The housing market is hot again, if you didn’t know. There is solid demand for all levels of the market, which is good if you are selling your home. But even when the market is hopping, you can maximize your home’s value through home staging. Here are 10 staging tips for downsizers and anyone selling a home.
10 Staging Tips for Downsizers
- Remove the wires from your TVs. You won’t be able to watch while showing the home, but your home will instantly look more modern and crisp. The new owners can hire an electrician to run the wires through the wall, even if you never did.
2. Forget the advice to go neutral. A color that is on-trend, like this blue and white dining room, is eye-catching. Color is emotionally appealing. If you’ve painted in the last five years, you probably don’t need to change the colors. If it’s been 10 years or more, painting might be needed, as color trends change.
3. Especially in a smaller home, and especially in a home with hardwood floors, remove the rugs. Area rugs can make a room feel smaller. 
4. Feature your architectural details. Show off the fireplaces, built in shelves, and any other features your home has. Move furniture out of the way so buyers can get up close and enjoy them.
5. Maximize the light. Remove outdated window treatments. Let the light shine in, especially if you have features like bay windows, sliding doors or French doors.
6. The kitchen can feel like the hardest room to stage because you are still living there. Do your best to remove everything from the counters so your buyers can see how big and useful the space is. Organize inside the cabinets, too. Everywhere you can make space translates to higher $$$ when selling.
7. Declutter like crazy in the bedroom. The best thing you can do is remove personal items, like stuffed animals, dog beds, and personal care items. Dress the bed with a new, plain white or bright bedspread to make it feel fresh and inviting. remove any furniture that you don’t want or can’t have in your new home.
8. Make sure every bedroom shows a bed, even if you previously used it as an office. Buyers often can’t imagine where a bed would fit if you don’t show them. (Hint, I’m kind of famous for making beds out of nothing.) That’s not a real bed, but the buyers can absolutely see that there is plenty of room for one.
9. Keep it fun and interesting. Staging doesn’t have to mean boring. But balance the fun with some really great features, like a beautiful marble countertop with absolutely nothing on it. Perfection.
10. Moving is expensive. Save some money by asking around for boxes, snagging some off Facebook Marketplace, or ordering from these guys. This is the first time we’ve heard of them.
If there is a move or a downsizing in your future, I hope you are getting ideas of where to spend your time and energy…and where not to sweat it. With these 10 staging tips for downsizers, you’ll be well on your way to your new home.
This home is on the market in Wallingford, PA. Request a showing through Jason Wittenstein, REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty – Entourage Elite Team. Many thanks to him and his photographer for supplying the photos.
Not convinced that staging makes a difference when downsizing? Does staging pay off in this market? Check out this home staging story.
