Help me stage my house please!

[Activemum81]

I’m a bit weak in this department. Please can someone help me stage my house like crazy. I want to do my absolute best to sell it quickly.

The house in great condition, carpet free, white walls, light and airy. I will be cleaning it inside out, clearing stuff from cupboards, mowing the lawn. Bought white duvet covers.

What else can I do?

Clean (new?) plain fluffy towels
Fresh flowers in most rooms
Clear as much from worktops in kitchen
Hide all products in the bathroom. Perhaps nice plants in bathrooms
Clean windows
Full fruit bowl
Ensure it smells nice but not overpowering with scents
Lightbulbs all working
Remove anything under beds or on top of wardrobes

I'd recommend house plants rather than fresh flowers. You could be on the market a while and the cost will mount up

Add a little bit of colour maybe, cushions/throws/fresh flowers, some nice plants by the front door, clean windows make sure stuff that needs to be stored is put away or in suitable storage boxes etc, ie I have lots of shoes but they are under the bed in pretty boxes, not just thrown in a pile 😄walk around your home, as though it’s the first time you have seen it, you then start to see the scuffed paintwork/grubby grout etc.

We already have some house plants :)

Those small plant pots in the bathroom? Sure !

Can you get a good friend to visit and tell you what they notice? Things like the wobbly door handle that you don't think about anymore because you know you have to give it a wiggle, or the cracked tile behind the bathroom sink that you don't register anymore?

Otherwise, it's declutter, declutter, declutter but not so much that your house is a) devoid of personality or b) so blank that viewers can't envisage living there and using the space.

Every bedroom should have a bed in it

Clear surfaces. Get some plastic tubs or ikea bags, scoop it all up and shove in the boot of your car. Same for piles of shoes and coats from the hallway.
Hide plastic washing up bowl/drying rack and all cloths from the sink in the kitchen.
Shut the toilet lids and close shower cubicles.
Remove photos of family members if you have lots, makes it feel like your home but that can put buyers off subconsciously.
Doing all this takes about 15 minutes max and makes the house look much better. Easy to put it all back too so you don't have to live with it looking bare.

Sounds obvious but make sure toilet lid is down for photos and viewings!

Chuck out all the crap you keep meaning to.
Make bookshelves and units look like they are in a catalogue.
Clean.
Tidy front and back.

I recently listed my flat and it was 100 times neater than it ever is. Sold within 7 days for 3% over. Pm if you want me to send you the listing.

Open the windows and close them just before viewings.

Avoid plug-ins, I tend to think they might be disguising a bad smell, such as damp.

Declutter and clean, clean, clean.

You sound like you have most bases covered already, good luck!

When we had our photos taken I moved all of the best accessories from room to room to "stage" the photos. Sold very quickly for over asking price.

Kerb appeal. First impressions count- think tidy bins, pretty window boxes, new doormat, etc
Wash your windows and use one of those magic erasers for marks on light switches, walls etc.

Touch of colour in every photo. Look at houses on rightmove that look well presented and nick ideas. Take your own photos to see if anything sticks out.

Don’t put plants in bathrooms. When did you ever see this in a magazine bathroom!? Yes to cut flowers in a few rooms. Not masses of pot plants. Otherwise, de clutter, make sure everything works and have colour, eg cushions. Make the beds and clean the bathrooms. Kitchen work surfaces to be clear and oven to be clean. Anything broken to be repaired.

What’s wrong with plants in bathrooms? Mine have orchids in. Perfect environment for them.

Don’t put plants in bathrooms. When did you ever see this in a magazine bathroom!?

In, like, every bathroom magazine photo since about 2016.

Pot plants are in.

Sign up to Pinterest. There's lots of tips and ideas on staging your house to sell. White bed linen with a splash of colour such as cushions, mats or a throw. Fluffy clean towels in bathrooms and soap. Neutral colour scheme. The fluffy towels/good linen should be put away between viewings to keep them presentable. Some books or in date magazines on the table. Remove anything potentially offensive such as posters off teenagers walls/political or religious objects/preferences. Fresh scent and clean surfaces especially the bathroom. Decluttering so if your space Is small it won't look cramped. Know your market: schools/transport/shop nearby? Clear up any litter and if there is a garden cut the grass so it looks cared for. Put pets outside and air out their room. Choose your Estate Agent carefully.

Don’t have personal photos up. Not only is it possibly identifying for your family, but it may also subconsciously put some buyers off, as the first time they see your house, it’s not theirs it’s yours. I think we had one whole class school photo up, and that was only to cover up a couple of small marks on the wall. We sold in 4 days, in an area where houses sell immediately or longer for months/ years.
As others have said, declutter, clean like crazy and make it look as though anyone could move in immediately.

Have some colour in the garden, and make it look like a pleasant place to sit out (if it doesn't already!).
With all that cleaning, don't forget the windows, inside and out, and the frames, especially now as cobwebs are very quick to appear.

Thanks again everyone. I’m very grateful for all the tips and guidance!