Home Staging Checklist: Brought To You By PODS

As a home seller, staging your home is an important step in the selling/buying process and can have a significant impact on how quickly and for what price your home sells. Asking your REALTOR® to help you create a plan for staging your home is an essential part of the process.

Follow our home staging checklist below:

General Checklist:

• Reduce the number of family photos throughout your home.
• Use scented items to create an inviting smell in your home. Bad odors can deter some buyers.
• Clean all windows inside and out, ensuring they are functioning properly. If during the winter months, cleaning the inside of the windows should be sufficient.
• Repair broken items in your house (doors, cracks, etc.). In most cases buyers will ask for broken items to be repaired.
• Rearrange furniture or move furniture room to room to create more space and open area. 
• Vacuum all carpet and hard wood floors.
• Scrub and clean tile and grout throughout your house.
•  Empty the garbage daily to reduce odors. 
• Repair all holes in walls. 

Inside Home:

• Bathrooms:
  • Clean all surfaces. Put toiletries in drawers or cabinets.
  • Leave out a bottle of hand soap or a clean bar of soap, along with a hand towel.
  • Fold in thirds on towel racks daily. Purchase new towels if needed.
  • Clear all items out of shower stalls and tubs except for necessities.
  • Keep toilet lids closed.
  • Hide garbage can and cleaning supplies out of sight.
  • Clean the shower curtain, or replace if needed.
  • Repair any cracking or peeling areas and clean any moldy areas. Paint if needed.
  • Give your shower and tub a fresh bead of silicone caulking around the edges to make them look neat and clean.
• Bedrooms:
  • Make beds daily and replace bedding if needed.
  • Clear off night stands, dressers, etc.
  • Pick up all clothes off the floor.
  • Store extra books, magazines, or miscellaneous items underneath the bed.
  • Keep closet doors closed. If you have a walk-in closet keep the floor clean and free of laundry and clutter.
• Closets:
  • Make sure the doors open easily. Fix any creaking sounds. 
  • Arrange items to create a tidier closet.
• Den, Family Room, Living Room, Sun Room:
  • Clear off all coffee tables and end tables.
  • Remove all ashtrays.
  • Move pet food bowls out of sight
• Dining Room:
  • Clear off dining table, leave a center piece or other decorative item.
  • Remove additional leaves from tables to make the room look bigger. 
• Kitchen:
  • Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops.
  • Remove all pictures, magnets, drawings, messages, etc. from the refrigerator.
  • Repair broken tile or loose corners on counters.
  • Clean the stovetop and oven.(Several days prior) Replace burner pans if they are badly stained.
  • Keep the kitchen sink clean and empty.
  • Remove all soaps, sponges, and supplies out of sight and under the sink.
• Laundry Rooms:
  • Keep counters and sink clean and empty.
  • Make sure that light bulbs are working, replace with higher wattage bulbs to create more light if needed.
  • Put soaps, towels, etc. in cupboards.