Whether you are about to put your home on the market or just starting to think about selling, staging is a very important part of the selling process. Staging, when done well, can help make your home more appealing to buyers. It will help it sell more quickly, and maybe even for a bit more. A major home overhaul costs a lot of money — money you may not fully recoup when you sell. Instead of renovating your entire home, small updates can go a long way. Here are some of our favorite suggestions for staging your kitchen to impress potential buyers.
Your goals for your kitchen:
- Large, light and airy.
- Good looking with nothing too out of date.
- Looks/feels fresh and clean.
- Shows signs of being lived in, but clean and orderly.
Be aware of smells:
Smells are the biggest turn off to someone with a good nose. Make sure the trash and recycling is taken out before showing. On top of this, it is a good idea to hire a professional cleaner. Deep cleaning is extremely important as there are most likely little bits of spills hiding around your kitchen from many months or years ago that have been missed. This will keep everything smelling brand new and will help the buyer envision themselves in the space without distractions.
Keep windows clear:
Cleaning windows is actually a very important part of staging a home, and this includes the kitchen! When a potential buyer is viewing your home, the last thing they want to see is something dirty. We all know things get dirty naturally, but when having windows displaying dirt, it reminds them that if they buy this home, they too, will have to clean the windows.
Staging:
After your kitchen is all clean, make sure to clear off the counters. Only things that can stay are a coffee maker and a toaster. Everything else has to go. Another nice touch is actually decorating the stove top. Adding a teakettle or an attractive pot is a nice, welcoming touch, without adding clutter. Set out a bowl of fruit and a bottle of wine with two glasses. This makes the home feel lived in, but lets the buyer envision themselves in the setting.
On top of all this, add a few cook books, decorate/organize any open/glass front shelving, and add a vase of flowers for the finishing touch.
Organize:
If you are still living in your home, this means that you can’t get rid of everything or move it to your new home. Make sure to organize everything. Drawers and cabinets with dishes should look clean and stacked well. Get rid of extra clutter. Less is more when it comes to cabinet space. If you open up the cabinets and things are falling out, it’ll show the buyer that there isn’t enough space.
Your pantry is another thing to keep organized. Keep like items together and packed in tight. Organize what’s left into a set of matching food storage containers or open baskets. This may mean dumping a bunch of food or hiding what you can in boxes while prepping to move.
