Home Staging Checklist

Home Staging Checklist - Making Your Home Look Its Best

Basement, Attic, Garage

• Clean out attic, basement and garage and dispose of everything that you are not going to move.
• Package everything that you won’t need until you’re settled in your new home. Make sure there is ample lighting in the basement stairway.
• If the basement is dark and gloomy, paint ceilings and walls a light colour. If undeveloped, paint the floor.
• Repair cracks in basement floors and walls with a ready mixed grout (concrete).
• Wiping clean the furnace and hot water tank will make them appear newer and well maintained.
• Wash down the garage floor and clean any oil stains with a chemical absorbent.
• Stack stored items neatly against walls to make the rooms appear larger.

Kitchen

• The kitchen is the most important room in the house. Make it bright and attractive. If dull, paint or re-stain cabinets, put up attractive new curtains or blinds.
• Clean the ventilating hood in the kitchen. Thoroughly clean to remove any odors especially around trash containers and areas where food is stored.
• If the kitchen floor is badly worn, consider new flooring. Light colours and simple patterns are best.
• Remove small appliances from your counters (toaster, coffee maker, etc.). Clean counters make a room look larger.

Bathrooms

• Repair dripping faucets and unclog any plugged drains.
• Hang fresh towels and use a deodorizer in the bathroom area.
• Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, tubs & sinks; keep sinks and mirrors shining.
• Replace old caulking around bathtubs and clean tiles so they sparkle (purchasers always check the shower).

Living Areas

• Have all plaster in top shape. Cracks, nail-pops or visible seams are easy to repair.
• Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair ceiling and re-paint.
• In painting and re-decorating always stick to conventional white and easy-to-work-with neutral colours.
• If you have a fireplace, clean it our and lay some fresh logs in it to make it look inviting.
• Wash windows both inside and out. Replace any broken or cracked glass.
• Replace all burned out light bulbs. Use brighter bulbs in all general lighting areas.
• Make the floors shine and have carpets professionally cleaned – repair any creaks (drive two long finishing nails at opposing angles through the floor and sub-floor into the joist).
• Straighten up closets – get rid of excess – store out of season clothes so closets look larger.
• If doors stick slightly, rub a block of paraffin against the surface that shows signs of wear.
• If sliding doors stick, rub the tracks with paraffin or candle wax. Lubricate any squeaky hinges.

Outside

• Invest in landscaping where it can be seen first. A well manicured lawn, neatly clipped shrubbery and cleanly swept walks all create a good first impression.
• Cut back over-grown shrubbery that looks scraggly or keeps light out of the house.
• Paint your house if necessary. This can do more for sales appeal than any other factor
• In winter, walks must be free of snow and ice (liability may also be a concern).
• Inspect the roof and gutters. Any missing shingles to replace? Are gutters clean and downspouts attached?
• Consider putting flowers outside the front door if it’s not in perfect condition (very important for first impressions).
• Repair any broken outside steps.
• Keep lawn closely cut and edged. Clean the yard; store toys, bicycles and tools away.

courtesy of CREB