5 Mistakes To Avoid When Staging Your Home

Don't leave money on the table by forgetting these simple staging steps!

1. Failing to DECLUTTER

Hands down, Number One on the list of things that can harm you when selling your house is CLUTTER. No one wants to be overwhelmed by lots of junk, especially if it is not their own beloved junk!! Before listing your home, it’s a good idea to channel your inner Marie Kondo and let go of things that no longer bring you joy or serve a purpose. (If you do not know who Marie Kondo is, you can check out her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or, on the Netflix series, “Tidying Up”). This includes CLOSETS and DRAWERS. Oftentimes, I will tour a home that feels fairly tidy until I open the door to a closet or pull open a kitchen drawer. Beware of the cascading closet effect!

2. Overlooking the Value of Plants

Plants, plants EVERYWHERE! When it comes to staging, plants add a lot of bang for your buck! They bring a sense of color, pattern, and life into your space and immediately make it feel warmer and more habitable. Don’t have a green thumb? No worries! There are plant rental services available that will deliver, water, and maintain the plants in your home for the duration of your listing. If one should fail to thrive, the service will simply replace it. If you’re in Charleston, look no further than www.foliageaccents.com for a local source.

If you decide to go for it on your own, CLICK HERE for an article on foolproof houseplants:

3. Leaving Family Photos on Display

This often-overlooked recommendation can have a huge psychological impact on potential buyers! The main objective in staging is to showcase your home as a blank canvas that people can imagine inhabiting with their loved ones… That’s kind of hard to do while under the watchful eye of your great aunt Matilda! Bottom line: Store those family photos while your home is on the market. You’ll thank me later.

4. Forgetting to “Clean With Paint”

Sometimes the cheapest instant facelift to a home is achieved through a can of paint! Be sure to choose colors that are neutral, and that will bounce light. I always love a good warm white or the infamous Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. CLICK HERE on the link for a few great white options.

5. Forgetting the Big Value of the Small Spend

If you’re on a budget and don’t have the time or money to deal with painting, you can add an instant pick me to your space up by purchasing some new throw pillows or an area rug. Target always has nice selections in their homewares department. You can also find great deals on Facebook Marketplace. These small changes can up the WOW factor of your space significantly.

Bottom line: Selling your home is all about presenting it in its best light! Staging has the greatest impact on you getting you top dollar for what is potentially your most valuable asset. I offer complimentary staging consultation services to all of my real estate clients. Reach out today to see how I can help you sell your home!