Styled, Staged & Sold

Bringing you the latest home design and staging trends. From REALTOR® Magazine.

Your Home Prep Checklist for the Spring Selling Season

Follow this cheat sheet to get your listing show-ready.

PJ & Company offers its “Checklist for Success” as a guide to get a home in move-in-ready condition and attract more attention from home buyers. Try these basic, budget-friendly steps. 

Dining Room

Make basic interior and exterior repairs and updates.

  • Is everything in working condition? Repair and replace broken bulbs, switches, ceiling fans, door knobs, leaky faucets, loose railings, and steps.
  • Touch up any obvious cosmetic damage, such as holes or dents in the walls, peeling paint, water damage, or cracked windows and tiles.
  • Switch out dated light fixtures and hardware in the entryway, kitchen, and bathrooms with more contemporary styles for an instant boost.
  • Consider replacing older, less-efficient kitchen appliances with sleek, eco-friendly models to appeal to buyers.
Before & After
Before & After

Clean and declutter.

  • Stow away personal photos, collections, and knick-knacks that could distract buyers from seeing the property’s best features.
  • Remove unnecessary, dated, and larger furniture pieces that make a room feel dark and cramped.
  • Hire a professional cleaning service to make the home shine and smell fresh, which is especially important if pets are present.
Before & After
Before & After

Refresh and brighten.

  • Remove dated wallpaper and freshen walls with neutral paint so unique home features stand out.
  • Remove dark and heavy curtains to let more natural light in and spotlight the windows.
  • Remove and/or replace soiled carpeting, and polish dull and worn floors to make the room sparkle.
  • Consider spraying older kitchen cabinets or dark wood vanities with bright white paint, and add updated hardware for an instant facelift.
Living Room
Bedroom

Create a “wow” factor with inviting, modern styling.

  • Return rooms to their original purpose to match buyers’ needs (i.e. style an upstairs office or extra storage room with a bed, night stand, and small desk).
  • Use strategic furniture arrangements to improve flow and increase the perceived size of spaces.
  • Pair furniture with on-trend, modern accents that help buyers emotionally connect, such as shag or woven rugs, colorful wall art, pillows, and bright white bedding.

Partner with a pro.

Consult with a professional home stager who will have an objective eye and knowledge of what appeals to today’s sophisticated buyers. The stager can provide a range of solutions for enhancing your home showings by recommending furniture placement, wall color, and complementary modern accessories for achieving a clean, welcoming style.


Subscribe to receive weekly home staging tips and design trends delivered directly to your inbox from the Styled, Staged & Sold blog.

Advertisement

Meet Our Bloggers

Styled, Staged & Sold, created by NAR and REALTOR® Magazine, is produced by professional home staging and style experts around the country.

All Past Issues

Historical issues archive from the official magazine of the National Association of REALTORS®: the business tool for real estate professionals.

Subscribe

Email icon

Sign up to receive blog posts via email or via RSS