Seven Tips for Staging Your House

We sold our house on Monday. Yay!  It was a long week of cleaning, organizing and prepping, but it all payed off.  We are one step closer to moving into our new home in a few months.  I decided to write this post to share some tips I learned about staging a house for showings.  We were able to sell our house in one week on the market.  

First things first, you want to de-clutter and de-personalize your whole house.  Get rid of any personal photos and knickknacks.  Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in your home and it's easy for them to do that when there aren't any personal photos.  I found it helpful to have an honest personal come in and tell me what I should remove (my sister) because after awhile you become so immune to things you don't see it anymore.  My sister is really honest with me and she was able to say "you need to get rid of this." it really helped having her do that.  When you're done it will feel like your house is empty but oddly enough that is what attracts buyers when they look at the pictures online or come and see the house for showings.   

Office area

Instead of leaving our laptop out I put out paper and pencils

Tided up our linen closet

Put out a basket of rolled up towels and flowers

Kyle put his tools in the crawl space

He made the bins in the crawl space look neat

Next you want to pack away items you won't need until you move. This includes seasonal clothes for next summer, toys, extra linens, and outdoor stuff.  It freed up a lot more room in the house and made it seem bigger to the buyers eyes.  "Less is More" as they say.  We were fortunate to be able to store lots of stuff in my parents basement as well at Kyle's grandma's condo.   We also had charities come and pick up items we no longer needed.  It's amazing how much stuff you collect over the years.  If you are like us and have little ones you want to make sure all their toys and baby gear is packed away to make your house a clean slate.  We had purchased a nice whicker chest from Ikea that was great for hiding away toys during each showing.  

I was able to borrow some decor from a friend 

Displayed some cookbooks and flowers in the kitchen

Left some containers on the shelves downstairs

We took out our seasonal clothes to make it look bigger

After you should touch up paint around the house especially in your front entrance where buyers will get their first impression of your house.  This includes your front door and trim.  Luckily my cousin Greg is a professional painter and all he does is paint for a living.  He has painted our house before and does an amazing job in a fraction of the time it would take us to do the same job.  He was able to come and paint our basement as well as touch up paint through out the house including the front entrance, front door, trim around the door and garage and paint the walls along the stairwells.  It is unreal what a fresh coat of paint can do to a house, it makes it look brand new! 

Fresh flowers for the living room

The Ikea chest for hiding toys

The powder room

Our ensuite bathroom

Then you need to clean, clean, and clean some more.  Just when you think it's clean you should clean again!  Make everything sparkle.  Our relator told me something that stuck with me, once a buyer notices something dirty they start to look for things wrong with the house.  I also heard that buyers will judge how clean your house is by checking out your fridge and oven.  So I made sure those were clean as a whistle.  In between showings I would clean as I went to make sure it stayed beautiful.  I would have a small grocery bag for garbage that I would take out before leaving for a showing.  I would wash dishes after we ate and put them away and not leave anything in the dishwasher dirty.  In the bathrooms I made sure to put a fresh toilet paper roll on and put the garbage can with the toilet brush under the sink hidden away.  

Our basement with a set up exercise corner

We painted the basement a light grey to make it bright 

I found a plan online for the electrical box door. 

Our basement bathroom

Go out and purchase fresh flowers to put in rooms around the house.  I bought two large bouquets with a mixture of flowers in different colours.   I also purchased some small short vases to use to display flowers.  It freshened up rooms really nicely and just gave a nice punch of colour for neutral rooms. 

Our kitchen with only fruit and flowers on the counters

I made the stainless steel appliances sparkle

Try and use white linens and towels if you can in your bathrooms and bedrooms.  It gives the appearance of clean and fresh.  It also brightens up the room.  In our downstairs bedroom I left the duvet cover off the duvet and used white pillow cases and it really brightened up the room.  In each bathroom I used white towels and layered them.  I realized we didn't have very many white towels so I took a quick trip to Walmart and was able to purchase some cheap white towels.  

Our master bedroom 

Spare bedroom in the basement

Make sure the smell in your house is netural and makes a good first impression.  I made sure not to cook anything with onions, garlic or spice a few days before the showings.  I didn't cook all week during the showings and open house not only for the potential of smelling up the house but because I didn't have the time either.  We ate out twice and were invited to eat at Kyle's grandmas and Kyle's parents.  Before our first showing my sister told me to cut up lemon peel and boil it in a pot on the stove.  It made the house smell and fresh and new.  My sister also put some drops of lavender oil on cotton balls and placed them in various areas around the house.  

Our living room

Our dining room

Our Weekend at the Cabin

It's been so long since I've written.  Things have been crazy with finishing up our basement and getting the house ready to sell as of last Monday.  Let me tell you, we are NEVER moving again.  It is sooooo much work especially when you have two little ones.  

Since we had our open house on Saturday and Sunday afternoon we decide to save me from having to clean in between both open houses and the breakdown of my sanity we should head to the lake for two days.  It was a great decision because I was able to relax and not have to dust, vacuum or clean another toilet.  

Claire had her Wee Movers class Saturday morning at 10 so we needed to stay in the city until that was over.  We had a second showing that was suppose to happen Thursday morning that was cancelled and instead happened at 10:30 Saturday morning.  Kyle and I were madly cleaning the house and getting the girls packed up as well.  It was a bit hectic but that's expected.  My mom and dad had taken Makena since Wednesday night so that there wasn't any dog hair to clean up so she came Saturday morning to drop her off so she could come to the lake with us.  Abby was napping and my mom and I were packing up the car for the lake when the buyers relator showed up in our drive way.  He said they were coming to look at the house for 10 am, it was 9:55. AHHH!  I told him we were told the showing was scheduled for 10:30, but he showed me his email and it did say 10.  I had to quickly get Abby up from her nap and fix up her room and sprint out the door.  Unfortunately, the couple who was looking at the house was coming up the driveway with their parents to look at our house, it was embarrassing and I hope they understood it was a mix up.  Our relator later apologized that it was his error. 

We were finally on the road by 12 noon.  We didn't arrive at the lake until shortly after 1 so the girls went down for their naps a little later than normal.  Kyle and I were exhausted and he was able to have a nap as well while I sat and relaxed.  After the girls woke up Kyle's parents arrived with our niece Emily.  Claire and Abby were excited to see Emily.  Claire, Emily and Kyle's dad went down to the beach to look for rocks.  They both came back with big flat rocks to decorate for the garden.  We had a delicious steak dinner and made a bonfire after.  The girls roasted marshmallows. 

Bedtime Stories

Claire and Emily decorating their rocks

Abby playing in the cabin

New toys are always exciting!

Claire wants to be just like her cousin Emily

Abby and Grandpa

Sunday morning we woke up and had a soak in the hot tub, the girls had fun!  Kyle and his mom made bacon and eggs for breakfast.  Abby went down for her morning nap, I enjoyed a peaceful hour with a cup of coffee and my Today's Parent magazine out on the sunroom.  Kyle and his dad took Emily and Claire into Gimli to go fishing.  Claire caught a little fish, she was so proud of herself.  We had lunch when they got home.  Claire and Abby went for their naps and Kyle and his dad took a drive to the farm.  I actually had a nap myself, it was so great to sleep too.  I was pretty tired from the busy week we had.  We made another bonfire after the girls woke up and enjoyed sitting outside.  It was beautiful day out and the weather turned out nice and warm.  We also went for a walk down to the beach before dinner.  

Abby and Makena

Claire and Emily about to go in the hot tub

It turned out to be a relaxing weekend out at the cabin.  I am so glad we went out there to get away.  I was happy to not have to clean up the house another time.  I just hope we are able to get some good news tonight when we meet with our relator about potential offers.  I don't really want to go through another week of showings and open houses.  

Abby and I down by the beach

  

Favourite Weekend Moments

Instead of giving you a long boring run down of my weekend, I thought I would just list favourite moments. 

1) A sunny warm walk with my girls on Friday morning. 

2) Claire combing Abby's hair with her dolls brush

3) Claire helping make Kyle's birthday cake Friday afternoon

4) Capturing Abby's cute crawl in action on video Friday night

5) Watching the basement ceiling get finished Saturday afternoon, finally!!

6) Singing "Happy Birthday" to Kyle as he held our two girls

7) Devouring the chocolate birthday cake we made for Kyle, man was that good!

8) Laughing as Evan played with Abby while she was in the Jolly Jumper, he loves to make her laugh!

9) Watching Claire follow Emily around the house as they played 'shopping' together

10) Getting the carpet installed in the basement Sunday morning. Yay! Check that off the list!

11) Abby smile while my dad held her Sunday night. 

12) Claire having fun with Auntie Erica and Derrick at the park Sunday night.   

13) Oh yeah, eating the second chocolate birthday cake we made for Kyle. Yes, eating chocolate cake twice IS necessary!! 

Our September Long Weekend

What a weekend! It was productive, yet relaxing.  We spent the weekend getting things ready in the house for our move and spent some quality time with the girls.  

Kyle had the day off on Friday.  We were going to go to the park in the morning but it was raining so we headed over to Chapters instead.  Claire enjoyed playing in the kids section and I of course bought myself a tasty Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks.  The girls and I had lunch together at home while Kyle went to meet some friends for lunch.  He decided to go check out the house and speak with the site foreman to see how things were progressing.  We may be looking at a later possession date than November.  Only because the electrical hasn't been approved by the city yet and then after that drywall will go up but will take 2 weeks.  Once drywall is complete we are looking at another 2 months before it's move in ready.  I just hope everything is complete before Christmas.  We don't want to be moving with two kids at Christmas time.  Yikes!! 

Claire helping make a fire!

Friday evening after dinner the rain had stopped so we took both girls outside and made a bonfire.  We bought some ingredients to make smores.  Claire was a sticky mess after but it was worth seeing her have so much fun eat the gooey marshmallow and chocolate.  It was a cool night but at least there were no mosquitoes.  After the girls went to bed for the night Kyle and I headed back outside to enjoy the fire some more.  It was a fantastic way to begin our long weekend! 

Roasting the marshmallows

Oh boy the chocolate is out!

Claire took her time eating, savouring each bite

Saturday, was a gorgeous day!  We made plans to head to my sister's place in the morning for a swim but it was sunny outside but still too cool so we made plans to head there after the girls nap in the afternoon.  In the morning Kyle took Makena and Claire to the park in the morning.  Makena was so hot she decided to lay in the sandbox.  She's silly sometimes.  After the girls went for their nap I headed out to the gym while Kyle stayed home to watch the girls.  My cousin Greg came around 2 to paint our basement.  The mudding and tapping had been done as of Wednesday.  He took only a couple hours to paint the whole basement.  I picked out a colour and he even went and picked it up from Dulux.  The colour I picked was called Snowfield, a grey with a blue undertone.  He will come back once the ceiling and carpet is complete to do a final coat.  

I love the colour in the basement!

Makena cooling down from a walk to the park

When the girls woke up we packed up and headed off to my sister's condo for a swim.  I had baked mini lemon cheesecakes with fresh berries for dessert.  I also whipped up a small batch of No Bake Energy Balls.  I had to sneak one before packing them up!  It was so refreshing to go for a swim.  I couldn't believe it was our first chance going for a swim at their condo this summer, there was either something that came up that we couldn't go or the weather didn't cooperate.  Claire and Abby both loved the water.  I was so happy Abby was able to go for a swim before we had to put her down for a little nap at 5:30.  Erica and Derrick prepared a delicious dinner for us,  marinated chicken and vegetable skewers with rice.  So tasty!  It was a lot of fun visiting with them.  

Claire playing out on the patio at the condo

Me and my Abby swimming

Claire playing in the water with her Auntie Erica

We drove home to get the girls ready for bed.  Once the girls were in bed I headed out to Joey's to meet Janeen and Crystal for coffee and dessert.  I ate sweet potato fries instead of dessert but they both enjoyed something sweet.  We chatted up a storm and had a great time catching up since we last saw each other at Crystal's wedding back on the 15th.  We reminisced about University, Grand Forks trips, and camping, oh we had lots of fun together. We also talked about babies and the fun of being a mom. Crystal is expecting this February with her first.  

The girls about to chow down

These were so yummy!

Sunday, it rained all day so we spent the whole day inside.  It gave us a chance to pack and get things finished around the house.  I finished saving the documents on our desktop computer onto our iCloud.  We took out the old computer desk from upstairs and brought up the Ikea desk and chair.  We got rid of the desktop computer.  The space feels more bright and open.  I love it!  I wish we would have done it sooner.  Kyle watched the Bomber game in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, they didn't win so that was disappointing.  Apparently they haven't won against Saskatchewan in 10 years for the Labour Day Classic.  Maybe next year!  Kyle and I rented a movie in the evening on the iPad.  Wolf of Wall Street, (I know, I know that is such a old movie now, but we haven't had time until now to watch an adult movie) As of today we still haven't finished watching it.  It's really long and so far I'm not that impressed.  Leo is a great actor in it but it's missing a storyline.  

I don't know why we didn't do this sooner!

Monday, Kyle and I spent most of the day cleaning the house from top to bottom.  He vacuumed while I cleaned the bathrooms.  I packed up somethings in the office our books and dvd's.  I also purged some more stuff for charity and packed up the girls toys and stuffed animals.  I left them some toys to play with but got rid of a lot.  Kyle took a car load of stuff to his grandma's to store in her basement.  Tyler and his girlfriend Jenn came over to visit and stay for dinner.  We ordered pizza from Santa Lucia.  So delicious!  Claire sure warmed up to Jenn fast even though it was her first time meeting her.  She played in her kitchen with her, baking cupcakes and icing them, it was so cute!  In the evening we went outside to have another bonfire.  We each had a gooey smore and enjoyed the last few hours of the long weekend.  

Some packing done, plenty more to do!