Sellers: Tips for Keeping your Staged Home "Show-Ready"

                                After your home is Staged – Open House & Showing Tips for Sellers

• Fully Open all window coverings – you want buyers to see the views & let in all the light

• Turn on lights in hallways and all light fixtures and lamps in each room

• To keep your home smelling fresh, use one of these safe products regularly on carpets, drapes, & upholstered furniture:  Pure Ayre spray or Pure Citrus spray (both are non-chemical and safe for people & pets). Air out the house as often as possible and never allow anyone to smoke inside.
  

• If you have pets, keep their food dishes out of sight; remove the cat litter box to the garage (or outside) for showings.  Try to take pets out of the house & yard during showings (some buyers may not be fond of pets)

• Ensure that the kitchen & bathrooms are kept sparkling clean

• Kitchen counters should be clear except for items that your stager has advised be there

• Kitchen Trash should be removed daily and hidden away out of sight

• Dining table should be staged only with items as recommended by your stager

• Make beds daily, standing up all the decorative pillows

• Keep “good” towels folded in 3^rds on towel racks (put wet towels in the dryer as you leave)

• Ensure that the toilet seat lids are always down in all bathrooms

• Keep all bathroom toiletries stored out of sight in drawers or cupboards

• Bathroom wastebaskets & cleaning supplies should also be stored out of sight

• Replace any burned-out light bulbs in fixtures & lamps throughout the house

• For safety, remove family photos & all items with a family member’s name; hide bills, bank statements & mail; hide all valuables and prescription medicines in a safe place

• TV’s should not be on during showings; if any music is playing, it should be FM easy-listening or light jazz music 

• The walkway to the front door should be kept swept and tidy; colorful pots of flowers are a nice welcoming touch

If you’re selling your home in today’s challenging real estate market, taking a few minutes each day to make sure buyers find your home appealing, clean, and a place they want to call “home” will be well worth your time! For more tips and staging assistance, contact your local home staging professional … we’re here to help!

Maureen Bray ~ HGTV Designer & Home Staging Expert

(Photos by Room Solutions Staging)