06 Dec DIY Home Staging

I have been selling real estate for 11 years and in that span of time, 90% of the homes that I’ve listed have needed “home staging” of some sort or another.

BEFORE DIY home staging

Home staging is the act of preparing a home for sale, to maximize its appeal to buyers in the market.

Staging your home for a quick sale should not be a difficult or expensive process. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to stage your home properly before putting it on the market. So with that said, here are some tips that I have gathered over the years that will not only help you make your home look fabulous, but will also help you get the highest price for your investment.

So where do we start? The first thing you will need to do is “de-clutter”.

Over the years we tend to accumulate things that we no longer need or have use for. Get rid of the old CDs, old board games and toys, newspapers and magazines. Pack everything up and donate to a women’s shelter or the Salvation Army, just make sure you get rid of all the accumulated “Junk”. Ask yourself, “when was the last time I actually used this?” or “when is the last time I actually wore this?”. If it’s been more than a year, throw it in the box.

AFTER DIY home staging

After you have finished de-cluttering, get prepared for a deep cleaning of your property.

If you like, you can hire a cleaning service do it for you. There are many companies in the city that will send over a full cleaning crew for a modest fee. If you prefer to tackle the job yourself well then all the power to you! You will be needing bleach, a good rag or sponge, a mop, a vacuum cleaner , soap, duster, and a Mr Clean Magic Eraser (very handy). Start by tackling the hard-to-reach corners of the house, grime in between your bathroom tiles, your dusty heating elements, your greasy kitchen backsplash. Sometimes household dirt becomes part of the landscape and you don’t even see it anymore. Just because you no longer see the pet hair stuck to your moldings does not mean the buyers won’t see it. A deep clean will also help get rid of unwanted orders and dust mites. Regardless of whether or not your home sells, there is nothing more gratifying than a clean fresh smelling home.

Once we have de-cluttered and the property is clean and fresh, it’s time to paint the town white!

Over the years I have experienced that adding the color white to a home will help sell it faster and for more money. Get rid of brown or blue bathroom towels and replace them with white ones. If you do not want to spend money on a beautiful white duvet cover get rid of the leopard patterned one you might own altogether and just leave the duvet bare.  The look of white makes a room look bigger, cleaner and brighter.

BEFORE

Another tip that will add thousands of dollars to your pocket would be to paint the bold accent walls or dark painted rooms a white or linen colour. You  would not believe the difference that a paint job will make. It will look bigger, brighter and all around pleasant.

Last but not least make sure all bedrooms are finished as “BEDrooms”.

If you have been using a spare room as storage area, after the clutter is gone (and perhaps you’ve painted), add a mattress with sheets on it, a dresser and night tables.  I sometimes suggest to my clients that if you do not have the furniture or the money to spend, just go to IKEA and purchase inexpensive stuff that will make the difference. It’s a one stop shop. Make sure you keep the receipts as they have a fabulous return policy and will gladly take any furniture back within 45 days.  Furniture, area rugs and accessories make spaces look much bigger and lived in. It will be worth your time.

AFTER

Staging your home does not have to be an expensive task nor is it necessary to hire professionals in my opinion. It is quite possible to do it on your own and on a budget.  Trust me, doing so will not only save you thousands of dollars but help you sell your home quicker and for the top dollar it can get. Happy Staging!