The Comprehensive Checklist for St. Louis Home-Staging
Think back to the first time you saw your home. Was it love at first sight? Or were there certain features that won your heart bit by bit, until you were ready to make an offer? When going down the St. Louis home-staging path, your goal is to spotlight the lovability that led you to buy your home. Chances are that the same features that drew you to your home will draw a new owner to your home as well!
Follow the checklist below to emphasize your home’s great qualities and minimize or eliminate distracting flaws through effective St. Louis home-staging.
Clean thoroughly.
From dusting ceiling fan blades to washing second story windows, when you stage your home, you must clean as never before.
Take a whiff.
On the day of a showing, make sure that your home is filled with a neutral, pleasant smell like vanilla or Lysol. Don’t cook strong smelling foods or leave your children’s soccer cleats in a pile next to the door. No one wants to walk through an open house pinching her nose.
Declutter.
Attractive homes are clean and spacious. When your home is full of clutter, your home appears cramped and messy.
Depersonalize.
Your children’s drawings are adorable, and that shelf of obedience school trophies your dog won? Awe-inspiring. Yet, there are people out there who may not like children or dogs. When your lifestyle is prominently exhibited in your home, you limit your home’s air of possibility—and it’s a possibility that buyers are ultimately looking for in a home.
Repaint with neutral colors.
Sure, you love your dramatic red kitchen, but when your home is on the market, you are going for general appeal. Neutral colors like white, taupe, and light green are tried-and-true.
Lighten up!
Open all curtains and replace any lightbulbs that have gone out. You want to present your home in its best light. Literally.
Bring the outdoors in.
Plants make a space feel alive and ready for growth. Fill corners of your home with fresh, healthy plants to encourage buyers to put down roots.
Remove bulky furniture.
Again, you want your home to seem spacious. If prospective buyers have to shimmy between your overstuffed couch and grand sized coffee table, the spaciousness factor declines.
Organize your closets.
Everyone dreams of having a well-organized home. Just check out one of the many Pinterest boards devoted to clever uses of baskets and hooks. If your home is well-organized the first time buyers see it, your home will seem that much dreamier.
Catch up on the honey-do list.
Little things like tightening a loose faucet or filling a nail hole are notorious for slipping through your fingers, but don’t let the accumulation of small flaws cause buyers to slip through your fingers!
Repurpose your rooms.
Maybe you have five children and have converted all available rooms into bedrooms. Or maybe you have no children and your spare rooms have become miscellaneous offices/collector museums/gyms. To give your home more general appeal, shoot for having a couple defined bedrooms and a defined office space.
Add spa details to your bathroom.
Studies have shown that bathroom and kitchen renovations have the biggest profit return. Yet, you don’t need to invest in heavy-duty renovations to transform your bathroom into a spa. Start with coordinated towels and rugs. Add candles and flowers; hide toothbrushes and beauty products.
Put on your apron.
Nothing is quite as inviting as a warm, tasty treat when you walk in the door. Make your guests feel welcome with a fresh cookie or muffin. Good smells are a bonus!
Create vignettes.
While you don’t want your home to feel too personal, you do want to give it a live-able vibe. Conjure up ideas of life in your home by placing an open book on the ottoman or a kettle on the stove.
Highlight selling features.
Use bright colors or recessed lighting to direct attention to the features you love about your home.
Boost curb appeal.
The outside of your home carries the weight of the first impression. Trim your lawn, clean your gutters, and plant fresh flowers. Buyers will be pleased before they even set foot inside.
Selling your home is all about wooing potential buyers. Pull out all the charm stops to ensure that you make the impression you want. A buyer in love is a motivated buyer, one who will work hard to close a deal with you on your home.