How To Live In A Staged Home

You’ve decided to sell, but the thought of having your house viewing ready at a moment’s notice sends you crazy. 

How will you ever live in a staged home and keep it clean?

Statistics prove that staged homes are on the market for less time than they are unstaged. But you don’t have to go it alone when you live in a staged home. 

Living in a masterpiece that must be ready at all times doesn’t have to be difficult. 

Here are a few top tips help you live in a staged home:

Move out mentally:

You have to stop looking at your house as yours and start thinking of it as already belonging to someone else. Make the mental shift that begins to disconnect you from where you’ve been and puts you thinking ahead to where you’re going.

Declutter:

Once you make the mental shift, it’s much easier to remove your belongings and create space to breathe. Potential buyers will be much more likely to view your home as spacious and large when everything has its place. No crammed closets, no boxes shoved under the beds

Cleaning and keeping it clean:

Create a cleaning schedule, and stick to it. If you can afford it, invest in a weekly cleaning service. Before each showing, vacuum the floors, dust all furniture, and wipe down all kitchen and bath surfaces.

In the kitchen:

Keep countertops clear. Stash paper towels, sponges, and dish soap under the sink when they’re not in use.

Make a habit of placing dirty dishes immediately in the dishwasher, and keep most appliances off the countertops.

Buyers will open cabinets, be sure your glasses, plates, pots, and pans are well-organized and stacked neatly.

If you do a lot of cooking, use natural air freshening methods like boiling lemon slices or cinnamon on the stove to neutralize odors.

Bathroom:

Use totes or bins to keep daily bathroom items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap out of sight.

Hallway / front porch:

Immediately sort mail when it arrives at your house, and dispose of anything that isn’t vitally necessary.

Bedrooms:

Stash a few of your kids’ favorite toys in a large decorative bin or tote in a corner of the room or hall closet, and clear the rest away.

 Scheduling viewings: 

 Ask your agent to schedule showings in large blocks of time a few afternoons a week to ensure you can get everyone out of the house.

If you have a 9-to-5 office job and pets, consider boarding the pets on weekdays when showings might occur.

Bonus: Don’t do it alone:

 If you’re not a visionary, or if you’re very busy like most of us, you’ll want some help to get everything ready for your potential buyers. Consult with a professional home stager like us who can help with occupied homes. 

Thanks for reading!