Staging Tips

The following tips are from the April-June, Vol 89 No. 2 issue of Insight magazine (NAR):

-- Place a new floor mat at entry, a new mailbox if existing one is aged, and new mulch around flower beds
-- Paint, stain, or varnish front door and install a new kick plate
-- Clean and de-clutter foyer (light fixtures and floor); add a small entrance table with fresh flowers
-- Put away all "collections", political and religious mementos, and business, sport, and personal awards
-- Remove all crowded furniture
-- Remove extra leaf from dining room table and place nice white tablecloth and flower arrangement on it
-- Remove all magnets from refrigerator and stow all small appliances in cabinets
-- Downplay dated ceramic tile with white rugs, towels, and window treatments; replace rusty sinks or touch up rusty spots; repair or replace old exhaust fans
-- Clean out closets to make them appear larger
-- Remove stains from garage floors
-- Clean all windows and cobwebs in corners
-- Repair all screen holes or replace completely; make sure outdoor furniture is clean and orderly

As you can see, most of these are very simple and cheap... but the impact they can have can make a huge difference!