About Staging: Tips and Tricks

How to maximize your return on investment
when selling your home.

Key Impression's "Tips and Tricks"

Exterior

Repaint, pressure-wash or touch up
Wash windows
Reseed, cut and edge the lawn
Plant new flowers in the yard for color and add bark to exposed dirt
Remove campers, old boats or cars from the driveway
Remove any clutter
Organize the shed, workshop or garage
Repair anything that is broken
House number should be visible from the street

Entrance

Assure that the entrance is visibly accessible and aesthetically pleasing
Repaint front door if needed
Clean the threshold and repair and clean light fixtures
Remove any dead or dying plants
Add colorful potted plants by the front door, space permitting

Hallways

Assure that the house smells fresh…No animal or tobacco scents
Keep lights turned on when showing the house
Add a mirror to enlarge the space if needed
Remove personal or family pictures and limit hallway art

All Other Rooms

Remove clutter
Remove furniture that crowds the room
Remove all personal pictures or distracting or inappropriate art/items
Remove valuables
Clean or replace carpet if necessary
Touch up any paint on walls or ceilings
Paint out any brightly colored walls such as pink and blue bedrooms
Replace older (dated) light fixtures or hardware
Rid all closets of clutter
Clean out the fireplace and place with new firewood on the grate
Remove leaf from the dining table and any chairs that may crowd the room
Remove the cat box from sight and assure there are no animals in the house while showing
Replace bedding if needed, particularly in the master bedroom

Kitchens

Paint dark or older oak cabinets lighter and replace hardware if dated (also applies to bathroom cabinets)
Clean stove and oven
Remove all from top and front of the refrigerator
Replace/Repair any broken tiles and clean grout
Remove clutter from counter tops
Remove any trashcans out of sight Replace older faucets, appliances flooring, etc.

Bathrooms

Hang new towels and shower curtain
Remove tub mats and rugs in front of the toilet
Remove all personal toiletries from vanity and shower
Leave toilet seats closed