Kansas City Home Staging Tips.

We at Details: Innovative Home Staging Solutions have put together a list of some useful tips that can help you get started on staging your home.

• Remove half the contents of your closets to show there is plenty of storage space. Take everything off closet floors.
• Keep bathrooms sparkling clean. Make bathrooms look like ones in luxury hotels. Display new luxurious bath linens while the house is being shown to buyers.
• Make your master bedroom look and feel like a private retreat.
• Change outdated wall coverings or bold paints colors to neutral tones.
• The scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls or apple pie is almost universally appealing. Avoid artificial fragrances like sprays and scented candles, which might affect buyers' allergies.
• To make your home look bright and open when it's a bit dreary outside, turn on all the lights and open all the shades and curtains to let in as much natural light as possible.
• When it's cold outside, buyers will be grateful for a place to warm up. Turn the thermostat up a couple of degrees to make it extra toasty, or light a fire in the fireplace for an extra homey touch. Just be sure not to leave a fire unattended.
• Evergreen trees or plants that can stand up to the cold weather such as pansies or witch hazel can liven up a drab landscape.
• First and foremost, you want to ensure to give potential buyers a safe path to your front door by making sure your driveway, walkways and stairs are free of snow, ice and leaves.
• Because of bare trees, buyers have a clearer view of your home in the fall and winter than they do in the spring and summer. Faded or chipped paint will really stand out, so give your home a fresh coat if it needs it.
• During the Winter, your grass may no longer be green, but you can still keep your lawn looking neat so buyers can picture what it will look like in the spring and summer. Keep your lawn clean by periodically raking up leaves and other debris.
• As the days get shorter, having proper outdoor lighting will make your home safer and more attractive for buyers who come to visit at night. Use a series of path lights to illuminate the way to your front door, or flank the door with decorative sconces or lanterns.
• Keep the lawn mowed and neatly edged. A nicely mowed lawn does wonders for curb appeal, so you might have to mow every few days while the home is on the market (depending on where you live, season, etc.).
• Trim bushes and trees as needed to give a tidy appearance. In particular, make sure they are not blocking windows or doors.
• Mulch is your best friend when trying to boost your curb appeal. Adding fresh mulch to your existing flower / plant beds can make a big difference in appearance. Best of all, it's cheap and readily available at your local garden store.
• If the home's exterior paint is chipped or faded, give it a fresh coat. Pay particular attention to shutters, doors and trim.
• Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there!
• Your house numbers, mail box, mailbox cover, and exterior light fixtures should be more than just fresh and utilitarian; they can be decorating accents which pull the look of your home together.
• Let the room breathe. If it's crowded or hard to walk through due to having too much furniture, remove some items and place them in storage.
• If your appliances have seen their better days, you might consider replacing them. This is a larger expense but something to consider. The new appliances are more energy efficient and do a better job than most of the old ones.
• Staging your home with color can enhance the entire feel of your home. Think carefully before choosing your color and make it consistent throughout the home.
• Neutralize…..change those bright colored walls to colors that will appeal to a greater percentage of the buyers out there.  Some people might like a bright red wall, but the majority will not..
• Keep your garage door(s) closed. If you have a screen door or a storm door, consider leaving the interior front door open if you are home…it looks inviting. The same goes for your draperies. Let folks catch a glimpse of a pretty interior, instead of seeing a place that looks all closed up.

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