional has its own advantages. They know what the market is looking for and how to deliver it cost effectively. However, it is an added cost to consider as they will charge a fee.

This step by step home-staging guide will help you get the best possible result for a minor outlay. Since you do it yourself, you may even ask for a higher price or have a greater bargaining power.

Different buyers will have different tastes, wants and needs, but there are certain fundamental elements which are universal, and when applied, can never go wrong.

Outdoor Staging

Garden

If your home has a garden, it might be one of the key selling points that attracts a buyer to your home, so you need to present it at its absolute best. Ensure it enhances your properties presentation by having it well cared for. This also gives the impression that it’s easy to maintain.

A garden maintenance company can help you do this at an extra fee, but with the right tools and equipment, the following checklist can help you along. Investing in some plants to give your garden a lift might also go a long way in enhancing the entry and soothing any unattractive areas.

Garden Checklist

Spread a lawn lifter a month out to energise your lawn.
Clear any rubbish or loose items that don’t belong.
Keep the lawn mowed and its edges trimmed.
Repair garden bed edging.
Trim back bushes and trees.
Enhance key areas with healthy plants.
Clear any fallen leaves from the garden daily.
Weed the garden and lay fresh mulch to garden beds. It’s absolutely worth it!

Home Facade

Pressure clean the external surfaces of your home. A fresh coat of paint or varnish to doors, trims and stairs can have a big impact.

For timber homes, repainting the exterior certainly enhances its appearance, and at times a change in colour is called for. If the budget doesn’t allow for a total paint job, you can freshen up the exterior by simply touching up those spots that need the most attention.

Clear out the gutters. Fix any obvious damage to the facade, including the fence, wire or metal doors, etc. Once all the above is done, it gives the impression that your home is well cared for.

Home Facade Checklist

Make a list of the obvious things that need attention.
Spot and budget for painting where and when necessary.
Wash down painted surfaces and remove cobwebs.
Have a functioning letterbox that stands straight.
Clear out gutters and fix any damage
Check that all doors open and close easily.
Clean dirt and loose gravel off concrete, paved paths and steps.

Entry

This is the entry point to your home and it’s what the prospective buyer sees as soon as they land on your property. First impressions are created from this point forward and so it should be as inviting as possible.

Your front door should be sparkling clean and with no squeaks. The entrance should also be well lit and ventilated. Welcoming fresh air or a sweet aroma should invite the buyer into the home.

Entry Checklist

Keep the pathway clean and stable.
Get a new Welcome mat.
Check the doors to ensure they are in good condition, clean and open easily and with no squeaks.
Refresh the paint on your front door if necessary.
Clear all clutter from your entry. This gives the impression of ample space.
Ensure any entrance lights have new bulbs and are in good working order.

Indoor Staging

Living Areas

This is the area where your buyers will imagine themselves and their belongings. It should be fresh and inviting, encouraging enjoyment and relaxation with loved ones. Any personal belongings such as family photos, magazines and newspapers, and your CDs and DVDs should be packed away.

Take time to repaint the walls with a neutral colour to open up the space and brighten the room. Check that the furniture, cushions, throw rugs and paintings are appropriate and fit the current trend. Don’t add too much of your own personal touch. Remember, if your furniture is worn out or not so on trend, you can always cover it with neutral fabric covers, or even rent new furniture for a short time.

Living Areas Checklist

Clear away personal belongings like photos, family portraits, magazines and newspapers.
Pack up your CD and DVD collection.
Encourage interaction using the furniture placement to promote conversation.
Paint the walls in neutral colours.
‘Lift” the area with stylish throw rugs, cushions and artwork. You can add or remove floor rugs to either give colour or open up the area.
Clear unnecessary furniture that crowds the room.

Kitchen

There is nothing worse than an unclean kitchen. Untidy kitchen drawers tend to show disorganisation and give the impression of a dysfunctional kitchen.

Before putting your home on the market, follow this checklist.

Kitchen Checklist

De-clutter the entire kitchen – if you haven’t used it in the last 12 months, get rid of it!
Clear benchtops to allow for a working space. Store away appliances like the toaster, blender, juicer, mixer etc. in cupboards to make your kitchen look bigger.
Have well organised, clean, neat and tidy drawers.
Have your kitchen clean and healthy looking. This allows the buyers to imagine themselves preparing meals and enjoying family meals together with their loved ones. Use commercial quality cleaning products and detergents so that all surfaces shine and sinks and taps sparkle.
Ensure there is ample and attractive quality lighting to the room. Replace or repair existing light fittings if necessary.
Have a simple dining table set up, or even bar stools to give buyers an easy casual dining option.
Clean the inside and the casing of the refrigerator, the dishwasher, cooker and any other equipment in the room. Make the stovetop and elements sparkle and shine.
Don’t forget to clean the rangehood! Place filters in the dishwasher and ensure the light works.

Bathroom and Toilet

This is the most sensitive area and needs special attention. Some of the things to consider include:

Bathroom and Toilet Checklist

Use commercial and quality cleaning products to remove scum stuck around the bathtub and any mould on the walls.
Ensure your shower is scrubbed clean, using a descaling solution on the door frame, hinges and tapware if necessary.
To preserve the life of your shower, refrain from using cakes of soap and go for gels or soap free liquids instead. Wipe it dry after each use and you’ll prevent build up on the screens and mould from forming on the grout.
If there are cracks in any bathroom glass or mirrors, have them replaced.
Ensure the toilet is clean, the seat and lid are down and a new white toilet roll is placed in the holder. Remove any toilet brushes or mats.
Ensure all bathroom products are hidden away and place just a fresh white or chrome soap dispenser on the vanity in place.
Remove the washing basket and store it out of sight.
Lastly, display fresh new white towels and if appropriate to the space, add some fresh flowers or scented candles.

Bedrooms

The bedrooms should give a feel of peace and comfort when one enters. A neutral, spacious and airy effect is what you should aim at. Here are some tips and things to work on to achieve just that with utmost ease.

Bathroom Checklist

If repainting, soft neutral tones are your safest bet.
Make the beds, and brighten the rooms with clean, fresh and crisp bedding, sticking to neutral or white bed linen and adding a pop of colour with throws, pillows and cushions.
Don’t be frightened to use lots of pillows of different sizes – European pillows, standard pillows plus cushions are not too many.
Keep your wardrobes and drawers tidy. Declutter them and remove excess furniture – where possible bedrooms should have beds, bedside tables and not much else.
Wash and iron the curtains, fix the broken blinds, keep window sills clean and curtains washed and smelling fresh.
Be confident enough to let the buyers inspect each and every inch of your bedroom and every other room.

Laundry Room

It can be very easy to forget and neglect such a room. Don’t leave dirty washing lying around or wet washing in the machine on a hot day.

Laundry Room Checklist

Have it well lit and bright
Declutter. Only have the essentials on show, such as an attractive peg bucket or neatly folded new towels in a neutral colour.
Polish the tub.
Clean the outside of the washing machine and dryer – ensure there is no build up of lint or dust on the walls or in the corners.
Hide dirty clothes and make sure there is no washing left on the clothesline.
Put the ironing board away.

Stage Your Home for Sale Summarised

Everybody wants a good looking and well maintained home. Usually, a home that looks good sells faster and at a higher price than one that is not well maintained. Cleanliness will go a long way towards encouraging potential buyers to consider being in your home. Mowed grass, weeded gardens and neatly trimmed bushes are some of the things that can be seen straight away – even when buyers are driving by. They add to your home’s overall appeal and are key to creating that all important first impression.

Repairs are vital and must be done before putting your home on the market. They make the home more appealing to buyers. Even minor repairs can do wonders for a home’s desirability.

Arranging the furniture in a way that makes a room look larger also works to your advantage. Furniture can be moved to better showcase your home’s assets and create the best look, facilitating ease of movement yet encouraging closeness to the people living in the home. Ensure that everything is arranged in a way that enhances the natural architecture and lighting of the room.

I hope this helps you in staging your home and putting it up for the highest dollar with ease and minimal stress.