3 Simple Steps to Meticulous Staging

3 Simple Steps to Meticulous Staging

Just one of the many things I love about real estate is staging. I love the feeling of cleaning out and creating an open atmosphere. However, the challenge of “using what you’ve got” to turn your home into the best it can be can be daunting. Here are three steps to get you motivated and inspired to get it done!

3D rendering of cozy living room on cold winter night in the mountains, evening interior of chalet decorated with candles, fireplace fills the room with warmth.

1. You Have To Pack It Up Anyway, Why Not Start Now!

Your house is going to sell in a New York Minute, right?!? So, why not get a jump on the packing process. Pack away absolutely everything you don’t need for survival. That massive clown collection can probably go. Your plethora of pictures of your little ones surely can be tamed. Take this time to organize! Think about each piece and rate its value. Does this material item truly bring you joy? If the answer is yes, then by all means, carefully pack it up in bubble wrap and place it in a cardboard box. If the answer is no, how about placing it in a donation box to give to someone who will cherish it. Unpacking in your beautiful new home will be so much more pleasurable if all of the items in the boxes are truly your treasures!

2. Arranging Furniture And Decluttering…

This is sometimes a tough one. Some general rules are to find a focal point in your room and place your furniture around that focal point to accentuate it. For instance, if you have a fireplace, place your couch across from it and flank a chair on each side of it. This may not be how you prefer to live with your furniture but it will please the eyes of the masses. Remove any large or oversized furniture. Downsizing your furniture will allow your rooms to look larger. I suggest renting a small storage unit for boxes and furniture that needs to be cleared out. By the end of these two steps your home may feel very empty to you and that is ok! To your future buyer your home will look organized, clean, and well cared for.

3. Don’t Forget The Closets, Cabinets, And Garage!

Think of this as another opportunity to get ahead of the packing game! As far as your closets go, you may have heard of a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe has about 30 pieces in it that you can mix and match to create new looks every day. Have 30 items be your guideline and go from there. Ask yourself what you love in your closet. What fits like it was made for you. Keep those items in and donate or pack up everything else. They say that if you haven’t worn something in a year then you are probably not likely to wear it in the next year.

Declutter your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Take time packing up your Christmas dishes and anything that you don’t use most days. The lotion in the bathroom cabinet that has been there for 3 years is probably ready to be thrown away. There is no judgement, that lotion is sitting in my bathroom cabinet too!

Try to look at staging as saying your final farewell to your beloved home that has housed many wonderful memories. Clean it out and shine it up! Take time to thank every room for what it has meant to you and your family. It may sound silly but putting a positive spin on this process will make it much easier to get through!