If you’re reading this article, you’ve most likely staged your home for sale. Your staging may have included decluttering, deep cleaning, rearranging, clearing off countertops, and bringing in items that help the buyers imagine themselves in the space. Because your home is looking its best, your phone could ring at any time with a request to show your property. Therefore, you want to make sure that your home is show-ready when you leave the house each day, which can be challenging when you and your family are living in the home. Below are some tips we’ve collected from our staging clients.
Quick-clean caddy
A quick-clean caddy might contain a cloth to wipe your counters, case goods, and mirrors (we love the Norwex counter cloths, window cloth, and dusting mitt), dry and wet Swiffers to quickly clean your floors and a squeegee for your shower doors. Devoting five minutes each morning to cleaning can make a big difference.
Routine
Your morning routing will include a few extra steps when you have a staged home, so you might want to set your alarm 10 minutes early. Create a checklist that includes items such as:
- emptying the trash
- making the beds
- hiding the pet supplies
- putting the coffee maker and toaster back inside the cabinets
- placing tv remotes and other items away
- adjusting the thermostat to a comfortable temperature
- vacuuming high traffic areas
Home automation
You don’t need the stress of having to run back to the house before a showing to turn on your lights and music. A low budget way to automate your home is to purchase timers for your lamps and music system. More advanced home automation systems allow you to remotely adjust your temperature and control all of the electrical systems in your home.
Storage bins
You’re still living in your home, so you will likely have personal items that you’re still using, but that you don’t want buyers to see. Examples include your bath towels, shower supplies, books, and papers. Under-bed boxes are a great way to stash those items before you leave the house.
Weekly tasks
Your home may sell quickly, but even during due diligence, it’s beneficial to keep your home looking great. Stay on a regular cadence with tasks such as mowing grass, replacing fresh flowers and plants, cleaning out the refrigerator, changing the bed linens, and vacuuming.
Family involvement
Living in a staged home can be tough on children. One client’s daughter felt incredibly sad when her personal photos and mementos were taken down for staging. She was also trepidatious about the move. To make the process more fun, her parents involved her in staging her room and even added some items that she loved, like a tent and string lights. To incentivize everyone in the family to pick up after themselves, the family got to select a treat from a goodie bin for every showing that they had.
Once you’ve lived in a staged home, don’t be surprised if these steps become engrained into your habits even after you’ve moved. And what’s better than coming home to a clean, bright, uncluttered home every single day?
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