Staging Criteria – Summary
(a detailed document is located in the “Client’s-Only” area)
Take a hard look at those beloved HOUSE PLANTS. In most cases they need to be pruned and/or the number reduced to create more space. If they don’t look
healthy or are just barely clinging to life then give them away.
FIREPLACES need to be cleaned out. Glass doors should be cleaned. Mantels and hearths need to be cleared off except for a very few necessary items.
To create more space you may want to REMOVE a chair, loveseat or other pieces of furniture.
Pack up all COLLECTIONS. (You’re going to need to pack them up sooner or later anyway).
They become a distraction for buyers from the desired focal point…your home.
Reduce the number of BOOKS on bookshelves. Pack up extra books early!
Reduce the number of FAMILY PICTURES on shelves, pianos, and tables.
Reduce the number of WALL HUNG photos and paintings in every room to one large piece on a wall or a small group of three.
Keep soft music playing at all times for showings. Easy listening, light rock or light jazz are great.
Be sensitive to ODORS, because buyers are! Excessive cooking or smoking odors, dog or cat odors, baby, laundry and mildew odors will turn off buyers. If
there is a challenge in your home use room deodorants or disinfectant sprays and keep windows cracked open even in very hot or cold weather for
ventilation. (There are great products in pet stores for pet odors, and many professional carpet cleaners have special ozone machines that can really help
with difficult odors)
You can’t sell it if you can SMELL IT!
Wash all WINDOWS and make sure they OPERATE freely. If the SEAL is broken on a double pane window replace it now.
REPAIR items that are broken. This will show that your home is well taken care of.
In many cases buyers will ask for them to be repaired anyway, so do it now.
Don’t be afraid to MOVE FURNITURE from room to room. That extra chair from the living room or dining room may just look great in the master bedroom.
In general, PACK UP THE LITTLE THINGS. Little things create clutter and they will need to be packed up anyway, so pack them up now.
Blair Taylor, Realtor | Homes for Sale Prosper TX