Seller Services: Selling A Home

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 When placing anything from accent pillows and table lamps, go for symmetry, which is pleasing to the eye. Light it up with lamps. Chic lamps provide both added lighting and appealing decor. If you’re using staging furniture or buying slip covers, choose light colors for an airy, inviting feel. Whatever amount of furniture you have in your living room, remove a few pieces to make the room feel spacious. 

 The Real Estate Staging Association strongly recommends stainless steel. Tip: You can get the look of stainless for the cost of a cheap dinner with stainless films. Remove those fridge magnets and give the door and handles a good cleaning. Scrub dirt, grime, and stains from walls, cabinets, and backsplashes. Clean cabinet interiors, especially under the sink. Clean and organize the pantry, leaving some empty space to make it look bigger. Store items in decorative baskets and display a few jars of fancy jam and other upscale condiments. Empty all trash cans and move them out of sight. 

Go gender neutral in the master bedroom. Ditch those dainty, floral pillow shams or NASCAR posters. Pack up all but the clothes you’re wearing this season to make your closets look larger. Swap out the motley crew of mismatched hangers in your closet for a set of wooden ones to create a classy, boutique look. Put jewelry and other valuables in a safe spot. Consider giving extra bedrooms a new identity as a home office, sewing room, or other interesting function. Remove televisions or video game consoles from bedrooms to depersonalize and create a serene setting. 

Scrub and sanitize the walls, floor, shower door — Spend extra time scrubbing that tile grout and recaulk around the tub if necessary. If your bathroom tile is dated, try paint instead of replacing it. Remove clutter from the countertop, tub, and top of toilet. Pack up and hide all your personal products — from medicine to razors. Create a luxury spa look with a fancy soap dispenser, fluffy white towels, decorative baskets, candles, plants, a white shower curtain, and a new bath mat. Fix leaky or running toilets and replace toilet seats. Remove hard water stains on faucets and shower heads. Clean them out and deodorize with baking soda, boiling water, or vinegar. 

Let buyers entertain the idea of entertaining. Set out some chic place settings around the table, or a few wine glasses and a decanter on the buffet. Strike a balance between overly formal and too casual with an attractive runner and a few fun, decorative elements — think small floral vases or short candle holders. 

 Brighten it up with a decorative mirror. Neutralize the walls. If any rooms are painted in dark colors, repaint white or beige. Paint adjacent rooms the same color to make the whole space feel larger. Fill nicks and holes in walls, and touch up with paint. Sorry, wood paneling. It’s time. Paint over paneling with a neutral color. To really cover your tracks, use wood filler between panels and paint over the entire thing. Make sure every switch plate and outlet cover matches and looks brand new. Wash the windows, inside and out. Repair any holes or tears in screens. Replace those family portraits with interesting art placed strategically throughout the house. Avoid leaving dead space on walls. 

 Buy a new doormat to welcome home buyers. Power wash the house exterior, walkway, steps, driveway, and porch until everything sparkles. Make sure the locks and doorbell function. Make that mailbox look clean and welcoming, or get a new one. Plant lots of colorful blooms in attractive pots and planter beds. Trim back trees and shrubs from the approach to the front door. Whip that yard into shape with fresh sod or new seed Store yard equipment and children’s toys out of sight. Repair shaky banisters. Dress up any imperfect planting area with mulch. Make sure entryway lights function and are free of cobwebs and insects. Hide trash cans, recycle bins, and garden hoses. Don’t forget your outdoor living space. Stage your patio like a second living room, with fashionable furniture, accent pillows, an outdoor rug, and other patio-friendly decor. 

 Scrub those pet stains on the carpets and rugs until totally gone or replace them if necessary. Pet odors soak into your best friend’s favorite things. Completely remove pet beds (or Fido’s most-loved couch), blankets, toys, play structures, food bowls, and the like. Use air fresheners that eliminate rather than mask odors. There’s nothing worse than the smell of artificial pine with kitty litter undertones. Repair or remove any furniture that’s been scratched or gnawed on. Clean all pet “presents” from the yard. Keep cat boxes immaculate and hidden or — better yet — see how your feline-loving friends feel about a temporary houseguest and remove litter boxes altogether. Remove any dog or cat doors. Pets? What pets? When you leave the house for a viewing, take all the furry (or feathery or scaly) residents along with you. Make a pet hair sweep the last thing you do before you leave the house.