​Lisa Wasson

Keep your sinks clear and clean.  This means no dishes, clean or dirty in or around the sink.  This also means that your bathroom sinks should be clear of hair or toothpaste.

Clear and clean the counters.  In the kitchen you should move appliances, jars and any other clutter into the cupboards, storage or waste bin.  In the bathroom this means makeup, hair brushes, dirty soap dishes and anything else aside from perhaps a water glass.  Also, bathroom decors play an important role. You want to make the bathroom feel relaxing and welcoming.

Make appliances shine.  Inside and out!  In the oven you will want to clean the interior walls and the grates.  Outside of the oven you should clean the elements and trays.  Remember to wipe finger prints off appliances.  In the fridge and freezer you should take the shelves out and clean them in addition to wiping down the fridge walls.

House staging, unfortunately, means you will be cleaning regularly.  On a daily basis you need to make sure your bathroom(s) are spotless.  A buyer doesn’t want to see little hairs in the bathtub, grime on the shower walls or splashes under the toilet seat.

Keep the toilet seat down.  An open toilet just isn’t appealing.  A buyer will likely look in the toilet anyhow but an open toilet isn’t what you want the buyer to see when they enter the room.

Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses.  If you can see dirt, clean it up.  If this means wiping/cleaning the insides and outsides of cupboards this is what you need to do.

Mr. Clean eraser bars takes marks off most anything.

Make your floors shine.  Anywhere you have tile or linoleum flooring you should clean almost daily.  A steam mop works wonders.  The power of steam is remarkable.

Clear the cobwebs.  A quick once over with a long handled broom.

Dusting.  Everything from bookshelves to the top of the TV to nick knacks and art.

Pick up garbage. Would you want to buy a home littered?

Wash the windows.  Dirty windows are easy to notice.  Also, clean the screens.

Dirty windows also reduce how much light gets into your house.  You want to get maximum light into your house.  Make sure to open your curtains each morning. 

Power washers are a wonderful tool for your deck, vinyl siding, driveway and sidewalks. 

Clean out the garage.  Garages aren’t expected to be perfect but they also don’t tend to get cleaned as much as other parts of your property.  Organize shelves, clear cobwebs and give your garage a good sweep.

Vacuum the floor.  If you have pets vacuum each day, twice a day to get rid of hair.

Pick up after your dog in the yard.  Not all people like dogs.  A buyer will NOT be happy stepping in a pile of doggie doo.

Clean the cat litter. Every morning before leaving the house.  Not all people like cats.  Also, move the litterbox so it is less likely to be seen by a buyer.

Air out the house. Getting some fresh air into your house is a simple and free way to freshen up a space.

Declutter! This is THE big piece of advice you will get when it comes to house staging. Buyers want to see an open space where they can envision their own belongings.  Go room by room and remove items you don’t love or haven’t used in the past year. Get rid of what is essentially trash: junk mail, old newspapers and magazines, expired food and medicine, broken electronics and televisions, clothing you don’t wear or is beyond repair and old boxes/packaging.  While some items are garbage or recycling material you can also find a new home for goods by donating to charity. 

If you do find you have a lot of stuff/junk you no longer want or need consider taking it to the dump.

Adjust the programmable thermostat. House staging isn’t just visual there is a comfort aspect to it as well.

Use brighter light bulbs.  This brings us back to having a bright space.

De-personalize.  Removal of family and wedding pictures and personal items will make it easier for a buyer to envision themselves living in the space.

Put out a fruit basket. Adding a splash of color to any room can be visually appealing.  Flowers don’t have a long shelf life so using fruit instead does the job.

Put the information out there.  If you have had an inspection done prior to listing and have made all the necessary repairs, leave it on the counter for the prospective buyers to look over with the repair invoices, so they know the work is already completed.  This will make your home look more attractive than others.

Play some music.  You can leave some low volume music playing.  Just be sure it is not offensive or abrasive.  Easy listening is usually a good choice.

Bake your own cookies prior to showing your house.  People really enjoy the smell of freshly baked goods.

You can do house staging outside of your house as well. 

Maintain your lawn. Keep the lawn cut and the weeds wacked.  Continue to trim bushes and water the plants.  Curb appeal is king.

Plant flowers and lay down mulch in flower gardens.  Yellow flowers are known to be appealing to buyers. 

Make your outdoor space look used even if it is not.  You want buyers to envision themselves enjoying this area even if you are too busy to use it yourself.