5 Staging Tips If Your House Isn’t Selling

Good houses don't sell. It is a sad, frustrating fact. I have staged houses that were in that circumstance–great houses, no sale (until we used our staging tips to stage the home!). What I have found is that there are typically two things at play.

Houses that don't sell often have an issue with price or presentation.

I tell all of my clients that price is definitely the domain of your Realtor. Don't ask the Stager–ask and then listen to your Realtor : ). Now, presentation is a whole other ball of wax. That, I can totally help you with! Here are 5 quick staging tips to clean up and update your house to sell:

5 Staging Tips to Help Your House Sell

1. Clear the Decks

My goal for you is that each room feels as though it could be a hotel room. If you ever notice how relaxing those rooms seem, a lot of it has to do with the fact that there is very little clutter. So, how do I want you to get there? Go room by room and photograph each space. Take special note of the small items on top of dressers, on bookcases, on kitchen counters. For your listing photos, pack away these items and only keep out pretty, larger sized pieces. Pack away collections, valuables and breakables. Keep taking photos as you go along to see your progress. When your rooms look simple and restful in your photos, you have staged them just right for your real-life showings. And, bonus…you've already started packing! You're so smart!

2. Freshen Up Paint

Not Navajo White!! Nothing against it, but there are so many other great choices! Here are my top 5 favorite neutrals:

Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray HC-111

ben-moore-nantucket-gray, home stager — Benjamin Moore Nantucket gray

Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage 2142-50

ben-moore-gray-mirage, paint for home staging — Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage

Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan HC-44

ben-moore-lenox-tan, home staging tips, paint colors — Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan

Benjamin Moore Silver Gray 2131-60

Benjamin Moore Stone House 1039

3. Add Accessories and Art

Never underestimate the power of a well-placed throw pillow! Updating accessories and art can make all the difference in the world for so many spaces and can be a great way to add color in small enough doses that doesn't intimidate buyers. New towels and a shower curtain beautifully update most bathrooms. Ooohh…and lamps! Don't get me started about lamps!

4. Think About The Windows

Simple window panels are really in right now with buyers. Think unfussy. And, while sheers may be nice to cover your windows when you are living there, they block light and make a room feel heavy and dark. Verticle blinds are not what buyers want right now so replace or camouflage them with great window panels. You can find many nice styles at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Ikea for your staging purposes.

Before We Get To Staging Tip Number 5….

See the difference, all of these staging tips can make in this master bedroom…

Unstaged bedroom, home staging tips to refresh bedroom — Unstaged bedroom needed paint to be refreshed, updates to accessories and windows, and on the honey-do list, replace the carpet

5. Hit the Honey-Do List Hard

All of those little things that have been on your list to do are on your buyer's list of things they don't want to do to move in. Think about what you want when you are looking to buy your next home. Do you want an endless list of maintenance and updating to be waiting for you? Probably not. Use these staging tips to help you get moving!