Top 5 Most Overlooked Spots when Staging Your Home

When it comes to preparing your home for sale, we tell our clients that ‎it is important that every corner in your home feel welcoming. Sellers should expect that potential buyers will open and examine every space including every cupboard and drawer. This normally means that a lot of the home work we give our clients are behind-the-scenes tips to help them maximize many of the areas that matter to buyers in terms of functionality and storage.

It is widely known that the kitchens, bathrooms and master bedrooms are key decision-making rooms in each home, but that doesn’t mean the other areas are less important! We often tell our clients that they can have the most upgraded kitchens and bathrooms but if storage is lacking, poorly organized or overwhelmed by boxes and extra furniture pieces, buyers will be unimpressed with the home. Statistically, only 1 out of 10 people can see beyond what they are presented with which is why maximizing the appearance of every area in the home is so vital. If buyers can’t see it, they certainly won’t buy it. Presentation matters.

Here is our list of the top 5 most overlooked spaces in your home that you want to be sure to stage to add value and attract your potential buyers!

 Entranceway

You only have one chance to make a first impression! In these vital areas, we recommend removing all the everyday clutter with shoes and coats and creating inviting vignettes with decorative mirrors or artwork and if space allows, either a bench or console table. This will set the tone for the rest of the home and make for a wonderful, welcoming feel.

The foyer of a home should set the stage for what buyers can expect throughout the home!

 Laundry Room

A large, functional laundry room is high on lots of buyers’ wish lists! Ensure that all cleaning products, drying racks and laundry hampers have a home out of sight. Depending on the size of the room, stage yours with folded white towels, artwork, and a small floral to add some texture and visual interest.

Laundry rooms are great spaces to impress your buyers with function and appeal.

Bookshelves & Glassed in Shelves

Built in bookcases and glassed in shelves especially are important to stage as they are key architectural features in a space. Use room appropriate decor – in a kitchen stage those glassed in shelves with beautiful kitchen decor items like a great teapot or set of glassware. In bookshelves create visual interest by using items at varying heights and texture such as small prints, florals, hardcover books and small decor items. By adding variety and pops of color, you can easily create a designer look!

Closets

Clients always ask us how important it is to stage their closets and the answer is… very important! Your home can have the best updates but if your closets are cramped and poorly organized, buyers will assume the home’s storage isn’t sufficient. Take the opportunity to store away any off-season clothing or linens and donate anything you no longer want or need. Use baskets to hide smaller scale items neatly and in higher end homes consider investing in semi-custom closet organizers to add versatility and storage options. This will make the closets feel fresh and organized, and tell your buyers their new home would have plenty of storage!

Well organized closets add tangible value to any home and go a long way to impressing buyers!

Garage

While the garage seems the most likely place to stash any unwanted furniture and items during the staging process, this could be a costly mistake. For many families a garage is not just a place to park their car, it’s also an extension of the functional space inside a home. This is why we always recommend storing the overflow offsite – either in another home or in a rented storage space! Garages should be clean, bright, well swept and ruthlessly organized to maximize their value and appeal.

Functionality is key in space like the garage. Overloading it with boxes keeps buyers from seeing its true value and potential.

Still have questions about how to best prepare and showcase your home for sale? Contact us! As the Waterloo Region’s premier home staging provider, we have the expertise and resources to make your home THE home to see! Visit our website to see our extensive portfolio or follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with current projects! Who knows – maybe our next staging success story will be at your home!

Kitchener-Waterloo’s Premier Home Staging Provider