18 Interior Tips To Help You "Stage" Your Home

There's a little known secret about home buyers that you need to know. People buy homes based on the emotional FEELINGS they get from the home. 

They fall in love, for example, with the kitchen or the master bedroom. Or perhaps the roaring fire in the family room fireplace touched off an old memory. 

And while they’re viewing your home, they’re visualizing in their mind’s eye what it would be like to live there - the backyard barbecues they’ll host…Sunday dinners with family…college graduation celebrations of their children. Or simply relaxing in the backyard hammock.

It’s all about emotions. And if your home doesn’t feel right, you will quickly lose interest from buyers.

So remember this: Purchase decisions are EMOTIONAL. Once a decision to buy is made, we usually justify our purchase with logical reasons.

By staging the interior of your home right, you’ll encourage your buyers to stay. People buy with their eyes, ears and noses, and the longer they stay in your home, the greater the likelihood of an offer.

Here is a list of 18 interior tips to help you “stage” the interior of your house so it feels like home to your buyers.

• Tip #1: The entry way sets first impressions. So make sure it's in great condition with fresh paint and clean floors. If the entry tile floor has build-up, consider using commercial stripper and re-waxing.
• Tip #2: Clear out about one-third to one-half of your furniture. You want your home to look uncluttered, and the rooms to feel open and bright. The average home has too much furniture for showing, and you need to move anyhow. So you might as well pack away any furniture that clutters any rooms in your home.
• Tip #3: Put away knick-knacks and items that make the home look overly personal to YOU. You do not want your buyer feeling that they would never fit in the home because it has so many of your personal items in it. Put away cluttered photos and other objects that will detract away from the home.
• Tip #4: Do a thorough interior maintenance review. Oil squeaky doors, tighten doorknobs, clean and repair ALL windows, and repair leaking taps and toilets. Look for chipped paint and cracked plaster or drywall that needs repairing.
• Tip #5: It is a good idea to have all windows professionally washed. And clean all window shades and blinds.
• Tip #6:  Replace all burned-out light bulbs and clean lighting fixtures.
• Tip #7:  GIVE YOUR HOME A SPACIOUS LOOK. If you've ever toured a model home, you've noticed that the home is spacious and bright. Make your home look the same by: 1) Clear out stairs and halls of clutter and excess furniture, 2) Clear counters in the kitchen and bathrooms, and 3) Make closets and storage areas neat and tidy.
• Tip #8:  Make sure your home is clean by doing the following: 1) Shampoo carpets, 2) Clean washer, dryer, and laundry tubs, 3) Clean the furnace, 4) Clean the refrigerator and stove, 5) Clean and freshen the bathrooms. Hire a professional cleaning service if needed. The money you spend on these areas will come back to you in purchase price.
• Tip #9:  Wax or polish floors, and glue down any seems if you have vinyl flooring.
• Tip #10:  Make sure windows and doors operate properly and lubricate closet door tracks with a silicon spray.
• Tip #11:  Glue loose wallpaper seams and remove soiled wallpaper.
• Tip #12:  Clean around fireplaces and remove ashes.
• Tip #13:  Organize all closets, pack up unnecessary items for storage, and put all toys away.
• Tip #14:  Make sure all beds are made, bedrooms are neat and clean, and laundry is clean and folded.
• Tip #15:  Consider holding a yard sale BEFORE you place your home on the market to get rid of excess items that can make your home look cluttered or small.

Bathrooms and kitchens are some of the most influential areas of a home. Spending a small amount of money in these areas frequently nets owners many time their investment. Here are a few suggestions for each.

• Tip #16:  Your Bathrooms. Repair loose tiles. Remove loose grout using a grout file, and apply new grout. Faded tile colors can be improved using an epoxy spray. Remove old tub and tile caulking with a hooked scraper, install new white silicone tub and tile caulk. Concentrate on areas such as counter corners, shower corners, and base of toilet. Clean mildewed caulk by spraying Tilex, or use diluted chlorine bleach and let stand for at least 30 minutes before rinsing. Old tubs can often be sprayed with an epoxy coating. Remove all soap scum and dirt build-ups. Clean glass doors with vinegar, and replace badly soiled shower curtains. Don't forget to vacuum exhaust fans.
• Tip #17:  Your Kitchen. Clean ovens thoroughly. Clean cook tops and exhaust fans. Remember to clean behind your appliances. Double-check all burners to make sure they're working. Defrost freezers, and thoroughly clean the interior of your refrigerator. Remove mold from refrigerator gaskets. Empty the water collection tray under the refrigerator. Neatly arrange soaps and cleaning accessories. Thoroughly wash fronts of cabinets using Murphy's Oil Soap or Pine Sol. Cover counter burns with ceramic tile or heat resistant glass. Make sure all handles are securely in place. Install new shelf and drawer liners.
• Tip #18:  Save your receipts. If you need to make substantial repairs to your home, save the receipts in a manila envelope. This will show what has been updated in your home.

If you are not sure about selling your home and are scared of losing money or getting caught in a bad deal, empower yourself with information! 

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