Staging on a Budget Can Make a Big Difference When Selling Your Home

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Staging on a Budget Can Make a Big Difference When Selling Your Home

Staging makes a big difference in helping buyers see themselves living in your home. If you don’t have the budget for a professional stager, here’s how to make your home show beautifully for very little money.

Declutter: Make the entry open and welcoming. Declutter closets so buyers can see their size. Put away family photos and personal items such as trophies, awards, and diplomas. Remove extra throw pillows and coffee books, and put extra furniture in storage.

Place furniture to make rooms look spacious: Decide how the room will be used. Empty it to get a feel for the space and to see where furniture should go. Put the largest piece of furniture in the room first, then work the rest of the pieces around it. Don’t block the doorways or the traffic flow, and don’t block views through windows. Lay rugs under furniture to make the room seem larger, and add artwork to add character.

Do some decorating: Where needed, apply a fresh coat of paint to walls and trim. Refinish scratched floors so they don’t look like they need replacing. Put brighter light bulbs in all fixtures…a bright home creates positive feelings. Before showing, set the dining table and add flowers throughout the home.

Freshen up the atmosphere: Air out the home and use air fresheners to eliminate odors from cooking, pets, plants, and anything else with a strong scent. Simple scents work best, such as orange, vanilla, pine, basil, and green tea. But use scents sparingly, you don’t want to overwhelm buyers. Before a showing, bake some great smelling cookies and leave on a dish in the kitchen for your guests.

Pay special attention to the primary bedroom: Go for neutral décor. You want everyone to be able to appreciate this most personal space. It there isn’t a headboard, add one. An inexpensive one brings balance to the space. Eliminate all clutter. Make the master bedroom feel like a place where one can relax and unwind. Choose a comfy bedding. Avoid bold patterns, strong colors, and iron it.

Make a good impression in the bathroom: Remove mold and calcium and soap residue from tile, porcelain, surfaces, and shower door. Get new floor mats and rugs. Add greenery and flowers. Before showings, put in fresh towels, new soaps and shampoos and conditioners in new bottles.