Selling House- Quick, easy staging ideas

[puffkin]

We will probably be putting our house on the market in the next week. The housing market is ok here....we really never had the huge bubble and subsequent burst, but it is still a bit slow so looking for any advantage.

Obviously we will be removing everything except what is absolutely necessary to live in the house. Our house is generally very neat and orderly. We will be renting a storage unit for all our stuff.

Here is my list so far:
1. Empty the closets and only have current season clothes. Put everything else in storage.
2. Steam clean carpets. Repeat in high traffic areas every few weeks.
3. Remove all traces of pets for showings (2 cats and 1 dog). They don't have a lot of "gear" so it shouldn't be too hard.
4. Remove all personal pictures from the walls.
5. Completely empty basement and most of garage.

Not sure what else we need to do. Our house is well maintained and generally not too cluttered. I keep it pretty clean but I do have a 3 year old and the 3 animals. What else am I missing?

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

You may want to remove any religous type items from your home. Once while house shopping we looked at a home that had a Vigin Mary in the foyer as you walked in (huge statue) and a kneeler (spelling?) in the bedroom. I just couldn't get past those two things when looking at the home - and I grew up catholic!


Some people say to bake bread or cookies before showings, but I always felt like people were trying to cover up other smells in their homes when they did that.

 

[RadioNate]

My house is currently on the market. The big thing for our agent was making sure all the air vents and tubs were clean. I don't know why he is hung up on that but he is. I guess he sees lots of dirty bathrooms and nasty air vents.

We packed up all the nicknacks and staged our small guest room as a nursery. It was really cramped with a queen sized bed in there but looks roomy with the crib and chair.

We were told the rooms should look 'finished' but not cluttered. He likes some decoration to make it 'homey.' He actually encouraged us to leave the family photos on the wall in my office. There are 3 identical frames neatly hung.

Good luck!

We have a showing tomorrow and I need all the prayers, etc I can get!

 

[agnes!]

Make sure you take a look at your place from the street and think about staging it for curb appeal.

Get the driveway looking as nice as possible. If it's concrete and there are stains, get them scrubbed-off or treat them with concrete-cleaner. If it's blacktop and it needs to be freshly-sealed, get that done before you put it on the market. If there are any weeds or grass that have come up through any cracks, hit them with some Round-Up.

Take care of any plantings or the grass - mow the lawn, remove any leaves or dead branches from the yard, trim back overgrown bushes. Maybe buy some cold-weather flowering plants, put them in some nice pots and place them around/near the front-door.

Ask a friend to look at your house and give you some *easy* ideas of little things that can spruce up that all-important view from your street.

Place all outside trash cans out of sight (maybe get some lattice-work screens to hide them if you must). Pick up any detritus (especially toys, bikes, etc.) that might be cluttering up the yard or outside living areas.

Clear off all kitchen counters as completely as possible.

agnes!

 

[puffkin]

We packed up all the nicknacks and staged our small guest room as a nursery. It was really cramped with a queen sized bed in there but looks roomy with the crib and chair.

We have a showing tomorrow and I need all the prayers, etc I can get!

Good luck on your showing! We currently have the crib/chair/dresser in our old nursery, but also using that as our computer room. I am thinking about moving the computer and staging that room as a nursery, but the only other place to put it is our bedroom. Not sure what to do about that one!

Make sure you take a look at your place from the street and think about staging it for curb appeal.

Thanks for the suggestions! This is one area I know we are excellent in. Our house has awesome curb appeal....we get comments on it all the time. Our landscaping is a bit blah this time of year but it is better than most of the neighborhood during the winter. We do have a little heather that is blooming now and some other evergreen plants, but not sure what else would work in the winter (its COLD here right now). I am going to put candles in the front window and leave the porch lights on at night for anyone who drives by.

 

[abdmom]

Put the toys out of sight. If your child is still in diapers, make sure the diaper trash is removed before each showing.

 

[puffkin]

Thats another area I need help with! We currently have all the toys in what would be the dining room. We have two really nice cube organizers with fabric totes that his toys are in. We also have a traditional toy box that bigger toys are in. There is a train table and a small art table/easle as well in there. Everything is put away nightly/organized. Not sure what else to do with that room. Ideally I would rent/borrow a dining room table and stage that room, but that doesn't really seem realistic with a 3 year old. He needs some toys and there really isn't anywhere else to put them. It was much easier to stage our old house when we didn't have a kid!

 

[hopemax]

When we were looking at houses, the things I would notice

1. Dark rooms. For showings, pull back curtains, open blinds. Be open to replacing light fixtures. I saw quite a few rooms with single bulbs that really needed to be those 2 or 3 bulb fixtures.

2. When I helped my Dad prep their house, I deep cleaned everything. I thought this would be a standard thing to do before selling, but apparently not. Besides, pet urine, these were the things I would notice.

a. Hand prints all over door frames, knobs and light switches.

b. Kitchen grease on cabinets, hood, ceilings.

c. Bathrooms - The Works cleaner + a magic eraser can take most everything off, but if mildew has gotten into the silicon, redo it.

 

[mlynn]

My aunt buried a St Joesph statue in her yard and her house sold in 2 weeks.

 

[RadioNate]

My aunt buried a St Joesph statue in her yard and her house sold in 2 weeks.

I buried one 2 weeks ago....tomorrow is our first showing. St Joseph better come through for me! I think he is mad since he's been left buried at the last 2 houses we sold!

 

[puffkin]

Wanted to add the house is 5 years old, new construction so it is pretty up to date. Great idea about the kitchen cabinets though, I am going to wipe them down and polish them up!

Another question. We have a small landing at the top of the steps. There are a bunch of doors off this landing (all 3 bedrooms, a bathroom and double doors to the laundry closet). Would it be better to have all the doors open for showings (except the laundry closet) or keep them all closed so that the buyers can open each one and be surprised?

 

[Robinrs]

Don't forget the smells in the house. Nothing perfumy, cinnamon in a boiler or light scents definitely help!

Good luck!

 

[usnuzuloose]

When we sold ours I put out some inexpensive flowers. I also simmered some cinammon sticks. Made the home smell pleasant. Just declutter. Also think about what you yourself would be looking for as a home buyer yourself. I hope you sell your home very quickly. Jo

 

[chicagoshannon]

I think the biggest thing at the moment is to price it lower then all of the rest of the houses. If you are able to do that it will sell quickly. With a 3 year I'm sure that's what you want.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thats another area I need help with! We currently have all the toys in what would be the dining room. We have two really nice cube organizers with fabric totes that his toys are in. We also have a traditional toy box that bigger toys are in. There is a train table and a small art table/easle as well in there. Everything is put away nightly/organized. Not sure what else to do with that room. Ideally I would rent/borrow a dining room table and stage that room, but that doesn't really seem realistic with a 3 year old. He needs some toys and there really isn't anywhere else to put them. It was much easier to stage our old house when we didn't have a kid!

I am going to tell you not to go that route. Get totes and then put the toys in the closet when you are having a showing. He won't be able to have his toys for a bit but as soon as you have a buyer he will get them back.

Stage that dining room and get rid of the toys & big toy box unless it can go into his bedroom (otherwise store it at the shed). Store the train table and art easle in the storage shed.

I know your 3yo won't be happy however when you put your house on the market and you are fresh meat, plus it is the height of the season you have to do it up.

That is my 2 cents. Otherwise everything else sounds great!

And for the love of everything do not do any funky stinky scents. I hate them and my dh is allergic. Plus it makes the buyer think you are covering up stinky pets, mold, etc....

 

[agnes!]

Wanted to add the house is 5 years old, new construction so it is pretty up to date. Great idea about the kitchen cabinets though, I am going to wipe them down and polish them up!

Another question. We have a small landing at the top of the steps. There are a bunch of doors off this landing (all 3 bedrooms, a bathroom and double doors to the laundry closet). Would it be better to have all the doors open for showings (except the laundry closet) or keep them all closed so that the buyers can open each one and be surprised?

Open all the doors, otherwise that landing will visually seem smaller than it probably actually is. If the doors are open then prospective buyers will see the space beyond the landing and that space will expand their perception of the landing itself.

agnes!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What about your pictures? Have you had them yet?

My tricks there are take everything off your counters in your bathrooms/kitchens. Maybe a well placed decoration however that it is. Don't have the toaster, coffeemaker, etc...out for the pic's.

Also, take up ALL small area rugs, like in the kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, door entrances, etc. Amazingly it makes the pics online look so much better and the room looks bigger.

You can put the stuff back after the pic.

 

[puffkin]

I am going to tell you not to go that route. Get totes and then put the toys in the closet when you are having a showing. He won't be able to have his toys for a bit but as soon as you have a buyer he will get them back.

Stage that dining room and get rid of the toys & big toy box unless it can go into his bedroom (otherwise store it at the shed). Store the train table and art easle in the storage shed.

A big reason we are selling is because we have teeny tiny bedrooms and no closets. The master is HUGE but the other two are small 10' x 10'. So his room is not an option for toys.

This is the cube organizer we have in the Expresso finish with Dark Tan fabric bins:

We have two of these side by side. They really do look sharp and match the decor of the adjoining living room. I bought them because I wanted something I could use well after the toy stage was over. I am wondering if I can use them as a "buffet" in the room and put a dining table in there but remove everything else. That way there would still be room for some toys but they would be out of sight in the bins for the showings. Hmmmmm.....

Everyones ideas/advice has been really helpful and given me lots to think about!

 

[SaraJayne]

A big reason we are selling is because we have teeny tiny bedrooms and no closets. The master is HUGE but the other two are small 10' x 10'. So his room is not an option for toys.

This is the cube organizer we have in the Expresso finish with Dark Tan fabric bins:

We have two of these side by side. They really do look sharp and match the decor of the adjoining living room. I bought them because I wanted something I could use well after the toy stage was over. I am wondering if I can use them as a "buffet" in the room and put a dining table in there but remove everything else. That way there would still be room for some toys but they would be out of sight in the bins for the showings. Hmmmmm.....

I would do like you're thinking ~ leave them up and use as a visual "buffet" but find a way to get a table/chairs in the room to show buyers it's a dining room.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What you do is toss the toys in the totes and put the totes in your closet or in the garage.

Get the stuff out of the dining room and stage it. If you do not do that it will be the thing people identify you house as.

You would be known as "toys in the dining room" house.

It is not a positive connotation.