Making sure your home is sparkling clean is the first step in staging your home for open house. No one wants to live in someone else’s dirt. A thorough cleaning can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home, so get ready to apply some elbow grease, or consider hiring a professional cleaning service.
By now we all know that clutter is a bad word. This is true of everyday living, but it is especially true when you are attempting to sell your home. Put all that junk away!
Once you have cleaned and cleared your surfaces, you need to add attractive items in a few places to make things feel warm and homelike. Below are a few ideas that you can try.
On a kitchen counter, arrange a bottle of wine or sparkling cider, a pair of pretty wine glasses, a bowl of fruit or a few pieces of fruit on an attractive plate or tray, and a candle or two. This creates warmth as well as a sense of romance.
In the bath, drape a soft, fluffy towel over the side of the tub, or on a nearby surface. On top of the towel, place pretty bath set items such as bath beads, bubble bath, or shower gel and a fluffy bath sponge. Add a few dainty soaps and scented votive candles around the towel. These items should all be new and should be purchased in soft, soothing colors. Make it look as if the buyer could slip right into the tub to enjoy a soak.
In the master bedroom, turn down one side of the bed, as if calling the buyer to come right in and lie down. Add luxurious bedding and pillows, and drape a soft, cozy throw near the end of the bed.
The key is to make each space look as inviting as possible, and make the buyer feel at home. Buyers should feel so comfortable that they can imagine themselves dining, bathing, relaxing, sleeping, and living in your home.