home staging tips: Dated Home Features That Can Turn Off Potential Buyers
- 08/12/26 05:17 PM
Dated Home Features That Can Turn Off Potential Buyers
Do you remember going with your parents to your great-aunt Ethel’s home? You liked Aunt Ethel, but
her home always seemed OLD. There were the doilies on the arms of her couch that kept slipping off and the heavy curtains that made the rooms dark.
If you’re selling your home, here are some dated features that could turn off potential buyers—even if your home is impeccably clean and well maintained.
- Old-fashioned wallpaper- yes, it’s back in style, but not like you think!
-Heavy and Dated Drapes- It’s better to remove them and let the light … (14 comments)
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home staging tips: Staging Stories…You Have To Show Them
- 07/28/26 05:02 PM
Staging Stories…You Have To Show Them
An agent was working with an investor and asked for a consultation on a vacant property. The agent was concerned (justifiably) that his client was investing too much in fixtures and cosmetic touches that would give him a poor ROI. Instead, he suggested he stage it. The investor declined.
The room above would have been ideal for staging. It was just off the primary bedroom, but no one knew what it had been used for. It wasn’t the closet because there already was a large walk-in. It wasn’t a small study, as one was located just outside … (13 comments)
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home staging tips: Tuesday’s Thoughts…Letting Go
- 06/22/26 01:48 PM
Tuesday’s Thoughts…Letting Go
Letting Go Day reminded me that letting it go isn’t just about ridding ourselves of grudges we feel or negative thoughts that are preventing us from moving forward.
Letting Go can encompass editing the material things that clutter our real world. This is especially true of seniors. As I would no doubt be placed in that category, I wanted to address this.
Agents and stagers have encountered this many times. One of my clients had TWO upright pianos in her small townhome. She did not know how to play the piano, but thought she might learn. I’m not saying that … (14 comments)
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home staging tips: What Are Comments That Make Home Stagers Pause?
- 05/27/26 04:34 PM
What Are Comments That Make Home Stagers Pause?
Where would we be without clients? When I was a home stager, I was blessed to work with some of the sweetest homeowners and agents. I loved helping alleviate some of the stress sellers felt as they placed the For Sale sign in their yard.
However, there were times when I had to stop and say nothing and move on. You know what I’m talking about…some of the comments that made you think that this job may be harder than you thought.
This...........................or.............this???
… (24 comments)
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home staging tips: These NOTS Could Hurt the Sale Of Your Home
- 05/18/26 06:26 PM
These NOTS Could Hurt the Sale Of Your Home
Could there be something you’re NOT doing hurt the sale of your home??
Focusing on the possibilities of a home is what I always recommend; however, we can’t avoid what many buyers will view as a negative.
Buying a home is the largest investment most of us will make in our lives. Buyers look at all a property has to offer, however, they’ll also look at what it may be lacking.
What can you do?
While focusing on what your home offers, you’ll also need to address the NOTs or Distractions.
NOT Updated While some buyers … (20 comments)
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home staging tips: Sellers…Take Charge of the Sale of Your Home!
- 05/13/26 06:28 PM
Sellers…Take Charge of the Sale of Your Home!
Home Staging Tips that put you in charge!
When you decide to sell your home, your responsibility doesn’t stop there. Think of your home as a ship, and you are the ship’s owner. No matter what happens, you are the one who is ultimately responsible.
So...what do you do?
ONE- Hire the right captain!
This is NOT the time to hire your cousin’s best friend who just received their Real Estate license.
Interview agents in your area who know your local market. Ask them how they plan to market your property.
Picking someone who suggests a list price that YOU … (12 comments)
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home staging tips: Home Staging Tips…So What Am I Supposed to Do With All My Stuff?!
- 05/11/26 05:34 PM
Home Staging Tips…So What Am I Supposed to Do With All My Stuff?!
One of the first questions sellers asked me at the conclusion of our consultation was, “Ok…so what am I supposed to do with all of the things I still need?!”
It’s a good and expected question. It’s easy to walk through a home and suggest that the owner remove two of the extra chairs for now and pack up two-thirds of the treasures that will accompany them to their new home.
You and I don’t have to deal with
with it!
After the homeowner has tossed and donated what they no longer … (14 comments)
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home staging tips: Home Staging Tips…How to Ensure Your Home is Show Ready When You’re Out Of Town
- 05/06/26 01:34 PM
Home Staging Tips…How to Ensure Your Home is Show Ready When You’re Out Of Town
With Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and summer right around the corner, there’s no reason to put your plans on hold just because your home is on the market.
Whether you’ll be gone for a long weekend or two weeks, with careful preparation, you can make sure your home shows well.
*Make sure you’ve done a deep clean
Make the windows shine, check the baseboards and windowsills. If you’ve already edited your treasures…look around and edit again.
*Routine Maintenance
Depending on the length of your trip, ensure that your lawn maintenance … (15 comments)
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home staging tips: How to Stage Your Garage
- 03/23/26 12:54 PM
How to Stage Your Garage
On one of my first Staging Consultations, the listing agent accompanied me to learn more about this “new” concept of Home Staging.
The garage looked similar to many I’ve seen…full of tools, paint cans, cleaners, gardening supplies, and more. It was hard to see how a car would fit!
What the agent said surprised me…”Don’t worry about the garage. No one looks at it.”
It wasn’t the first time the poor garage was thought of as insignificant. One seller asked me politely not to look in the garage.
Why is it so important??
-In any home, space and, in particular, storage … (21 comments)
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home staging tips: Home Staging Myths of Occupied Homes
- 03/18/26 01:13 PM
Home Staging Myths of Occupied Homes
If you’re an agent who is considering working with a home stager for your occupied homes, it’s helpful to understand the misconceptions you may face when approaching your sellers about a home staging consultation.
And yes, even after many years of staging being used to help sell homes, there are still several myths that simply refuse to go away.
-Home staging is only for high-end homes.
Every home can benefit from some amount of staging. Years ago, I had the pleasure of staging a home that listed at 80K.
We were limited on what we could do, however it was … (18 comments)
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home staging tips: Do I Have to Stage My Laundry Room When Selling My Home??
- 02/25/26 05:44 PM
Do I Have to Stage My Laundry Room When Selling My Home?? In a word…YES! Agents and stagers see this often…the home has been cleaned and edited except for these two areas…the garage and the laundry room.
They get as much traffic as the kitchen and family room, and yet they end up as the catch-all rooms. It’s where things land when we don’t know where to put them.
When the laundry room is attached to the garage, things like coats, shoes, bags, and anything you're holding end up there.
Here are 10 easy tips to prepare your laundry room for sale.
Clean It.This … (14 comments)
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home staging tips: Sellers: How to Decorate and Not Frighten Your Buyers Away
- 10/13/25 11:53 AM
Sellers: How to Decorate and Not Frighten Your Buyers Away
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. There are no family pressures, no mandatory gifts, and no religious toes to step on. And…I love all of the decorations!
When I worked with home sellers during the holidays, a question I was often asked was Can we still put our decorations out?
My answer was always a “Yes” followed by a BUT…
It’s essential to remember the fundamental principles behind staging your house for sale.
FIRST- You don’t want to make your buyers do the eye-bounce. Too many little witches and pumpkins scattered on every flat … (25 comments)
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home staging tips: A Dream Staging and How I Would Help Get It Sold In a Down Market
- 10/08/25 04:29 PM
A Dream Staging and How I Would Help Get It Sold In a Down Market
All homes deserve to be shown in their best light, whether they’re a luxury home in the high 6 figures or more, or a 3-bedroom ranch in a modest community.
Whether it’s a seller’s or a buyer’s market, or a down market, a property is like any other commodity that needs to be (to quote Barbara Todaro ) marketed like you mean it.
My ideal listing would be an owner-occupied ranch with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms; roughly 20 years old, and in an established neighborhood.
So what would I … (22 comments)
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home staging tips: Selling a House? THIS is Why IT Matters.
- 05/07/25 05:17 PM
Selling a House? THIS is Why IT Matters.
Ask any agent and they’ll tell you the Number One concern they see when listing a house is that there’s too much stuff!
More often than not, when an agent refers a client to me, they add this phrase: "They need to declutter. There’s too much!"
When the concept of home staging was introduced, homeowners feared the D word (Declutter). To some, it was a personal affront to their decorating style. Or like a child who spilled their milk and was now being confronted by a parent, they were ashamed or embarrassed.
On a few staging consultations, … (28 comments)
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home staging tips: Sellers…11 Things You Can Do Before You Leave
- 02/24/25 05:54 PM
Sellers…11 Things You Can Do Before You Leave
Sellers…it’s been a journey, listing your home, preparing it for sale, the contract period and finally you’re ready to go to the closing table.
Wait just a second!
Why not take a few minutes to welcome your buyers. Most contracts have what is known as a “broom clean” condition that the sellers are expected to leave their home in.
But, there are 11 things you can do that will make their new home even more special.
1.Leave it as Move-in Ready As You Can
How would you want your new home to look when you took your first … (18 comments)
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home staging tips: Home Staging…THIS is Why You’re Asked to Remove Personal Photos
- 02/12/25 04:41 PM
Home Staging…THIS is Why You’re Asked to Remove Personal Photos
Most agents now understand and embrace the idea of staging a home for sale. Some have taken staging courses…often offered for CE credit. The general public is also aware of the concept of making a good first impression via home staging.
One of the first tasks agents and stagers give their sellers is this…remove all personal photos!
This is true, but do you know why? Can you tell your clients why you’re asking them to do this? Let me show you…
~You want buyers to look at your space and see themselves in it.
With … (21 comments)
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home staging tips: Thankful Thursdays…Gratitude for My Wise Sellers
- 12/11/24 01:53 PM
Thankful Thursdays…Gratitude for My Wise Sellers
Even though I’m retired from providing staging consultations and vacant home staging, I have fond memories of sellers (and agents) who helped make my job easier.
Holidays are hard for sellers because as much as they want to sell their home, they are also knee deep in decorations.
Allow me to express my gratitude for sellers who…
~Allow buyers to see their curb appeal without blocking it with large Grinch and other blow ups that during the day look like trash on the lawn when they are deflated.
~Make it easy for buyers to enter the home without having to … (20 comments)
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home staging tips: Home Staging Tips…Fresh Eyes
- 10/23/24 02:02 PM
Home Staging Tips…Fresh Eyes
Have you ever walked by a mirror, looked at yourself, then were surprised at the person looking back at you?
We do it all of the time! We get accustomed to what we see every day, then one day it’s “who IS that old person looking back at me??”
Your house is the same way. There is the crack in the kitchen tile that you walk over every day…the back door that you have to jiggle a certain way for it to close…or the worn carpet in the secondary bedrooms.
Years ago, one of my favorite consultations was for a senior … (18 comments)
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home staging tips: Staging Stories…There’s Uncluttered and Then There’s Blah
- 03/20/24 05:23 PM
Staging Stories…There’s Uncluttered and Then There’s Blah
Years ago an agent I’d met through the Women’s Council of Realtors referred her seller to me. We were still in the early years of staging when not everyone knew what staging was.
And there were some who having been shown the advantages of a well prepared home, did not want to call upon a stager until the house had been on the market for a while.
This particular property had been on the market and while it had showings, was not getting any offers. The agent said that it was priced right, had been updated, … (15 comments)
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home staging tips: Staging Thoughts
- 02/07/24 02:23 PM
Staging Thoughts
Even though I’m retired from home staging, I still believe in its ability to help sell a home.
This week Dick Betts wrote an excellent post about virtual staging. When it first made its entrance I admit I was skeptical. At that time it was less cost-effective than it is now. My one “must” (besides FULL DISCLOSURE in the listing) has always been that large photos of the virtually staged room must be front and center for a potential buyer to see.
As I expressed in my comment, when homes were going under contract within days of the listing, it made … (20 comments)
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Dated Home Features That Can Turn Off Potential Buyers
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