Aug 30, 2022
Staging your home for sale
How to Stage a House ready for Sale (While Living In It)
Staging a vacant house is easy because you have got a clean slate and can choose the style, but staging a house for sale while still living in it can prove to be more difficult. We are going to use our knowledge and expertise to help you successfully stage a house to sell while you’re still living in it.
Even though staging a house for sale while living in it can be a challenge, it is worth the effort because a well-staged home is listed with a top real estate agent because it opens the potential for faster sales and higher offers. When you’re staging a house for sale, you want to showcase a clean and spacious space where buyers can visualize the property as their future home.
Does Staging Help Sell Houses?
Yes, staged homes sell faster because they provide a strong first impression and stand out from the other properties on the market and it allows buyers the opportunity to visualise themselves in the property.
Staging can also impact the amount that buyers are willing to spend on a property. It can also greatly decrease the amount of time a home spends on the market.
In addition to this, TV programs have noticeably impacted buyers’ expectations of a potential property. More buyers are expecting homes to look like homes staged on the tv shows they are bingeing on, causing more disappointment in how homes appeared. If you have a house that satisfies their expectations, you’ll be the one to get the offer!
Can You Stage a Home While Living In It With Kids or Pets?
Even if you have pets or children, you can still stage a home for sale while living in it. And you should!
Many buyers only take seconds to decide whether they are interested in your home or not. First impressions count.
Here is a guide that will provide you with the tips to confidently list a staged home while you’re still sleeping, eating, and living there.
How Do I List My House While Living In It?
In today’s market, many people don’t have the option to move out during the sales process so are trying to sell their house while still living in it. People moving up in house, downsizing, or moving to a new location often list their house for sale while still living in it.
To successfully sell a house while living in it, follow these six steps:
Mentally move out
Declutter, declutter, declutter
Deep clean
Stage
Keep it tidy with quick cleans
Stay busy outside of the house
1. Mentally move out
Even if you’re physically living on the home, if you’re listing it for sale, you need to mentally “move out.” Change your mindset from this being your home to this being someone else’s house. This is the key goal after all. By mentally perceiving your house as the next project to become someone else’s house will help you more easily:
Use these key points to “move out” of your property and get it ready for sale:
take pictures off the walls and shelves
pack away treasured collections
remove children’s artwork from the refrigerator
2. Declutter
Many people think of adding things to help stage a property, but removing things (aka decluttering) is actually a key step in successfully staging.
You want your home to have just enough furniture and decor for buyers to see themselves living there, putting their feet up on the couch by the fireplace, enjoying the peaceful front patio or back deck, and sleeping in the cosy bedrooms. What to do with the rest of the stuff? Pack it away in neatly stacked boxes, somewhere like the garage, or even better at friends’ houses or a storage unit. You want to be able to showcase the space, so potential buyers can envision their things and future memories in your staged space.
How to involve your kids
This is a big step for them too, so make sure you keep them involved in the process. Allow kids to pick a few of their favourite toys to keep out during this time your house is on the market and available for home opens. When it’s time for home opens, have a designated shelf or spot for them to put away.
Allow kids to pack up special artwork for the next house and put it in a special box so they know it’s not going to be lost or left behind.
After mentally moving out and physically removing a lot of your items, you should be left with a house that looks like someone lives in it and has neutral decor. Then it’s time to add the finishing touches, light sheer curtains, a fresh front door mat, and fresh flowers or plants are easy ways to freshen your house ready to sell.
Next, you’ll want to make sure the house shows well in pictures and for showings by making sure it is really clean!
3. Deep clean
Set aside enough time to deep clean your entire house. You can do it yourself or hire someone to do it, but make sure you get everything from dead bugs in the window sills to spider webs under the eaves.
Dust Shelves, Furniture, & Surfaces
Vacuum Floors, Window Sills, Rugs, and Garage
Wash Windows & Mirrors
Sweep
Mop
Wipe Down Counters
Wipe Down Appliances
Clean Toilets (inside & out), Mirrors, and Showers
4. Stage
From our experience and knowledge, the most important rooms to be staged are the:
Living Room
Master Bedroom
Kitchen
Dining Room
So if you’re limited on time and energy, make sure you focus on those four areas first.
If you want to present the best property possible, here are staging guidelines to follow:
Outside
Make sure your home also has great curb appeal. A warm, clean, and inviting front of the house will invite more buyers to come in and want to view the rest of the house.
Mow grass – including the verge
Weed flower beds and lay down fresh mulch
Fill in empty beds & window boxes with small shrubs & seasonal flowers (the colour is key)
Freshen up the paint on window trim and front porch
Sweep front porch & remove cobwebs
Paint the front door and/or shutters a lively colour that coordinates with the rest of the home colours
Replace your welcome mat
Clean & arrange patio furniture – a couple of chairs on the front porch is always very inviting
Replace cushions, if needed
Pick up all pet waste
Repair damaged deck boards & fencing
Pressure wash the house & driveway
Inside
Inside, your goal is to showcase a bright, organised, and clean home, so before pictures & showings:
Turn on all lights and lamps
Open all blinds & curtains to let in as much natural light as possible
Clean windows
Open doors to bedrooms, offices, etc.
Closet doors do not need to be opened, but closets should be tidy because buyers will look inside to see what space is available! Trust us, they do look.
Living Areas
Group furniture surrounding a coffee table and anchor with a rug
Face the couch toward the focal point in the room or toward the first line of sight when walking into a room, as if to welcome guests to “come and sit for a while”
Replace worn-out pillows and rugs
Pack away personal items like photos and knick-knacks
Remove extra furniture to showcase space
Remove stacks of paper, magazines, mail, etc.
Neatly stack books and simple decor on the coffee table and side tables
Plants and flowers add colour and life to the room
Hang light sheer curtains
Bedrooms
Make beds & fluff bed pillows
Replace heavy drapes with sheers
Clear nightstands of clutter.
Pack away personal items & photos
Leave or hang a few pictures with neutral tones
Organize closets by colour
Donate all clothes and shoes you no longer wear to showcase more closet space
Kitchen
Pack away rarely used small appliances and occasional crockery
Go easy on buying groceries and use up items in your pantry to showcase more space
Declutter countertops
Before pictures and showings, tuck away soap, sponges, napkins, paper towels, and dishes
Scrub counters, backsplash, and appliances
Remove personal items like fridge magnets, photos, and children’s artwork
Change outdated hardware for something more modern
Consider giving your kitchen cabinets a facelift and brightening up your kitchen by painting your cabinets white
Empty the trash often and before every showing. Funky smells do not help homes sell!
Bathrooms
Store daily items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap out of sight
Put down toilet seats and lids
Hang a simple, plain white shower curtain
Keep a white hand towel and throw rug to put out before showings (not for kids to use!)
Tidy up open shelves
Put a fresh, small bouquet of flowers in a vase on the vanity
5. Keep your house clean & tidy
Once you get your home show-ready, little things each day can help you keep it that way…or close. We know living with kids and pets can make this challenging, but being intentional and vigilant about a few simple routines will help your home stay looking staged even while you’re still living in it.
Daily Routines:
Make beds every morning
Clean shower when you’re showering
Wash dishes after every meal or run the dishwasher every evening
Wipe down counters and bathroom vanities after use
Schedule robot vacuum daily (or manually vacuum daily if you don’t have one)
Tidy up morning and evening putting everything back in its staging place
Involve kids in the clean-up as much as possible to share household chores. Explain the importance of a neat home for your family’s quest of selling the house!
Empty litter boxes and pick up dog waste in the yard daily
Use silicone bibs with a catch-all scoop for babies/toddlers to minimize food on the floor
Open windows when the weather allows to let out unpleasant smells and let in fresh air
6. Get out of the house
The more time you spend in the house, the more you, your kids, and your pets will undo the hard work of keeping it show-ready.
What Should You NOT Do When Staging a House
Don’t stage alone! Our agents love helping you get the most out of your home, so don’t be afraid to ask us for help.
We’re eager to help you achieve your goals and we are pros in knowing what sells (and what doesn’t).
Don’t empty everything out of the house. A well-staged home typically sells better than a completely empty home.
Don’t take it personally! If you’re working with a real estate agent, your home sale is our job. Please don’t be offended if we offer to help stage or suggest things be removed, repaired, or replaced.
Living in a home and staging a home for sale are two different things. Your goal is to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Following our proven methods will greatly increase the likelihood of your success.
Home Staging Before and After
Here are pictures from recent home staging before and after by our Mi Casa Property Agents.