January 18, 2022 by Mulberry Maids
If you are looking to sell your home on your own, or just save some extra money during the selling process, then a move out cleaning in Fort Collins will be your first step towards getting your home prepped for the market. In addition to cleaning it thoroughly, getting it staged correctly for the selling process is of equal importance. Depending on the current state of the home, the difficulty of the staging process will vary, but is totally doable for a do-it-yourselfer!
Keep on reading for our complete guide to staging your home to sell. Keep in mind that this can be a long process, and the sooner you start the prep work, the easier the actual staging will be.
What is home staging and why is it important?
Staging a home is the act of getting it ready to be shown to prospective buyers. It is a form of marketing your home to potential home buyers – to show it off and all the possibilities that lie ahead for the new owners. Using this process effectively will help to show off the home’s best features. For a transaction of an investment as large as a home sale, this step is crucial in not only getting prospective buyers in the door, but also to command a higher purchase price. Making the home clean, tidy, trendy, and most importantly homey and inviting, buyers can imagine themselves in the space.
As with everything, the more money and time you have to put towards a project, the more dramatic the result. If you are working with limited time and budget, it is still beneficial to stage the main living areas in the home, including the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen. Overall, making your home appealing to the general public is the best bet, as everyone has different likes and dislikes.
What are the first steps to take to prepare my home to be staged?
As with so many aspects of home improvement, this question depends on where you are starting from. If you are on a budget, or already have nice furniture that will work well for the staging, then decluttering will be your first step. If you plan to move everything out of your home before renting staging furniture, then moving everything out will be the first thing to do.
Regardless of where you are starting, a comprehensive cleaning will be in order. If you are not moving out of your home during the selling process, then decluttering will be key. Even though it will cost some extra money, renting a storage unit will be crucial in getting your home prepped for staging. This will be a tricky task, as you will still need to leave things in your home for your personal day to day use. Start by going through each room, and trying to make piles for donations and trash for things that you do not need. For more information, check out our decluttering move out guide.
Once your home is either fully decluttered or emptied out, it is time for a comprehensive deep cleaning of your spaces. This will include all areas of the home, from baseboards to the bathroom vents. This type of cleaning is the backbone of a good staging presentation.
Be sure to clean the whole home, and focus on areas that usually do not get cleaned, such as:
- Inside of all cabinets and drawers
- Inside of all appliances
- Baseboards and corners that were hidden by furniture (dust and wet wipe)
- Exterior glass on the front doors, sliding doors, and entry way
- Light switches and electrical covers
- Spot cleaning of walls (or repainting if needed)
- Dusting of high corners and edges
Once the home is fully cleaned up, it should already start to shine more! Now it is time to keep working on other areas of the staging.
What should I do once the home is cleaned out?
After the home has been thoroughly cleaned, it should feel like a fresh and new property, ready for new owners. Depending on if you have fully moved out of the home or not, the next step is to depersonalize the home. Take down any pictures or knick knacks that are personal or distracting. Remember, the goal is to show off your home as a welcoming place for new buyers to call home, not feel like they are in someone else’s home.
It can be helpful to buy some generic photographs or art pieces to put on the walls, but again, make sure there are no personal pictures still hanging. Similarly, if you are still living in the bedrooms, try to get all of your clothing put away. You don’t want the buyer to feel like they are walking into a lived in bedroom. For bathrooms, put away all soaps and products, and keep it looking as simple as possible.
Adding some plants throughout the home can go a long way to creating an inviting and homey feel, and will help take up some room after you have decluttered.
Should I paint my home or renovate other areas?
This will really depend on the current state of the home. If the paint is in good shape and a neutral color, then it should be fine to not paint. If you have a bunch of color tones throughout the home, decals on the walls, or wall paper throughout, it is usually best to repaint these areas. Choose a neutral color that is pleasant and appealing to most people. They can always choose to paint later, but shocking colors and murals can be a big turnoff if it distracts potential buyers from seeing their future vision of the home.
The same will go for your flooring. If you have very old carpet, or linoleum style flooring, consider changing it out for new carpet or an affordable vinyl floor option. These can really transform a space, and in the grand scheme of the sale, be a relatively insignificant cost. Remember, each little upgrade that is done may result in a higher selling price. This will usually outweigh the expense of doing some minor upgrades during the selling process.
How should I stage the home exterior?
Similar to the interior of the home, the exterior should be treated with the same care. This will be the first impression that a prospective buyer sees, and it should look clean and well kept to maintain excellent curb appeal. Make sure that there is no clutter in the yard or walkways, and have the grass and any landscaping well maintained for the showing.
In addition to the exterior of the home, be sure to address the garage. This is a good place to showcase the storage or workshop potential of a home. Have it neat and clutter free, but show off any hanging systems or work benches that are there. This will not only look clean and organized, but will be another use of the available square footage of your home.
What are some finishing touches to work on for the showing?
Once all of the cleaning, maintenance and renovations are taken care of, it is time to pull it all together! If you are renting furniture, try to be very aware of what will actually match and look natural in your home. This will include the style of the furniture relative to the type of home you have, and being conscious of the colors you choose. If you are using your own furniture, make sure that you have cleaned it as well as possible. Consider getting some nice blankets to drape over it, or some decorative pillows. Even if your furniture is older, these accessories can really help spruce up the look.
You can also help to set the mood for the showing by putting out fresh flowers and lighting candles throughout the home. This helps to set a nice ambiance, and it will also help to freshen the air with nice aromas. Depending on the season, make sure the interior temperature is pleasant. If it is winter, make sure that it is warm and cozy, and if it is summer, use your best judgment to maintain a cool temperature, without it feeling too stuffy or shut in. Open up all of your curtains, so it is a bright and welcoming space for people to see. The first impressions are key!
The highest quality move out cleaning in Fort Collins!
Mulberry Maids is your go to all around cleaning service in Fort Collins and the greater northern Colorado region. Whether you live near the Udall Natural Area or just out of city limits, we have you covered with everything from regular bi-weekly cleanings to full empty home cleanings! If you are still on the fence about why hiring a cleaning service will be beneficial, check out what our customers have to say!
From our detailed cleaning checklist, to our fully trained staff, we can cater to all of your cleaning needs. Our 100% happiness guarantee ensures that you are happy with the experience – our number one goal is customer satisfaction.
Book your cleaning today using our quick online booking page or give us a call or text to get your home on our schedule. Thanks for reading and look forward to chatting soon!