Introduction 1
Part I: Preparing Your Property for Sale 5
Chapter 1: Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me an Offer 7
Chapter 2: Discovering What Buyers Want 23
Chapter 3: Finding the Fixes You Cant Ignore 37
Chapter 4: Color Me Sold: Using Color and Light to Sell Your House 49
Chapter 5: Its Not What You Have; Its Where You Place It 57
Part II: Three Staging Steps Toward Hitting a Home Run 73
Chapter 6: First Base: The Staging Consultation 75
Chapter 7: Second Base: Earning Equity with Elbow Grease 87
Chapter 8: Third Base: Showcasing Makes Your House Photo-Ready 105
Chapter 9: Home: Opening Your House to Buyers and Agents 125
Part III: Working Through Your House, Room by Room 135
Chapter 10: Curb Appeal: Making a Winning First Impression 137
Chapter 11: You Had Me at Hello: Entrances, Exits, and Special Places 149
Chapter 12: A Whole Lot of Living to Do: Living, Family, and Rec Rooms 161
Chapter 13: A Feast of Dining Room Staging Ideas 177
Chapter 14: Cashing In on Kitchens and Baths 191
Chapter 15: Inviting Sweet Dreams with Beautifully Staged Bedrooms 207
Chapter 16: Office Affair: Stage em Something to Talk About 223
Chapter 17: Behind Closed Doors: Staging Closets and Other Hidden Places 233
Part IV: Addressing Special Staging Considerations 249
Chapter 18: Dealing with Sensitive Issues 251
Chapter 19: Staging When Youre Building, Rehabbing, or Flipping 261
Chapter 20: Staging Your House the Feng Shui Way 279
Chapter 21: Its Not Easy Being Green: EcoStaging 287
Part V: The Part of Tens 295
Chapter 22: (Almost) Ten Mistakes Sellers Often Make 297
Chapter 23: Ten Reasons to Hire a Staging Professional 303
Chapter 24: Ten Tricks of the Trade That Help You Sell Your House 309
Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Prepare Your House (and Yourself) for the Sale 313
Chapter 26: Ten Reasons Sellers Dont Stage Their Properties (But Should) 317
Index 323
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 2
How This Book Is Organized 2
Part I: Preparing Your Property for Sale 3
Part II: Three Staging Steps Toward Hitting a Home Run 3
Part III: Working Through Your House, Room by Room 3
Part IV: Addressing Special Staging Considerations 3
Part V: The Part of Tens 4
Icons Used in This Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part I: Preparing Your Property for Sale 5
Chapter 1: Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me an Offer 7
Turning Your Home Back into a House 8
Seeing the Property Through the Buyers Eyes 9
Recognizing What Staging Is and Is Not (Hint: Its Not Decorating) 11
Running down interior designers responsibilities 12
Defining an interior decorators job12
Peering into the staging profession 13
Staging to make every moment count 13
Flying solo or calling on the pros? 15
Why Real Estate Pros Embrace Staging (And You Should, Too) 15
Looking into stagings benefits for sellers 16
Finding benefits for buyers 16
Highlighting benefits for real estate professionals 17
Setting the Stage: Three Steps to Sold 17
Step one: The consultation 18
Step two: Work, work, work 18
Step three: Showcasing your work19
Making Staging Happen with Minimal Stress 19
Taking a room-by-room approach 20
Reaching simple rewards 20
Remembering that the work is worth the effort 21
Treating yourself to dinner and a movie 21
Chapter 2: Discovering What Buyers Want 23
Comparison Shopping: Buyers Do It and So Should You 24
Evaluating your property 24
Identifying and Upgrading the Money-Making Rooms 25
Lighten and brighten 26
Add warmth and style with color 26
Clean and de-clutter 27
Upgrade kitchen and baths 27
Repair floors, replace carpet 28
Speed Dating: What Happens When Buyers Start Looking 28
Hitting the Target Market 29
Making the Most of Whats Memorable about Your House 31
Is yours "the yellow one"? 31
Is yours "the one with all the art"? 31
Is yours "the dark one"? 32
Is yours "the one with the beautiful view"? 35
Chapter 3: Finding the Fixes You Cant Ignore 37
Having Your Home Inspected Before You Sell 37
Addressing the Fixes That Make Your House Safe 39
Looking into air quality 39
Upgrading the electrical system 40
Addressing the plumbing and hot water tank 41
Fixing the foundation and roof 41
Working with a Home Inspector 42
Making the Changes That Sell Your House 43
Neutralize the color 43
Flooring: Clean, repair, or install 45
Sell the storage space 47
Clean and repair the windows 47
Light the way 47
Chapter 4: Color Me Sold: Using Color and Light to Sell Your House 49
Grasping Colors Emotional Power 49
Warming up and cooling down with color 50
Unmasking your homes complexion 50
Narrowing down your color choices 51
Combining colors effectively 52
Staging with Color Psychology 53
Finding the Right Way to Let There Be Light 55
Layering light 55
Maximizing lights color 56
Home Staging For Dummies x
Chapter 5: Its Not What You Have; Its Where You Place It 57
Focal Points: The Start of the Selling Process 58
Eying your existing focal point 58
Creating focal points 59
Making sure furniture sends the right message 61
Adding Angles to a Square-Shaped Room 63
Balancing a Rectangular Room 65
The L-Shaped Room 67
Sparing a Bowling AlleyShaped Room 68
Addressing an Unexpected Angle 70
Part II: Three Staging Steps Toward Hitting a Home Run 73
Chapter 6: First Base: The Staging Consultation 75
Knowing When and Why to Call a Stager 76
Finding a professional 77
Screening your prospects 78
Knowing What to Expect from a Complete Staging Consultation 79
Delving into the consultation report 80
How long are you going to poke around my house? 80
Setting Your Priorities: What Are the Top Recommendations? 81
Whats This Going to Cost Me? 82
Pricing the walk-through consultation 82
Professional staging consultation 83
Can I Do My Own Staging Consultation? 83
Chapter 7: Second Base: Earning Equity with Elbow Grease 87
Earning Equity: Steps for Every Room 87
Leaving no streak behind 88
Repairing or replacing whats less than perfect 92
Depersonalizing your spaces 93
Its De-lightful, its De-lovely, its De-cluttered 94
Sorting through the clutter 95
Packing your stuff 96
Finding storage outside the home 97
Painting for Perfect Walls and Woodwork 98
Hiring the Elbow Grease: Working with Vendors 99
Landscaper 101
Painter 101
Carpet cleaner 101
Carpet installer 102
Carpenter 102
Table of Contents xi
Handyman 102
Electrician103
Plumber 103
Roofer104
House cleaner 104
Chapter 8: Third Base: Showcasing Makes Your House Photo-Ready 105
The Ins and Outs of Showcasing 105
Getting your house ready for its close-up106
Peering into the showcasing process 107
Accessories: Jewelry for Your Rooms 110
Creating balance 111
Creating visual flow 112
Knowing when to say when 112
Accessorizing at every level 112
Making more of your rooms with simple tips 113
Adding color with accessories 115
Hanging Mirrors and Art for Maximum Impact 116
Determining the right size and shape for art or groupings 116
Hanging art at the just-right height 117
Conquering difficult spaces with art 118
Finding Ideas for Accessories Functional and Fanciful 118
Floor screens and room dividers 119
Mirrors 119
Improvising for quick-and-easy accessories 121
Uncovering Out-of-the-Box Showcasing Ideas 123
Chapter 9: Home: Opening Your House to Buyers and Agents 125
Romancing the Home with Photos 126
Night Lights: Making Sure Buyers Find You 127
Offering Broker and Agent Tours 128
Living in Your Staged Property 129
Coping with inconvenience 129
Prepping for last-minute showings 130
Dealing with Fido and Miss Kitty 131
Keeping Your House Show-Ready with an Open House Checklist 132
Part III: Working Through Your House, Room by Room 135
Chapter 10: Curb Appeal: Making a Winning First Impression 137
Color It Sold: Addressing Exterior Color 137
Welcoming Buyers with Fabulous Front Doors 139
Home Staging For Dummies xii
Bright at Night: Lighting Your Property 139
Addressing Driveways and Sidewalks 140
Repairing and tidying driveways 140
Making sidewalks shipshape 141
Roofs: Tending Your Houses Top 141
Gussying Up Your Yard 142
Love the landscaping 142
Pools, trampolines, and so on: Great fun or tremendous work? 145
Adding square footage with outdoor living spaces 146
Chapter 11: You Had Me at Hello: Entrances, Exits, and Special Places 149
Making an Entrance Grand 149
Assessing your entrance 150
Selling starts at the sightlines 151
And if you dont have a foyer 154
Figuring out furniture placement 155
Selling Stairways and Hallways 157
Exits: Stage Them Right! 158
Handling Unique Spaces at Exits and Entrances 159
Chapter 12: A Whole Lot of Living to Do: Living, Family, and Rec Rooms 161
From Formal to Laid Back: The Family of Living Rooms 161
Bringing Luxury and Elegance to Living Rooms 162
Finding Focus and Balance in Family Rooms 166
Getting the Great Room into Selling Shape 170
Staging a Recreation Room, Bonus Room, or Basement 173
Getting Your Rooms in Shape with a DIY Checklist 175
Chapter 13: A Feast of Dining Room Staging Ideas 177
Running Through a Dining Room Staging Checklist 178
Sprucing up the flooring 178
Getting light right 178
Readying the room 179
Placing Furniture But Not Too Much of It 180
Table and chairs 182
Arranging the china cabinet 183
Setting up a buffet or sideboard (or not) 184
Softening the room with plants and ambient lighting 185
Adding artwork and mirrors 185
Accenting with accessories 186
Improvising to Set Up Your Dining Room 187
Making your own table 187
Borrowing or renting 188
When You Dont Have a Formal Dining Room 189
Table of Contents xiii
Chapter 14: Cashing In on Kitchens and Baths 191
Kitchens: Staging the Homes Focal Point 191
Upgrading on the cheap with paint 192
Brightening the room 193
Adding a splash of color 194
Countertops: Paint, replace, or reface 198
Focusing on flooring 198
Addressing the appliance issue 199
Bathrooms: Tackling Tub, Tile, and Toilet 200
Upgrading bathrooms is never flushing away money 200
Showcasing with towels and shower curtains 201
Adding artwork and accessories 201
Handling mirrors and medicine cabinets 202
Spotlighting your lighting 202
Ensuring tip-top toilets 204
Upping the Wow Factor with a DIY Staging Checklist 204
Kitchens 204
Bathrooms 205
Chapter 15: Inviting Sweet Dreams with Beautifully Staged Bedrooms 207
Getting Bedrooms Ready for Buyers 207
Prepping from the laundry pile up 208
Opening your closets 208
Being careful with color 210
Lightening and brightening bedrooms 212
Positioning the furniture 212
Addressing bedding 213
Mastering the Master Bedroom 213
Finding the function 214
Creating the lifestyle message 216
Placing furniture in a master 217
Welcoming Buyers to the Guest Room 217
Taming Kids Rooms 218
Making Bedrooms Their Best with a DIY Checklist 222
Chapter 16: Office Affair: Stage Em Something to Talk About 223
Sizing Up the Space 223
Restoring the Function 224
Building a Workable Work Space 226
Paring down equipment and furniture 228
Considering privacy issues 228
Maintaining your workspace while your house is on the market 229
Bringing Finishing Touches to the Home Office 229
Spiffing Up an Office with a DIY Checklist 230
Home Staging For Dummies xiv
Chapter 17: Behind Closed Doors: Staging Closets and Other Hidden Places 233
Running Down Things to Do in Every Closet 234
Defining Closet Upgrade Options 235
Finding the Function and Setting the Stage in Closets of Every Kind 236
Handling the hall closet 236
Perking up the kitchen pantry 236
Enhancing linen closets 237
Making the most of the master bedroom closet 238
Conquering childrens closets 238
Preparing the guest room closet 240
Getting to work on the office closet 240
Staging storage closets 241
Organizing the Laundry Room 241
Bringing Basements up to Selling Speed 242
Getting the Garage in Order 246
Part IV: Addressing Special Staging Considerations 249
Chapter 18: Dealing with Sensitive Issues 251
Eradicating Scent of Wet Dog, Eau de Cat, and Other Signs of Pets 251
Protecting Precious Goods (Or, "Grandmas in That Jar!") 253
Quashing Collection Fever: Show Buyers Your House, Not Your Beanie Babies 254
Selling Your House During the Holidays 255
You See Beautiful Wallpaper, Buyers See Work 257
Removing wallpaper 257
Painting over wallpaper (Really!) 260
Chapter 19: Staging When Youre Building, Rehabbing, or Flipping 261
Climbing the Three Steps of Staging 263
Step one: The consultation 263
Step two: Getting the work done 265
Step three: Showcasing 265
Colors Speak Even When They Dont Say a Word 267
Finding Eye-Opening (And Sale-Making) Improvements 270
Peeling away paneling problems 271
Patching predicaments 274
Popcorn: Great for movies, bad for ceilings 274
Plaster ceilings 275
Hanging curtains does not a house sale make 275
Building and Staging with the Buyer in Mind 277
Table of Contents xv
Chapter 20: Staging Your House the Feng Shui Way 279
Introducing Feng Shui 279
Overcoming Clutters Harmful Effects 280
Making the Most of the Five Natural Elements 281
Placing the five elements 281
Using water to sell your house 284
Staging to Feng Shui the Sale 284
Chapter 21: Its Not Easy Being Green: EcoStaging 287
Looking Into Rebate and Eco-Grant Programs 288
In Canada 288
In the United States 289
Using Earth-Friendly Products for Cleaning and Painting 290
Greening while cleaning 290
Painting conscientiously 290
Finding Flooring That Goesthe Eco-Distance 291
Finding Practical Ways to Conserve Water 292
Part V: The Part of Tens 295
Chapter 22: (Almost) Ten Mistakes Sellers Often Make 297
Overpricing the Property 297
Choosing the Wrong Professional 298
Going It Alone: For Sale by Owner 298
Listing Your House Before You Stage It 299
Not Doing Your Homework 299
Failing to Target the Right Buyer 300
Undervaluing the Power of Curb Appeal 300
Neglecting the Floors 301
Not Washing the Windows 301
Chapter 23: Ten Reasons to Hire a Staging Professional 303
Utilizing the Skills of a Certified Staging Professional 303
Rigorous training and testing 304
Continuous training about market conditions 304
Important connections 304
Seeing What the Buyer Sees 305
Selling the Property to All Five Senses 305
Saving You and Your Agent Time and Money 306
Stagers Play the Bad Guy So Agents Dont Have To 306
Highlighting Your House with Great Photographs 307
Selling Your Property Faster 307
Relying on the Stagers Toolkit 307
Home Staging For Dummies xvi
Chapter 24: Ten Tricks of the Trade That Help You Sell Your House 309
Bringing Fresh Air In 309
Running a Fresh Air Machine 309
Choosing Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products 310
Hanging Art with Heavy Duty Wall Hangers 310
Professional Art Hanging with a Level and Hanging Tool 311
Saving Your Walls with Wall Respecters 311
Adding a Citrus Scent 311
Saving Your Back with Furniture Sliders 311
Filling Cracks and Holes Easily 312
Misting Naturalaire Home Cleansing Spray 312
Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Prepare Your House (And Yourself) for the Sale 313
Emotionally Disconnect from the House 313
Make Room for the Buyers Vision 314
Pack Up and Store Half of Your Stuff 314
Organize Closets, Cupboards, and Drawers 314
Refresh the Exterior 315
Inspect Your House Before the Buyer Does 315
Invite the Buyer In 315
Buy New House Numbers 315
Make Every Surface Shine 316
Seek Professional Showcasing Help 316
Chapter 26: Ten Reasons Sellers Dont Stage Their Properties (But Should) 317
We Dont Have Time for Home Staging 317
Location and Price Will Do the Work 318
I Get Compliments on My Home All the Time, So I Dont Need to Stage It 318
My Neighbors House Sold Without Staging 318
My Agent Said I Dont Need to Stage My House to Sell It 319
If Its Good Enough for Me, Its Good Enough for Anyone 319
Staging Is Just De-Cluttering and Cleaning, and Ive Done That 320
Homes Have Been Selling for Years Without Staging Why Now? 320
I Cant Afford It 321
Its a Hot Market The House Will Sell Without Staging 321
Index323
Table of Contents xvii
Home Staging For Dummies xviii
