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Budget Home Staging Ideas That Don't Break the Bank

By
Home Stager with Hart & Associates Staging and Design

Below is an article from our monthly newsletter Prepare! Feel free to share these ideas with your clients on your next listing presentation.

Budget is a huge concern for everyone these days and now more than ever home sellers are anxious about spending money to get their homes ready for sale. Each month we will feature a different area of the home and share quick and affordable changes your client can make.  

Front Door First Impressions:   The saying that "first impressions are everything" is especially true when you are selling your home. Buyers often judge the appearance of the front door as an indication of the condition of the rest of the home. Here are some easy ideas to make sure your first impression is a great one.   

Under $10.00:

  • There is nothing like old fashioned elbow grease! Grab a cleaning cloth and some metal polish and get to work polishing the front door knob, knocker, and kickplate. Don't forget to polish any light fixtures too.
  • Sweep away those pesky cobwebs from any overhangs and light fixtures.
  • Replace any non-working light bulbs.
  • Powerwash any mildew or residue on front porches or landings.
  • Wipe down the front door to remove any marks.

Under $50.00:

  • Repaint the front door with a fresh coat of paint to make it look like new. Not sure what color to choose? Typically you should have no more than three colors on the exterior of your home. Your siding/stone/brick is one color, the trim a second color and shutters or doors a third color. Opt for classics like hunter green, black or cranberry red.   
  • Add a new door mat in a natural fiber like coir or sisal. I recommend an oversized mat to give your home a more stately look. Bed Bath and Beyond and Target stock these year round.
  • Add urns or pots with annuals to frame the entrance to your home. Small arbor vitae trees will work year round- even in winter.

Under $150:

  • Replace your old hardware with a new handle and lock set to give your front door a mini makeover. Home Depot and Lowes offers many to choose from.
  • Add new sconces or light fixtures to update the entrance of your home . 

 

 

Comments (15)

Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

Hey, Kate. Those are all great tips and I appreciate you sharing those with us. I will have to bookmark them for the further. All my best, Jim

PS. Love your last name.

Jan 31, 2009 03:45 AM
Diane Daley
Caron's Gateway Real Estate - Northumberland, NH

Thanks for the tips.. 

Jan 31, 2009 04:29 AM
Steve Zarry
House Buying Now - Austin, TX
Austin Central Texas, Real Estate

These are great ideas for the do-it-yourself stager! Many sellers will benefit from these tips. A little bit of staging can make a big improvement for any home...

Jan 31, 2009 04:49 AM
Leslie Olson
Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, TX
Interior Design and Redesign - Moved to Austin!

Oh, and don't forget to replace the yellow porch lightbulb with a white one!

Jan 31, 2009 07:27 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Very good to point out the importance of the door.  So many people spend time, effort and money on the inside and they lose the buyer before they even get to see it.

Jan 31, 2009 11:41 AM
Nancy Robertson
Signature Style Staging - Dallas, TX
RESA

Very good tips.  I like the way you presented them broken down by Under $10, etc. and I think clients would appreciate that as well. Thanks for sharing!

Jan 31, 2009 11:59 AM
Peg Prather
Vancouver, WA
Vancouver, WA

This is right in line with the information I give my clients; that many of the staging hints I will share with them can be accomplished for FREE! But they sure do make a big difference. You've given excellent advice, and nicely explained it in an easy to understand price break down.

Jan 31, 2009 04:45 PM
Debbie Wheeler
Real Estate Staging/Rooms Rearranged, LLC - Chandler, AZ
Chandler, AZ Rooms Rearranged RESA, IRIS

Kate - Very good points.  We know these but it's so nice to see them in writing for a reminder...and I love how you did the price breakdown.

Feb 01, 2009 12:09 PM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Great budget friendly tips Kate!  As the Realtor is unlocking the door, the potential buyers are forming an opinion.  A good first impression is crucial in getting the tour off to a good start.

Feb 01, 2009 10:15 PM
Kim Dillon
Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

Kate,  I really like how you made suggestions for every budget!  As always, great ideas!

Feb 02, 2009 04:34 AM
Kelsey Barklow
Hurd Realty - Johnson City, TN
423/948-9154

Thanks for these tips. Also, new doorbell hardware to match the new door handle looks nice.

Feb 02, 2009 10:11 AM
Juliet Johnson
Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL
Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

Yeah, great summary, and how important is it to remember to small stuff like getting rid of the yucko cobwebs.  If your house is sittign on the market a little longer these days, be sure to go back and do it again.  What do you say?  Every coupld of weeks or once a month?

 

You make me wonder about your thoughts on another related topic -- We all think that brass light fixture are dated, what is your view about brass knockers, handles, locks and kickplates?

Feb 02, 2009 10:42 AM
Pippa Mac
Chevaux Group Realtor, The Woodlands and Spring - The Woodlands, TX
The Woodlands TX Real Estate

thanks Kate .. great and simple tips!

Feb 02, 2009 01:29 PM
Kate Hart
Hart & Associates Staging and Design - Radnor, PA

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments. I am surprised by the response I have gotten from this simple article. I included it in our newsletter and Realtors love it.

As for whether brass is in or not, I look at the other fixtures on the exterior of the home. If the exterior lighting is brass then it is ok to opt for brass hardware- especially if it is a traditional home. That being said I think it is fine to mix metals. An antiqued bronze always looks great with a rod iron or brass.

Feb 04, 2009 12:17 AM
Stephanie Heron
Dressing Rooms LLC - Scottsdale, AZ
Weeber - Dressing Rooms

Kate - great ideas. I love to add a new door mat. In fact, I handed out several to Realtors at a talk I did at their office the other day. Nothing says great first impression like a new front door mat. I buy mine at Ross and Tuesday Morning - very inexpensive.

Stephanie.

Feb 04, 2009 06:12 AM