When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are everything. One of the most effective ways to make a lasting impression—and boost your sale price—is through home staging. Working with a professional stager helps potential buyers picture themselves living in your home. And when buyers connect emotionally with a space, they’re more likely to make strong offers.
What Is Home Staging?
Staging is the process of preparing and styling a home to highlight its best features, minimize distractions, and appeal to a wide range of potential buyers. It’s not just about adding décor—it’s about making your home feel fresh, functional, and move-in ready.
Step 1: Pre-Staging Prep Work
Before the staging team even starts styling, there's important groundwork to be done. This is what I like to call "sweat equity" and how it pays off in a big way:
✅ Decluttering
Go through every room and remove anything you no longer need or use. Clear off countertops, thin out bookshelves, and minimize bulky furniture. Less visual clutter = more perceived space.
✅ Depersonalizing
Buyers want to envision themselves living in the space, not be reminded that it’s someone else’s home. Remove family photos, kids’ artwork, and personalized décor.
✅ Cleaning & Touch-Ups
A deep clean is a must—inside and out. Wash windows, wipe baseboards, scrub grout, and freshen up flooring. Also consider paint touch-ups or even repainting rooms in neutral colors if needed.
✅ Repairs & Maintenance
Fix squeaky doors, replace burnt-out bulbs, patch holes in walls, and make sure all appliances and fixtures are working properly. Small repairs can make a big difference in how buyers perceive your home’s condition.
Step 2: The Staging Process
Once your home is clean, decluttered, and ready, it’s time for the staging magic to happen. This is usually done a day or two before the listing goes live.
🛋️ Furniture Arrangement
Furniture is arranged to create flow and maximize space. Oversized pieces may be removed or replaced with more size-appropriate items. The goal is to highlight each room’s purpose and make it feel spacious.
🎨 Style & Décor
The stager brings in neutral, modern accessories—like throw pillows, artwork, plants, and lighting—to add warmth and style. These pieces are carefully chosen to create a cohesive, inviting look.
📸 Photo-Ready Finishing Touches
Great staging leads to beautiful listing photos. The space is styled with lighting and angles in mind, ensuring it photographs well for MLS and online marketing.
Why Staging Matters
A well-staged home doesn’t just look good—it sells faster and for more money. Buyers walk in and immediately feel a connection because the home feels fresh, updated, and move-in ready. And with most buyers browsing listings online before ever stepping foot inside, strong visuals are critical.
The Bottom Line: Staging Pays Off
If you’re getting ready to sell, don’t underestimate the power of staging. It’s one of the most strategic investments you can make in your sale—helping your home stand out, sell faster, and attract higher offers.
Ready to Get Your Home Market-Ready?
Here’s the good news, everything above is included with Trevor Thiessen Real Estate. If you're thinking about selling and want to make sure your home makes the best possible impression, let’s chat! Reach out to schedule your free home consultation today.
Next steps:
(1) To learn how to up-size your home, check out my free "Move & Grow Method" guide.
(2): Follow me on my Instagram @trevorthiessen for more tips on real estate, and how we can help.
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