Staging Tips

When people think of home staging, they often think of adding various items to the home. But actually, the best stagers know how to do more with less.

Make your home feel more spacious by removing oversized furniture (perhaps consider putting them in storage) and cleaning out closets and drawers. This honestly has a two-fold benefit because decluttering now will make your move down the road less complicated.

As a general rule, if you haven’t used it in over a year, it’s time to throw it out.

You don’t want it to be too cold that buyers feel like they have to wear a sweater to stay warm, but you also don’t want it to be so warm that they’re sweating. Instead, try to find a happy medium temperature (usually around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) so that the buyers will feel comfortable and will want to linger in your home.

For instance, you might consider lighting a fire in the fireplace or playing soft music throughout the home. You could also turn on any water fountains you have, which are especially helpful in drowning out traffic noise.

But don't overdo it on the scents. Many people are allergic to various scents and deodorizers, so you might want to avoid using them. You might also want to avoid lighting any candles for the same reason. Instead, you might consider opening the windows to let in fresh air or baking cookies. Those are almost universally loved scents, so they will help set the right mood.

You will hear it over and over again: More light helps homes feel more inviting, cleaner, and spacious. So open the curtains, turn on all the lights in your house and remove anything in front of windows that might be blocking the nature light. It makes a world of difference during an open house.

It might seem like a gimmick, but it’s a gimmick that works! Buyers love munching on snacks while showing homes. And as an added benefit, it usually encourages them to hang out longer in your home. So set out some freshly baked cookies, soft drinks, candy, water, or anything else you think will be enticing for buyers.

Remember, other DC home sellers are also hosting open houses, and you may be competing for the same buyers. Make your open house (and your home) stand out by offering some "thank you" treats and a note to buyers who have stopped by. 

This has less to do with the open house and more to do with getting helpful information from DC home buyers. After all, you’ll want to know what buyers are liking about your home and what they’re disliking. Ideally, at least some of the things they dislike can be something you can change, if there will need to be future showings. 

We hope these staging and open house tips have helped you prepare for your upcoming open house! For more valuable tips on what you can do to get your home sold as soon as possible, just give us a call at 301-765-8302. We’d be happy to assist you at every stage of the home selling process.