DON'T DO THIS - 5 Staging Mistakes

So there are a lot of tips about what TO do when staging your home.  But here are some things that you definitely should NOT do.  Don't:

Photo credit: CentsationalGirl.com

1. Forget about the exterior.  Remember, the exterior of your home needs to be staged as well.  If you have a porch, make sure it's decorated well.  Put furniture out on your deck.  Rake your yard or shovel the snow out of the driveway.  It's all about the impression buyers get the second they see your home.

Photo credit: ModernParentsMessyKids.com

2. Display personal pictures.  Buyers need to be able to imagine their own personal pictures on the walls of your home.  So just move your beautiful photos and personal items into storage until you move into your new home.  I promise; it's worth it.

Photo credit: Pottery Barn Kids

3. Keep your themed rooms.  As much as you love your truly fantastic boat-themed room, save your passion for your next home. Neutral colors and furniture are really the best option.  This allows the people who might buy your home to picture their own themed decor in the room.  

Photo credit: ApartmentTherapy.com

4. Restrict a room to a specific purpose or age.  Yes, you love your kids and they deserve a great space. But potential buyers might not have kids, or they might have kids in a different age group.  If a room is full of kids' decor, drawings, etc. then they might not be able to imagine how they can turn that room into the office that they need. 

Photo credit: J Aaron Farr - Creative Commons License

5. Leave out private information.  Keep your mail, bills and letters from Aunt Jessica off of the counters and tables.  No one needs to know how much your electric bill was last month.  Besides, some of your bills may have personal information that could be stolen.  So make sure all of the clutter is tucked away and organized.

I hope you find these don'ts helpful as you try to sell your home.  Remember; if you want to skip the hassle and have a professional stager take care of everything, a staging voucher is included with every home purchased through the Sell and Stage team.  Go to SellAndStage.com for more information.

Happy staging!