Summer Home Staging Tips

Guest Blog Post

Courtesy of Meg Pitner
Edit5 Design

Buyers spend an average of 6 minutes at a home but form an opinion in the first 15 seconds.
This is very little time to make a good impression. According to a recent study, real estate TV shows and social media affected buyers’ perspectives on homes too–setting unrealistic or increased expectations. More than half of those surveyed reported that buyers said homes should look like what they see on TV. This is a lot to live up to!

The goal of staging is to help sell your home quickly and to not leave any money on the table. How do we do this? First, we want to present your home in the best possible manner which includes first impressions and lasting memories. We also want to appeal to the broadest range of buyers which may require a less specific decorating style. And lastly, we want the buyer to fall in love with the home which includes emphasizing the positives of the property and downplaying any negatives. 

So, let’s talk about how to prep your home to help meet these expectations. The list below includes suggestions that require good old-fashioned “elbow grease” and inexpensive tips to make your home summer real estate ready. If you need more help, ask Delinda Harper, Associate Broker at Coldwell Banker Realty in Camp Hill, PA for advice or ask to be connected with a professional stager, like EDIT5Design, for guidance as we are trained and experienced with occupied dwellings and vacant properties. 

Here are 6 summer staging tips:

#1 Curb Appeal: Important for first impressions online and in person

• Refresh mulch and landscaping
• Clean out dead leaves and trim bushes
• Add a new welcome mat
• Paint the front door if needed and polish hardware
• Powerwash house, garage, and the driveway
• Clean/repair your mailbox and surrounding area
• Neatly store trashcans, garden tools and hoses

#2 Make Spotless: A clean home is a well-loved home

• Wash down walls and floors
• Deep clean the kitchen and bathrooms
• Clean inside appliances and drawers
• Steam clean carpets (professionally if needed)
• Wash blinds and window treatments
• Dust ceiling fans and moldings
• Clean under beds and hard to reach places

#3 Declutter: Help spaces seem larger, more organized, and less personalized

• Box up cold weather wardrobes and outdoor gear
• Get rid of old magazines, catalogs, and papers
• Clean off counters and table surfaces
• Remove family photos, sports memorabilia, trophies/awards, religious and political items
• Pack up or donate outgrown kids clothes/toys
• Organize drawers and closets

#4 Light & Bright: Most buyers want an updated, bright, cheery place to call home

• Open blinds and raise shades
• Pull back curtains and drapes
• Simplify window treatments and curtain rods
• Remove vertical blinds or open completely
• Trim outside bushes around windows
• Clean windows and screens – inside and out
• Turn on all the lights before a showing

#5 Summer Inspired: Take advantage of a relaxed, sunny season

• Pack up dark and heavy blankets
• Put away out of season décor/lights
• Update dark paint colors and wallpaper
• Add colorful accent pillows and throws
• Bring in greenery and vases of cut flowers
• Remove fussy dried floral arrangements
• Add light, fresh scents such as linen or lavender

#6 Outdoor Lifestyle: Let the buyers envision a good life living here

• Pay extra attention to any added value areas such as your deck, patio, balcony, pool or dock
• Create appealing outdoor seating areas
• Clean or replace outside furniture, cushions, and pillows
• Add planters with colorful potted plants
• Sweep clean and debris and items in disrepair

The Bottom Line

Staging is an important step to ensuring you garner they attention of buyers and get top-dollar for your home.

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