STAGING 101

If staging was simple then everyone would be doing it and you wouldn't need me! But it's not always simple and you DO need me!

I am quick to spot what doesn't work and flow in a space. Call it a magical power or call it a skill that has been honed from years of observing. When you have lived in a space for a period of time, you become "DESIGN BLIND". I totally just made up that term but I think you know what I'm referring to - it's that inability to see what is right in front of you because it has been right on front of you for far too long. I AM YOUR FRESH EYES!

1. Less is more but not in a Marie Kondo kind of way. We are not talking stark and cold and uninviting. We are talking curated, refined, enticing, and cozy.

2. But sometime more is more if your home is not inviting. I know ... this is exhausting!

3. Staging is not just about the inside of your home. It starts with the exterior and curb appeal. After all, the outside of your home is the true FIRST IMPRESSION. If your mail box is falling over, please straighten it up and then we will proceed from there.

4. Our sense of smell if considered to be the strongest of our five sense. Smell triggers emotion and memory. When a buyer leaves your home you do not want the lingering memory to be the smell of the fish tacos you cooked last night or some other nefarious nose-intruder.

5. Think of staging your home as a chance for a fresh start towards your new home and life. This is the time to get rid of the accumulated detritus that amasses seemingly out of nowhere. Why is the spare room overflowing with stuff? Why have you been slowly putting things in the attic only to realize that it is now overflowing with items that have no place in your life? Why are you holding on to broken or damaged (or just plain old) items that serve no purpose in your life and will likely only drag bad energy to your new home? This is ESPECIALLY true if you are downsizing! Don't feel guilty because the reality is that most of us do this. Get organized and refreshed at the front end so you don't have to worry about it later.

6. A great housekeeper for the day WILL be money well spent. We all know that the blinds may not have received a deep-clean for years (because it's hard, messy work), the top of the kitchen cabinets have been filed under the "can't see it, not going to think about it" category, and the books in your bookshelf look like they belong in an antiquarium. I say this not from a place of judgement but from a place of ownership :)

7. Ensure that your house sparkles - from bathroom countertops to kitchen sinks. A clean house will send a clear signal to a prosective buyer that the home has been loved and cared for which by extension will scream well-maintained. Beautifully arranged flowers, clean towels, warm lighting (turn off those bright overheads), fresh welcome mats, glistening mirrors - clean, clean, clean! Let prospective buyers know that you are serious.

8. Minimize personal items such as family photographs and kitschy knick knacks. They will crowd and diminish your space and will make it hard for buyers to visualize themselves in your home.

9. Potential buyers are going to open every cupbpard door and every drawer. Don't let these places be messy, over-stuffed, or embarrassing!

Happy organizing and cleaning! Or call us and we will be happy to connect you with home organizers and housekeepers.

Seana

XO