Selling Your Home - Step 4 Is Staging AND Decluttering!

If you're selling your home, make sure to declutter!

Once all the paperwork is wrapped up, I'll bring in a professional stager to walk through your home with you - room by room. They'll put together a custom list of suggestions, like what to declutter, which pieces of furniture to rearrange, and what might need to go into storage. My stager will then prepare the list for you and send to you within 24 hours of meeting. Included in the list will be Pinterest pictures to use as a guide, if needed! If your home is vacant, we'll also talk through whether you want to stage the entire space, or just a few key rooms.

If you decide to move forward with staging, you'll work directly with the staging company for payment. But don't worry - I'll be there to guide you through the entire process!

Need a little inspiration? Check out these before and after photos to show just how much of a difference staging can make!

I also have a Staging and Decluttering Checklist but remember - everything will be personalized to your home and situation!

Once everything is looking picture-perfect, just give me the green light, and I'll schedule the professional photographer to come and capture your home at its absolute best!

Time to make it shine!

So when you are ready to put your home on the market, there are some things you can do before bringing in the professional stager to help get your home picture perfect and show ready! Below is a checklist you can follow to make sure your home shows to it's very best!

OVERALL

• Thoroughly deep clean the house, including ceiling fans, baseboards, oven & closets!

• Steam clean carpets & rugs. Consider replacing any stained carpets.

• Refinish wood floors if scratched or show damage.

• Fix any nicks, holes or cracks in walls. Repaint if needed. Neutral paint colors only such as beige, cream or light grey. Pale blues & sage greens are good for bathrooms.

• Take down all personal photos & any personalized items.

• Remove all valuables - jewelry, prescriptions! Password protect all computers!

• Make sure all light bulbs are working & place the highest wattage bulbs you can in each fixture! Add lamps to any rooms without adequate lighting.

• Each room should have only one purpose. Your home should no longer look like a home. It should look like a hotel or a model home! Remember, it is no longer your home! It's now a buyer's home!

• Closets and cabinets should not look full. They should look organized and have empty space.

LIVING ROOM

• Remove excess & oversized furniture. The less furniture, the better!

• Rearrange furniture to maximize space. Consider pulling furniture away from walls!

• Furniture should arrange in groupings with a rug anchoring the area.

• Make sure the fireplace is clean - have a chimney sweep clean it.

DINING ROOM

• Push all chairs in & set the table.

• Consider fresh flowers for the middle of the table or a nice candle.

• If you have more than 4-6 chairs, put the additional chairs in storage.

• Remove anything from the dining room that is not food/eating related.

• Before showings, set the table.

KITCHEN

• Remove everything but one or two items from the counter.

• Scrub tile, backsplash, counters and the inside of the oven.

• Organize the inside of your cabinets and pantry.

• Clean and organize your fridge. Don't forget to wipe down the top of the fridge.

• Clean the inside of the microwave.

• Replace old caulking around the sinks.

• Remove stains from sinks.

• Hang fresh towels.

• Change outdated cabinet hardware and make sure it all matches.

• If the kitchen cabinets are outdated, consider painting them white or grey to modernize them.

OFFICE

• Clear your office of all paperwork and personal items.

• Remove anything with your name on it or any other personal information.

• Password protect any computers.

• Put away any bills, valuables, checkbooks, passports, etc. Consider putting these items in a safety deposit box until your home is sold.

BATHROOMS

• Buy new white towels which are only put out for showings.

• Take everything off counters except a plant or apothecary jars filled with qtips, cotton balls, etc.

• Clean out and organize bathroom cabinets.

• Buy a portable shower caddy & put anything on counter that you use in it such as your toothbrush, makeup, etc. Put it under sink before each showing.

• Scrub tiles and consider regrouting shower if needed.

• Replace old caulking around sinks and bathtubs.

• Keep toilet seat lids closed for showings.

• Thoroughly scrub the shower door or consider a new shower curtain.

BEDROOMS

• Make beds before showings.

• Put everything on dressers/nightstands away except a few books, an alarm clock & lamp.

• Organize your closet so that there is one inch of space between each hanging item and so shelves aren't full. Store out of season clothes.

• Laundry hampers should be hidden in the closet, out of sight.

PETS

• Have a place to hide beds, litter boxes, toys & food containers during showings.

• Arrangements should be made for pets to be out of the home during showings.

KIDS

• Put away all toys.

• Hide anything with your child's name or date of birth on it.

• Put away all photos of your child.

EXTERIOR & GARAGE

• Paint the exterior if needed, including trim, doors & shutters.

• Check front door, doorbell, address number & welcome mat.

• Power wash siding & windows.

• Inspect the roof and make repairs as needed.

• Repair cracks in the driveway and sidewalks.

• Sweep the entryway and walkways.

• Mow, water and fertilize the lawn.

• Trim shrubs and trees and rake the leaves.

• Plant colorful flowers & shrubs.

• Store any toys or equipment lying in the yard.

• Clean up pet droppings.

• Clean the gutters & downspouts.

• Organize the garage.

MAINTENANCE

• Hire a chimney sweep.

• Have the outside of windows & your screens professionally cleaned.

• Have your furnace & AC tuned up.

• Change air filters.

• Maintain clean drains by adding a half cut of baking soda followed by a half cup of white vinegar. After 10 minutes flush with boiling water.

• Drain or flush water heater.

• Test smoke & carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the fall.

• Check windows & doors for weather-tightness and install weather stripping where it's needed.

• Have furnace professionally inspected.

• Consider paying for an inspection to be done prior to listing the home.