Showing Your Home


Prior to you home going on the market we bring in our stagers at our expense to show your home in it's best possible light. They will come in to your home with their trained eyes to help you arrange furniture, clear away clutter and clean out busy areas. Stagers can help you see your home as the buyer will see your home.

Once our stagers have worked their magic our professional photographer will capture each room to help market your home to prospective buyers. After pictures are taken, and we start marketing your home, it's important to try to keep your home clear of clutter and clean. Here are some hot tips our stagers will give you to get your home "show ready":

Inside Your Home:

  • Remove unnecessary clutter from your home. Pay particular attention to spaces like the attic, basement and closets where seldom used or seasonal items can stack up. Clear out excess furniture to help rooms appear larger. Keep decorative objects on your furniture limited to groups of 1, 3 or 5 items. Consider rearranging pictures on your walls, and patch and paint if necessary.
  • In your kitchen, clear counter tops of extra appliances that are seldom used. Keep your refrigerator free of messages, pictures and schedules. A sparce kitchen helps buyers mentally see their own things in this space.
  • In your bathrooms, keep the counter tops free of personal items. Same with showers, tubs and commode tops. 
  • Be creative and arrange lamps to help smaller rooms seem larger, and larger rooms seem more intimate. Avoid the use of overhead lights that make rooms look washed out and lifeless.
  • Keep windows and floors clean.

Outside Your Home:

  • Landscaping: Trim or prune bushes and trees to reveal architectural details on your home and clear out any dead plants or shrubs. Weed and bark all planting areas. Keep your lawn mowed and fertilized. Plant vibrant flowers to add color to your front. 
  • Clear your decks and patios of clutter like extra planters, flower pots and toys. Tuck them away in a shed or garage.
  • Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, and other outside items into the garage.
  • Check gutters and/or roof for dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

Nine Minute Showing Drill

Occasionally we will call to schedule a showing to take place within the next few minutes. The following is a checklist to get your home ready: 

  1. Sound: Turn off the television and turn on soft music.
  2. Sight: Turn on every light in the house (day or night) and open every drape and blind (day time only).
  3. Odors: Heat some frozen pastry slowly in the oven or heat a pan on the stove and then drop in a few drops of vanilla.
  4. Kitchen: Wipe kitchen counters, place dirty dishes in dishwasher.
  5. Bathrooms: Wipe counters, flush and close toilets.
  6. Living/Family Rooms: Hide magazines, newspapers, and games; remove clutter.
  7. Bedrooms: Straighten beds. Hide clutter under bed (not in closet).
  8. Exterior: Put away toys and clutter. Keep walk clear.
  9. Goodbye: You, your family and your pets must leave your home when it is being shown. This is the single most important thing you can do during a showing to help sell your home. Buyers must get emotionally committed to your home to buy it and they cannot become emotional about "their new home" if you, the current owners, are "hanging around."