Selling Your Home Action Plan
If you want to sell your home quickly and for a great price, it’s time to go beyond simple cleaning and painting. The key is to create an irresistible space that helps buyers envision their life there. That’s where home staging comes in! Whether you hire a professional or take a DIY approach, these actionable steps will help you get your home market-ready.
Step 1: Emotionally Detach
- Start viewing your home as a product, not a personal space. Detaching emotionally will make it easier to make objective decisions about its appearance and functionality.
Step 2: Depersonalize the Space
- Take down personal items such as family photos, trophies, religious artifacts, and children’s artwork. These can distract potential buyers and prevent them from imagining the space as their own.
Step 3: Declutter and Simplify
- Remove excess furniture and decorative items. Less is more when it comes to staging. Clean, open spaces feel larger and more inviting, allowing buyers to envision their own belongings there.
Step 4: Stick to Neutral Tones
- Repaint any bold or funky-colored walls in neutral shades like soft gray, beige, or white. This ensures the style appeals to a broader audience. Also, swap out artwork that may not suit everyone’s taste.
Step 5: Fix What’s Broken
- Address minor repairs such as leaky faucets, broken windows, or non-functioning light switches. Small issues give an impression of neglect and can raise concerns about other potential problems.
Step 6: Boost Curb Appeal
- Your home only gets one first impression, so make it unforgettable. Mow the lawn, trim shrubs, plant flowers, and ensure the exterior is clean and fresh. Paint trim or doors if needed.
Step 7: Address Pet Presence
- Remove pet odors, clean any animal-related messes, and store toys or feeding bowls out of sight. Whenever possible, arrange for your pets to stay with a friend or be boarded during showings.
Step 8: Deep Clean Everything
- Go beyond basic cleaning. Wash windows inside and out, clean carpets and furniture, power wash exterior surfaces, and ensure your kitchen and bathrooms shine from top to bottom.
Step 9: Elevate Your Decor
- Introduce welcoming touches such as fresh or silk flowers, airy drapery, decorative throw pillows, and elegant accents. If a room feels a bit plain, fresh paint can instantly brighten it up.
Step 10: Stage for Open House Day
- For the big day, pull out all the stops:
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- Place fresh flowers in key areas.
- Light scented candles to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
- Place a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter to add a pop of color.
- Turn on all the lights and keep every door, including bathroom doors, open to create openness.
- Ensure every corner is tidy, from the laundry room to under the beds.
By following these actionable steps, you’ll transform your home into a space buyers can’t resist.
