Let me guess: the real estate sign was just planted in your front yard, your home is a mess, and you don’t know where to start.
Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many people find themselves in your exact position. The solution? If you can afford it, hire a professional home staging expert! If not, then just following these seven simple home staging tips.
Outside the House:
1. Hire a landscaping company.
Find someone to trim and maintain the yard while your home is for sale. In addition, plant flowers in window boxes or other little areas around the house for some added color. Remember, great curb appeal is what first attracts buyers to look inside.
2. Pressure wash your sidewalks, driveway, and house front.
You’ll see years of grime and dirt vanish that you didn’t even know you had! Do this step after your landscapers finish—there’s nothing worse than having dirt and grass tracked all over freshly washed pavement.
Inside your Home:
3. Eliminate all the clutter and organize your stuff.
Better yet, just eliminate your stuff! Take excess furniture, chairs, and knick-knacks out of your house. No buyer wants to see your clutter—it makes it hard for them to imagine moving in. Having less furniture will also make your house seem more spacious and inviting. This step can be a truly huge undertaking so don’t do it alone. Get friends and family members to help.
4. Have your carpets professionally steam cleaned.
It’s cheaper than replacing your carpets and just as good in the short term. Even if you’d never pay to have your carpets professionally cleaned just for yourself, this is the time to do it.
5. Hire a professional cleaning service.
Make your house sparkle and shine from top to bottom! House hunters are the pickiest people in the world—they’re buying a home, after all. Besides, having a perfectly clean house is the absolute BEST way to make buyers feel comfortable.
Right before the Visit:
6. Place fresh flowers throughout the house.
Flowers are an easy way to brighten up every home. Add to entryways, dining rooms, and bathrooms for best results. If you’re concerned about pollen allergens in the air, substitute decorative bowls of colorful apples, pears, or even pineapples.
7. Keep it light and airy.
Turn lights on, keep your window coverings open, and make sure your home is at a comfortable temperature before you turn your house over to your agent.
I guarantee that using these seven simple tips for home staging will make your house more appealing and stand out to potential buyers. It won’t replace the job of professional staging experts, but it will definitely help to sell your home.
Peter Stewart is a licensed real estate broker in Portland, Oregon as well as a frequent contributing writer for OHM. Please don't hesitate to contact him with any questions you may have about buying or selling a home in the Portland area.