Professional stagers reveal the secrets to a quick home sale

It’s a rare buyer who can see past the clutter, peeling paint and stinky pet odours. Here, professional home stagers unlock the secrets to staging your own home. Follow them then schedule that open house inspection – and watch the offers come in!

“These days, it’s all about kerb appeal so don’t forget your front door,” says Jerry West Sanders, an interior designer and home stager. Keep up on lawn maintenance and give plants and trees a shear if necessary. If your door is showing its age, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Update the house numbers and paint the mailbox if it’s near the front door. In addition, Sanders says a potted plant on either side of the entrance is very welcoming to a prospective buyer.

Buyers want big and deep closets or at least ones that can be organised; a pile of hats and a soccer ball falling out on their head isn’t a good impression. Clean your closet before you start showing your house. If you don’t have a closet or formal entry way, it should be free of clutter, Sanders says. “Use a bench with a rack above for putting items such as hats, pet leashes, etc. Find small baskets that are alike in style and place them under the bench for easy storage. Another possibility is to use a mantle as a coat rack with the same basket idea on top,” says Sanders. Buyers want to see the potential for neat and tidy storage.

Here are 13 things you’re doing to your home that real estate agents wouldn’t. 

Do you have a great focal point like a big picture window framing a wooded setting or a beautiful field stone fireplace? Arrange your furniture in group settings that draw attention to the focal point. Although the buyer isn’t purchasing your furniture, worn or dated furniture leaves a stale impression. Update it with some simple furniture hacks. Other inexpensive options are pillows and rugs. “Add fresh new accent pillows to sofas. They can add a pop of colour or hide a worn sofa or chair,” says Sanders. “It’s a good idea to find new area rugs, too, to freshen the look.” Finally, edit and pack up family pictures, not just from the living room, but every area. “People want to create their own memories,” says Sanders.

Make sure you’re not rearranging your furniture wrong.

A mini makeover is easy to accomplish in a few hours and could yield favourable impressions. “Buy fresh towels and get all cleaning products out of sight. A small area rug and a new shower curtain is inexpensive and makes a big difference,” says Sanders. A coat of fresh paint is an easy DIY project, just keep the colour light and airy. If you have room, add a bouquet of fresh flowers and place a small lamp on the vanity to add warmth. Keeping a child’s bathroom clutter free isn’t easy when you have to be on alert for short-notice showings. Keep the bath toys in a basket and towels on a wooden hook rack that’s easy for children to reach,” suggests Sanders. Keep the area simple so the buyer can visualise how they may decorate it for their children or use as a guest bathroom.

“A sense of serenity is essential in this room,” says Sanders. “Treat your master suite like you are in the most expensive hotel.” Use lamps to create soft lighting and if possible, stage a cosy reading space with a comfortable chair and ottoman. Showcase linens, towels and fancy soaps and lotions. Use your own items whenever possible but a little investment in key areas can make a big difference when it comes to a buyer’s first impressions,” says Sanders. A master bathroom with a spa-like feel could put your house at the top of the list. “All other bedrooms should be neutral, relaxing and Zen-like in appearance,” suggests Sanders.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and should be clean, crisp and devoid of clutter. Store benchtop appliances you don’t often use and give your cabinets a fresh look by cleaning them with a degreaser cleaning agent. “The goal is to create a chef-inspired kitchen that showcases bench space, appliances and storage,” says Randi Lyn Randall, of Interiors And. A lovely canister set or a bowl of lemons on the benchtop adds a punch of colour and interest. Fresh linens and a lit small table lamp on the counter evoke the cosy factor. “If you have glass or open shelving, adding stacked bowls of different colours or a few wine glasses can accentuate this often over-looked feature,” says Randall. An updated kitchen is certainly more appealing but even a slightly outdated kitchen can feel charming with the right staging.

Don’t miss these 13 tricks to declutter your kitchen benchtops for good.

Dining rooms are where buyers visualise lovely family dinners or festive dinner parties with friends. If your house doesn’t have a grand dining room, a casual dining room can be just as appealing to a buyer with a little prep. “Adding a table runner with a great centrepiece can give it a simple look and feel,” says Randall. For a formal dining room, go all out and showcase the possibilities. “Candles are my absolute favourite – and inexpensive – way to dress up a dining space when layered with a large entree plate, smaller plate and then a bowl,” says Randall. Add a cloth napkin as a colourful accent and complete the look with wine glasses and a beautiful centrepiece and potential buyers will visualise themselves having intimate, candlelit dinners in their new home.

Spending a leisurely weekend entertaining or relaxing on a welcoming verandah or deck may be something we enjoy but often neglect to showcase when selling a home. “Don’t underestimate the importance of every liveable space that you can showcase for all those ‘visual’ buyers out there,” says Randall. “It is a simple way to add additional living space to your interior square metreage.” Powerwash the surface and stain or paint it if necessary. Randall suggests adding an outdoor rug, umbrella, a few chairs and outdoor cushions and some potted flowers to set the tone for an entertainer’s paradise.

Check out this amazing before-and-after outdoor room for inspiration.

Ugh! What is that smell? Not exactly the first impression you want to give when a perspective buyer walks through your front door. Even animal lovers don’t want to smell stinky pet odours. “First, designate a place for your pet and then deep clean everything,” says Randall. “Next, remove all pet paraphernalia from the main level and owner’s suite.” Finally, neutralise pet odours but don’t use overpowering air fresheners that just mask the smell. The perspective buyer may wonder what you’re trying to cover up. Use natural deodorisers to emit a fresh scent. “At the end of the day, you and your pet still have to live there, but maintaining a space that is clean of pet hair and odours will leave a favourable impression,” says Randall.”

Don’t miss these 15 pet hints and tips.