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Staging Advice: Make Sure your Open House is a Success

By
Home Stager with Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR

Portland OR home staged by Room Solutions

Do you want your Open House visitors to relax and linger?  

First, remember to appeal to all of the senses:

  • The Front Door should be clean and have a fresh coat of paint; replace the door hardware if needed
  • The exterior light fixtures should be clean and shining
  • A new doormat and a few pots of colorful flowers are very welcoming to potential buyers

The house itself should smell clean ... without heavy or perfumey scents. Open the windows to bring in fresh air before the Open House; and don't allow smoking in or around the house when it's on the market.

LIGHT WILL HELP SELL YOUR HOME!  Turn on all of the light fixtures and lamps and just as importantly, fully open all of the blinds and window coverings.  Remove heavy drapes and fussy window valances and swags. Light coming through the windows will give needed energy to your house.  Speaking of windows, be sure they're clean inside and outside.

REMOVE IT:  Remove clutter from tabletops and counters; remove family photos so that buyers can imagine themselves living in this home ...  Create an easy and open traffic flow when you arrange the furniture. It's usually best to remove those really large, bulky items like big recliners or huge sectionals that block the traffic flow.  Don't block any nice views with heavy, large furniture or high sofas -- you want buyers to be able to see what's outside, from the inside. 

HIGHLIGHT IT:  If there's a fireplace, hang art above it to draw attention to this important focal point.  Got a great view? Open up all of those window coverings! Have hardwood floors? Now is the time to reveal them, so roll up those large area rugs that are hiding the beautiful wood floors.

FIX IT: Buyers will notice any flaws so before the Open House, touch up paint as needed on walls, in doorways, and around baseboards.  Fix all of the little things you've been meaning to do.  Check the plumbing, clean the fireplace and the chimney, make sure the roof and fences are in tip-top shape.

TIP:  Before putting your home on the market, visit a new development nearby and view the model home to spot what trends are popular in your area. Notice the paint colors and see how the model is designed to appeal to the target buyer -- you can do the same with your home.  Buyers may be comparing your home to a newer one so pick up some ideas on how to make your home as appealing as possible.  

GET EXPERT STAGING ADVICE: A staging consultation with a professional stager is a very cost-effective way to get advice on how to make YOUR Open House a success!  Cost ranges from $150 to $300 in most areas, and covers everything you can do to make sure that buyers love your home from the moment they approach the house.

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Room Solutions Staging offers expert home staging services in Portland, Oregon to homeowners, real estate agents, and builders. Our proven home staging techniques will help reduce your property's market time and maximize your equity. We'll prepare your property or listing to look appealing to your target buyer for the online photos as well as for in-person viewings. Our owner and principal stager Maureen Bray is a nationally-recognized home staging expert who enjoys sharing her passion for staging with others.  To schedule a Verbal Staging Consultation filled with our staging tips and advice, contact us @ 503-246-1800.

Room Solutions Staging

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

 

 2014 Top Ten Professional Stager of the Year - U.S.

2013 Top Ten Professional Stager of the Year - U.S.

2012 Professional Stager of the Year - Western U.S.  

Houzz Customer Satisfaction Award - 2015 and 2016

Angie's List Super Service Award - 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014

~  Past President of the Real Estate Staging Association National Board ~

www.RoomSolutions.com www.RoomSolutions.com  www.RoomSolutions.com

 

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"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

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Comments (45)

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905 those distressed floors are perfect for homes with dogs!!  I see them a lot in the homes that I stage and really like them.

Feb 23, 2015 10:15 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Maureen, I want to live in this house!  It's adorable and just the right size!

Feb 25, 2015 12:49 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Patricia Kennedy you Are right ... it's the cutest house inside and out!   After the seller took care of all of my recommendations, it sold in just 3 days for over the asking price (which was very reasonable compared to Washington DC!)

Feb 25, 2015 02:00 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Maureen, your clients benefit from your expertise, and know the homes MUST sell much faster once you have been in and done your MAGIC!  

Feb 26, 2015 11:17 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks Joan Cox for your kind words.  I love being in the MAGIC business! 

 

Feb 26, 2015 01:39 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

You are a rock star, Maureen. Appreciate your tips so much!  D

Mar 06, 2015 01:35 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Hi Maureen, great post and this is advice that should be applied to all new listings whether they are going to be held open or just shown with potential buyers!! Excellent advice!

Apr 04, 2015 01:32 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Maureen, I love the easy to  follow format of your terrific tips for Sellers. The home the photo is charming.

Apr 04, 2015 05:20 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Maureen,

Your points are excellent tips for sellers. I too love the photo of this home you are using as an illustration...simply charming!

Apr 04, 2015 09:26 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks Debb Janes and I hope you're enjoying this easter weekend!

Thank you Sharon Paxson for commenting and also for your re-blog of my post!!

Sharon Parisi your feedback is much appreciated ... thanks!

Dorie Dillard ~ thanks!  That sweet bungalow in Portland OR was one that I staged last year.  The sellers also used the paint colors that I suggested to repaint both the exterior and interior, and it sold very quickly :-)

Apr 05, 2015 03:37 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Maureen, it's a really good thing my house isn't on the market and open this weekend!  Front door has peeling paint, dining room rug smells like a Labradoodle, and clutter?  My car trunk is cleaner!  And great advice.

Apr 18, 2015 01:33 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Pat it's the same with me, too.  I'm too busy making other people's homes look beautiful to have much time to look after my own!

Apr 18, 2015 01:52 PM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

All very good tips for an open house. We'll be doing one this weekend. I'll be sure to open ALL the window coverings to let the sun shine in!

 

 

Apr 22, 2015 06:36 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Donna Foerster Good luck with your open house this weekend!!  "Light will help sell your home" is my mantra for sellers 

Apr 22, 2015 09:06 AM
Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Maureen, another fabulous post with great information.  Thank you for sharing.

May 05, 2015 05:04 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Love the photo and the advice Maureen!

I have a few things to touch up before our next open house, or showing.

Sep 14, 2015 05:56 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Glad you found the advice helpful, Bob Crane -- good luck with your next open house!


 

Sep 14, 2015 06:11 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I hope you are enjoying a most productive summer.

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

Aug 27, 2016 07:29 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks Roy Kelley it's a beautiful time of year in Portland as the summer heat winds down and the first hint of Fall is upon us!

 

Aug 28, 2016 04:09 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Maureen, in our area you would be surprised by the number of people that never enter their home through the front door, only through the garage.

They have no idea how their home appears to others. Great tips here for any home seller and they are easy to implement.

Jun 26, 2017 05:27 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Michelle that is so true ... we must ensure that the front door entry gets a lot of attention so that buyers are drawn to see the inside of the house!

Jun 26, 2017 08:39 AM