Tips for staging house to sell

Staging a house: 15 home staging tips from real estate experts

Staging a house prior to selling it is one of the best investments you can make to ensure it gets a quick offer and achieves the highest sale value. Research has shown that a staged homes sells three times faster than a non-staged home – and 70% of real estate agents stated that home staging increased the offer value on a house by up to 10%.

Homes & Gardens caught up with experts in the field, Anne Carr of Los Angeles-based Anne Carr Design and Alex Willcocks, managing director of London-based Burbeck Interiors, to discuss the features home buyers want, the benefits of home staging – and how to do it.

Staging a house – top 15 home staging tips

'Staging is really important for two reasons,' says Anne Carr. 'Most people cannot see beyond what is in front of them. They get caught up in past perceptions, so you need to show them what is possible.

'Sometimes rooms are awkward and you need to show people how a space can be best utilized. The second reason is that the person may not be very good with space planning. Rooms tend to feel a lot smaller without furniture, so how we place furniture gives buyers a sample of what is possible.'

No matter your budget these golden home staging tips are sure to have an impact.

1. Declutter your home

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Decluttering is the first job you should tackle when home staging. Clutter is distracting for buyers – their eyes will be drawn to your belongings and not the rooms. The rooms themselves will look smaller and untidy if cluttered, too.

'Nearly all of us have too much ‘stuff’, which has been accumulated over years if not decades. Decluttering each room is an excellent investment of your time,' continues Alex Willcocks. 'It's important potential buyers can envisage themselves living in the property, for that to happen it has to feel like you don’t.

'Try to free up as much surface space as you can on shelves, coffee tables and especially in the kitchen. Wicker or rope baskets are excellent for throwing items in that you need but don’t necessarily want to see. Storage units and containers are another great option should you require more space.'

2. Invest in storage – but don't overload it

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin / Future)

Now you've decluttered you can clearly see where there might be a need for extra storage to make rooms feel really neat and organized. Ideally, you should ensure your storage units, hidden behind doors or otherwise (remembering that buyers will open cupboard doors), shouldn't be overloaded.

When staging a house, you want buyers to think your home can cope with their belongings because your storage is ample, not under pressure.

3. Clean, clean, clean

A clean home will feel well-cared for, which is important for most buyers – even renovators don't want to buy somewhere that gives the impression of being neglected. Plus, a clean, aired home will feel fresh and welcoming – this will help buyers envisage themselves living in your home.

'If you do nothing else, make sure your home is clean, clutter and odor-free (you may be used to your pets’ pong but buyers won’t be!), and that there are no "yet to be finished" DIY jobs as they’ll give the impression that your house will need a lot of maintenance,' advises Alex Willcocks.

4. Tackle home staging must-do DIY jobs

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki / Future)

Just as a property needs to be clean to feel well maintained, a home also needs obvious maintenance tasks ticked off in order to secure an offer fast. So, make a list as you assess what needs doing to stage your house: fix that dripping faucet, mend the guttering, fill holes and cracks in walls, repair that door... anything that looks broken or doesn't work can put buyers off.

5. Refresh rooms with light reflecting colors

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

It's well worth reconsidering, for example, living room color schemes.

'A fresh coat of paint makes a huge amount of difference. It brightens a room, it can make it look bigger and, it gives an overall appearance of a well-kept home,' advises Anne Carr of Los Angeles-based Anne Carr Design.

And while you may love bright or dark colors or bold wallpapers, it's often best to stick to what's safe to secure a sale when staging a house. That needn't mean white, neutrals, naturals and pastels can all create a space-enhancing feel buyers will love.

6. Renovate your kitchen and bathroom

Interior design / Tom Howley

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Staging a kitchen may be more than just decluttering and cleaning – if yours is holding back your chances of getting an offer, you may need to consider a remodel, the cost of which, done wisely, can be recouped when you sell.

'A new kitchen has the most impact on a new buyer. It demonstrates to buyers that the house has been updated. You always recoup your investment from upgrading kitchens and baths,' continues Anne Carr.

This may not mean remodelling – painting kitchen cabinets can make a world of difference.

'Bathrooms and landscaping are important, too,' advises Anne Carr. 'Redoing floors is worth it if you are staying in the home, but not needed for a sale. Built-in cabinetry is another one.'

7. Rework room layouts

(Image credit: Curated Nest/Kyle J Caldwell)

Staging a house might involve reworking rooms' layouts. This is particularly important when staging a living room – especially if it is an open-plan room that doubles up as a kitchen diner, in which case you may need to investigate new living room layout ideas.

'I arrange the room to look its best – not for practicality's sake,' says Anne Carr. 'For example, sometimes a table may be too close to a cabinet for proper opening and closing, and that's because we are just after a balanced look, instead of necessarily trying to be practical.

'The same goes for television placement. Some brokers get hung up on whether the TV placement is viewable from different furnishings. I say it doesn't matter for selling purposes, because no one is watching TV while viewing the home!'

8.

Remember accessories when staging a house

(Image credit: Future / Jonathan Gooch)

Staging a house isn't just about adding new pieces to your home – you may also need to get rid of some well-loved furnishings, too.

'Get rid of all stained rugs and furniture. It gives an overall bad feeling to prospective buyers. It makes a home look beaten up. If you can’t replace it, you can buy inexpensive sisal rugs and place them on top of the existing rug, advises Anne Carr.

'It is not as pricey as people believe to reupholster furniture and it can make a huge difference. If you like the shape of a piece, reupholstering can really revive it. You just have to choose a moderately priced fabric.

'New, fresh looking furniture will elevate the entire room. If you cannot redo the kitchen, and your kitchen is dated, painting the cabinet fronts can give a kitchen a huge facelift without a big investment.

'Colorful throw pillows that work together also give a home a look of well-balanced look as well as matching throw blankets.

'Accessories make a big difference, too. Consider placing a coffee table book with a candle or an interesting decorative piece.'

'Making small changes to a room can often have a big impact on its ambiance. I would recommend always replacing bed linen and towels with new crisp white replacements,' advises Alex Willcocks. 'The same rule applies to bath and hand towels. Scented oil diffusers and candles are always a good idea to create a warm welcoming environment.'

9. Stage a house for comfort

(Image credit: Alicia Taylor)

'Comfort is much more important because people are staying in their homes for long periods of time,' says Anne Carr. 'We are getting requests for large comfortable sectionals for long Netflix watching with the entire family.

'Unlike the early 2000s where everyone wanted open concept living, clients are realizing that they need privacy and quiet to work or go to online learning. Many clients are changing room formats so that every family member has an office.

'I think buyers like to see up-to-date furnishings that don't look too cold. There was a trend a while back for everything to be white, but it also has to make people feel like their lifestyle could fit in with this on a daily basis, so it's important not to give any space an impersonal, hotel look. '

10. Add pops of color for personality

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

'People do like to see a pop of color in pillows or in an occasional chair,' continues Anne Carr. 'When home staging, we also like to add an element of surprise through art with color. The psychology of color says that the majority of people gravitate towards things that are blue. In more modern homes, we will use a neutral palette with more black than we would in a farmhouse style of architecture.

'In Southern California the look doesn't really change that much in different seasons, however we do tend to use more subdued colors in fall and winter. We may add a chunky throw and more organic materials to add texture to the design. Summertime is always a happy time, so we try to throw in some bright colors in our design, especially in the outdoors.

11. Make a good first impression by staging your front yard

(Image credit: Dan Duchars)

'This timeless expression is applicable to selling your home,' says Alex Willcocks, managing director of London-based Burbeck Interiors. 'A buyer's decision making process doesn’t start once they are in the property, it started 100 meters before that. As such any remedial work or improvement that can be made to the entrance of the property will pay dividends.

'This can be as simple as weeding the path leading to the front door to a new coat of paint on the door itself or investing in some lovely front yard flower bed ideas. Try and clean any windows you can, especially the one at the front of the property. As summer continues new flowers or a hanging basket can give a positive impression, their aroma can also create a good first impression.'

12.

Use real plants in home staging

(Image credit: Mark Bolton)

Using house plants in staging a house can be effective.

'We like to use real plants if it's possible for us to maintain them on a weekly basis,' says Anne Carr. 'Again, it feels less like a hotel to buyers and more like a place they can see themselves living. We rarely use faux flowers, unless they are really high quality and difficult to decipher from the real ones.'

13. Don't forget to stage the back yard

(Image credit: Emme Lee)

'If you are lucky enough to have any outside space, you really need to maximize this as much as possible,' continues Alex Willcocks. 'It doesn’t matter if it's 6ft by 6ft or 300ft long, you need to get this to do the selling.

'Just like with the front of the property, assess what needs to be done to make it as presentable as you can. Treat it as an extra room and home stage it accordingly. Start by measuring your outdoor area and deciding what type of furniture will best suit your needs and lifestyle – a bistro two-seater table and chairs is perfect for romantic al fresco dining on a city balcony, whereas a large sofa set is a good choice for a sociable family household – all these backyard ideas will help. '

14. What not to use in home staging

'I try not to use metallic accents. I feel it is a dated look and can cheapen a room,' concludes Anne Carr.

'I would always advise homeowners to go out when buyers are due to visit – let your realtor show them the property,' says Homes & Gardens Editor in Chief. 'In my own experience, they will feel more relaxed, be more likely to spend more time looking around, imagining themselves living there, and the house will feel less like yours, and more like – potentially – theirs. For this reason, too, de-personalizing is a must. Family portraits should be put away for now and those on the wall replaced with more neutral art.'

15. Stage a house to suit its age and style

Staging an older home is the same as staging a modern one except that any home will look best if the interior complements the home's age, architecture and style. Having a cohesive look that runs throughout an entire home can make it look bigger, too.

Why use home staging to sell a house?

Staging a house is one of the easiest and best ways to add value. Home staging incorporates a vast array of different services, from basic decluttering to a complete interior makeover. These, you can tackle yourself, perhaps with the advice of your realtor, although professional home stagers will make the process smoother, quicker and, potentially, more successful.

Prices for home staging can vary depending on the scope of the work that needs to be undertaken, however there is a lot you can do to increase the marketability of your property – and this is what we're looking into here.

Who pays for the staging of a house?

Homeowners pay for the staging of a house since it is in their interest to gain a quicker offer, sale and, hopefully, a higher price.

How do I stage my home myself?

To stage your home yourself, follow these simple steps:

Declutter rooms – put items in storage if necessary.
Invest in good storage – this will make rooms feel well organized and neat.
Clean and maintain your home.
Repaint bright or bold schemes in more neutral, light-enhancing colors.
Rethink room layouts to make them look bigger.
Dispose of – or put in storage – old, worn or very personal items.
Ensure curb appeal is attended to.

Thanks to Burbeck Interiors and Anne Carr Design

Home Staging Tips & Checklist

From Spotlight: Best Pro Secrets for Buying & Selling

Their agent won’t have to say, “Picture this.” Buyers will see your home at its best.

Image: CreativaStudio/Getty

Staging your house can make you money. Twenty-three percent of sellers’ agents reported that a well-staged environment increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer, according to the National Association of REALTORS® "2021 Profile of Home Staging."

Impact of House Staging on Price and Time on Market

Staging a house – where you decorate your house to entice buyers to bite – helps sell homes from three to 30 times faster than unstaged houses, according to a 2022 survey by the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. The same survey found staged homes sold for up to 20% more than the competition.

This article is packed with DIY tips for staging your home. But if you hire a professional home stager to help buyers fall in love with your house, the money is usually well spent. Spending around 1% of a home’s sale price to hire a pro to stage it resulted in a 7% return on investment, according to a 2021 survey by the Real Estate Staging Association. Professionally staged homes sold for an average of $40,000 over list price in 2021, RESA says.

Professional staging costs vary depending on the region. Home sellers pay from $650 to $2,700 in home staging costs, according to HomeAdvisor. The size of your home and the scope of the project affect the cost, too. If your house is in good shape and your furniture fashionable, you may just need to pay a pro to rearrange the layout and declutter. If the house is empty or your furniture is stuck in 1982, a professional stager will recommend you rent furniture.

The cost of staging a home for two or three months usually costs about 0.75% of a home's list price, according to Bankrate. With the median U.S. home price around $375,000, expect to pay $2,800 for professional staging.

Even in a seller’s market staging can help your home sell faster and for top dollar.

Just take this real world tale of two condo listings from Terrylynn Fisher, a REALTOR® with Dudum Real Estate Group in Walnut Creek, Calif., who also stages. Both units were in the same complex. One hadn't been staged or updated since it was built; the other was staged and had been slightly refreshed (a little paint here and there and one redone bath). Otherwise, both units were the same size and layout. The staged condo sold for about $30,000 more than the unstaged unit, she says. “People couldn't believe it was the same model."

Before your eyes turn into dollar signs, keep in mind staging isn't guaranteed to get you more money. But it's an important marketing tool to help you compete at the right price, which means you can sell faster.

Related: Why Spending Money on Fancy Bath Salts Can Help Sell Your House

Helping buyers fall in love with your property takes more than running the vacuum and fluffing the pillows: It's all about decluttering, repairing, updating, and depersonalizing, say real estate agents and stagers.

Home Staging Tips for Every Room

With help from Fisher and other sources, we've compiled the ultimate home staging checklist.

Jump to a specific room or area of the house:

Living Room

Embrace symmetry when staging your living room. Coordinated sets, like these pillows, are pleasing to a buyer's eye. Image: Fluff Designs

When placing anything from accent pillows and table lamps, go for symmetry, which is pleasing to the eye.
Light it up with lamps. Chic lamps provide both added lighting and appealing decor.
Make that fireplace glow. Scrub away soot stains and replace the old screen.
If you're using staging furniture or buying slip covers, choose light colors for an airy, inviting feel.
Whatever amount of furniture you have in your living room, remove a few pieces to make the room feel spacious.
Use bright, coordinated accessories like accent pillows and throw blankets for a chic splash of color.
Help buyers imagine their life in your home. Set the scene by displaying a board game or arranging furniture in conversational groups.
Let a slideshow of beautiful images play on your television like a screensaver.

Kitchen

Image: Wendy F Johnson, Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer

Clear everything from countertops except one or two decorative items, like a vase of flowers or bowl of fresh fruit.
Pack up all the dishes except one attractive, matching set. Do the same with glassware, flatware, and cookware, and pare down all other cupboard and drawer items down to the minimum.
Freshen up and modernize those cabinets with a fresh coat of paint or stain and new hardware.
Seriously evaluate your appliances. Can they look new again with a good scrubbing? Give it the old college try or consider replacing with new models. The Real Estate Staging Association strongly recommends stainless steel. Tip: You can get the look of stainless for the cost of a cheap dinner with stainless films.
Remove those fridge magnets and give the door and handles a good cleaning.
Scrub dirt, grime, and stains from walls, cabinets, and backsplashes.
Clean cabinet interiors, especially under the sink.
Clean and organize the pantry, leaving some empty space to make it look bigger. Store items in decorative baskets and display a few jars of fancy jam and other upscale condiments.
Empty all trash cans and move them out of sight.

Bedrooms

Image: Fluff Designs

Go gender neutral in the master bedroom. Ditch those dainty, floral pillow shams or NASCAR posters.
Pack up all but the clothes you're wearing this season to make your closets look larger.
Swap out the motley crew of mismatched hangers in your closet for a set of wooden ones to create a classy, boutique look.
Put jewelry and other valuables in a safe spot.
Consider giving extra bedrooms a new identity as a home office, sewing room, or other interesting function.
Remove televisions or video game consoles from bedrooms to depersonalize and create a serene setting.

Dining Room

Help buyers imagine hosting a dinner party in their new dining room by setting out attractive place settings. Image: East Coast Creative

Let buyers entertain the idea of entertaining. Set out some chic place settings around the table, or a few wine glasses and a decanter on the buffet.
Strike a balance between overly formal and too casual with an attractive runner and a few fun, decorative elements — think small floral vases or short candle holders.

Bathroom

Image: Stirling Home Studio

It's time to degrime: Scrub and sanitize the walls, floor, shower door — virtually every surface that comes in contact with steam.
Spend extra time scrubbing that tile grout and recaulk around the tub if necessary.
If your bathroom tile is dated, try paint instead of replacing it. Start with a high-adhesion primer and either epoxy or latex paint.
Remove clutter from the countertop, tub, and top of toilet. Clean surfaces until they gleam.
Pack up and hide all your personal products — from medicine to razors.
Create a luxury spa look with a fancy soap dispenser, fluffy white towels, decorative baskets, candles, plants, a white shower curtain, and a new bath mat.
Fix leaky or running toilets and replace toilet seats.
Remove hard water stains on faucets and shower heads. (Try vinegar!)
Take a daring sniff of the drains. Odorous? Clean them out and deodorize with baking soda, boiling water, or vinegar.
Time for a new sink anyway? Try a pedestal sink to optimize precious bathroom space.

Walls, Windows, and More

Image: Laura Schuchart of The Soulful House

Have a dark corner or hallway? Brighten it up with a decorative mirror.
Neutralize the walls. If any rooms are painted in dark colors, repaint white or beige.
Paint adjacent rooms the same color to make the whole space feel larger.
Fill nicks and holes in walls, and touch up with paint.
Sorry, wood paneling. It's time. Paint over paneling with a neutral color. To really cover your tracks, use wood filler between panels and paint over the entire thing.
Make sure every switch plate and outlet cover matches and looks brand new.
Wash the windows, inside and out. Repair any holes or tears in screens.
Replace those family portraits with interesting art placed strategically throughout the house. Avoid leaving dead space on walls.

Throughout the House

Image: Liz Foreman for HouseLogic

Declutter! Consider it prepacking for your move. Box up books, clothes, and personal items and place them (neatly!) in the garage or — better yet — a rented storage unit.
Don't forget to include memorabilia in those decluttering bins. Family photos, diplomas, and the kids' artwork should all go.
Keep closets, basements, and attics as empty as possible to maximize the appearance of storage space.
Transform underused areas of the house — the alcove under the stairs or the end of a hallway — into functional spots. Add a desk to create a mini office, or a chair and small bookshelf for a reading nook.
Swap dim lights for high-wattage bulbs.
Check every door, drawer, and cabinet to ensure they open and close easily. Swap out any faulty — or dingy — hardware.
Damaged or aging hardwood floors? Replace damaged boards with new wood, sand down the entire floor, and re-stain.
Do a deep (deep, deep) clean. Hire a professional cleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom — including carpets — before viewings.

Exterior

Image: Liz Foreman for HouseLogic

Hang attractive house numbers that are legible from the road.
Brighten up your porch with fresh paint or stain.
Add a fresh coat of paint to the front door, preferably red, black, blue, or wood stain, so long as it complements the trim and doesn't blend, says the Real Estate Staging Association. Steer clear of unconventional colors like purple.
Buy a new doormat to welcome home buyers.
Power wash the house exterior, walkway, steps, driveway, and porch until everything sparkles.
Make sure the locks and doorbell function.
Make that mailbox look clean and welcoming, or get a new one.
Plant lots of colorful blooms in attractive pots and planter beds.
Trim back trees and shrubs from the approach to the front door.
Whip that yard into shape with fresh sod or new seed
Store yard equipment and children's toys out of sight.
Repair shaky banisters.
Get a hammock (or bocce ball game or raised fire pit) to show off how fun your yard can be.
Dress up any imperfect planting area with mulch.
Make sure entryway lights function and are free of cobwebs and insects.
Hide trash cans, recycle bins, and garden hoses.
Don't forget your outdoor living space. Stage your patio like a second living room, with fashionable furniture, accent pillows, an outdoor rug, and other patio-friendly decor.

For Pet Owners

Image: Ellen Mertens

Scrub those pet stains on the carpets and rugs until totally gone or replace them if necessary. Try cleaning formulas made especially for pet odors.
Pet odors soak into your best friend's favorite things. Completely remove pet beds (or Fido's most-loved couch), blankets, toys, play structures, food bowls, and the like.
Use air fresheners that eliminate rather than mask odors. There's nothing worse than the smell of artificial pine with kitty litter undertones.
Repair or remove any furniture that's been scratched or gnawed on.
Clean all pet "presents" from the yard.
Keep cat boxes immaculate and hidden or — better yet — see how your feline-loving friends feel about a temporary houseguest and remove litter boxes altogether.
Remove any dog or cat doors. Pets? What pets?
When you leave the house for a viewing, take all the furry (or feathery or scaly) residents along with you.
Make a pet hair sweep the last thing you do before you leave the house.

Day of Showing

Image: Oliveshadow/Shutterstock

Add a seasonal touch. Simmer cinnamon sticks in the fall and set out fresh cut lilacs in the spring.
Tidy up like you've never done before.
Avoid cooking any food for your own meals, but do bake some cookies or other baked goods to leave a welcoming aroma behind.
Take off. After all that staging work, you deserve a trip to the spa while potential home buyers are busy falling in love with your house.

documents, repairs, photographs, announcement, expert advice

The last six months have been a very good time for apartment sellers: prices have risen, buyers have taken apart almost everything. But this does not mean that even in such times you are guaranteed to sell your home at the best price. And most importantly, such a situation on the market will definitely not last forever. How to increase your chances of finding buyers faster and at the same time not to sell too cheap? Here, according to experts, is the minimum of actions that need to be taken when preparing an apartment for sale, if, moreover, you are not ready for extra costs.

Step 1.

Putting the house in order

A good repair, of course, increases the price of the apartment. But experts do not recommend doing it immediately before the sale in housing, which clearly does not belong to the elite or business class. Serious investments, most likely, will not pay off.

— The apartment should look decent, and the new owner will make repairs to your liking. But it’s worth doing a little cosmetic - to eliminate obvious jambs, - advises Head of the Department of Mortgage Housing Lending and Financial Instruments of the Real Estate Market of the Financial University Alexander Tsyganov .

Weeds are cracks and stains on the walls and ceiling, smudges after leaks, etc. You also need to put the plumbing and electrics in order. There should be no leaking faucets, rusty stains in the sink and wires hanging from somewhere. Everything that cannot be replaced, you just need to clean it off - this is the cheapest way to add attractiveness to an apartment.

And most importantly, throw out all the rubbish accumulated on the balcony and in the corners and take the old furniture somewhere. You can leave only what looks aesthetically pleasing and does not visually clutter up the apartment. This is especially true for singles.

To prevent the apartment from looking completely empty and uninhabited, you can use a little trick. Buy a couple of new chairs and some beautiful and cozy accessories like throws (cover the old sofa with them). Then you take everything to the dacha.

Step 2. Looking for documents

“Looking for” is no joke. According to realtors, half of the owners do not remember where they have the documents related to the apartment. Excavations in papers should be taken care of in advance. You must have on hand:

if you became the owner of the apartment before 2016 - a paper certificate of registration of ownership (after 2016 it is not issued, ownership is confirmed by an extract from the unified state register of real estate (EGRN), which can be ordered at any convenient time),
title document - a paper explaining exactly how you became the owner of this apartment: a contract of sale, a certificate of inheritance, a certificate of privatization, etc.

- It is also worth preparing a technical data sheet in advance. This document allows you to understand whether the apartment was redevelopment, legalized or not, says lawyer Svetlana Petropolskaya . - Buyers are also usually very important information about the persons registered in the premises (an extract from the house book shows whether there are citizens who can retain the right to reside even when changing the owner of the home) and a certificate of the absence of debts for utility bills.

Depending on the situation, you may also need:

notarized consent of the spouse to sell the apartment (required if the property was purchased in marriage),
consent of the guardianship authorities (if the housing is sold by a family with children), but it is better to take it when the transaction is already in the ointment.

Step 3. Compiling a "selling" ad

- It's better to start with the main one - location: nearest metro, street, house address, - Alexander Kozlov instructs.

It is highly desirable to indicate:

the material of the house, its number of storeys, on which floor the apartment is located (for many this is an important point),
number of rooms, their area, separate or adjacent, kitchen area,
if the windows of one of the rooms or the kitchen face the sunny side or a quiet, green courtyard, we also indicate this,
bathroom — separate or combined, bath or shower,
if some non-standard design solutions are used,
is there a dedicated internet line, telephone,
what about transport accessibility and infrastructure (convenience stores, schools, kindergarten, etc.), parking,
at the end, we indicate the terms of sale - a direct deal or an alternative one, whether we are ready to sell to mortgage lenders, whether bargaining is possible.

Experts advise avoiding clericalism, but also not overdoing it with epithets like “beautiful”, “magnificent”, “you have been dreaming about such an apartment all your life” - this is unlikely to really attract anyone.

- Do not write "apartment in good condition", because the concept of "good" is different for everyone. Write as specifically as possible: plastic windows, parquet on the floor, stretch ceiling, updated wiring, repairs were done in such and such a year, recommends independent financial consultant Alexander Pateshman . - In addition to the standard information, be sure to indicate the advantages of the apartment. For example, there are two schools within walking distance. The windows face the sunny side, so the flowers feel good in the room. Free parking, clean entrance. The documents are ready, no one is registered in the apartment.

The announcement must not be too verbose.

- Some sellers try to list all the brands used in the renovation and decoration of the apartment. Such opuses take up a lot of space, but nothing but a smile causes buyers, - says President of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Real Estate Dmitry Shchegelsky.

Step 4: Getting Ready for the Viewings

The most important step in this preparation is a good cleaning. Cleanliness and tidiness is almost always an emotional 2:0 in your favor. If there is no time for cleaning at all or the apartment is large and neglected, it is better to call a cleaning company - the costs will pay off.

The windows also need to be washed. And before accepting potential buyers, the dwelling should be well ventilated. It should not contain unpleasant odors such as the smell of drugs. But the smells of freshly brewed coffee, pastries, jam, according to realtors, really often help to sell an apartment faster and more profitably. And there is nothing mystical in this - many decisions about buying a home are made purely emotionally (I felt good here - I want to live here).

Don't forget to clean up the stairwell too. Check if the light bulbs work, if the floor is washed. It is worth going at least temporarily to eliminate these shortcomings on your own: screw in a light bulb, sweep the platform in front of the door. Yes, this is not your territory, but it is it that can emotionally work against you - a dark and dirty entrance is unlikely to seem attractive to anyone.

Step 5. Taking the right photos

This is one of the most important steps, it largely depends on how many people will come to see your apartment. You understand, most people trust the picture more than the description. And emotionally, it affects them more strongly.

- The very first rule is that photographs should not contain people, animals or personal items. These photos are not for your personal album, which means they should be as informative as possible for the buyer. And besides, they were made in good lighting and on equipment with good resolution, - suggests commercial director of the concern "RUSICH" Alexander Kozlov .

Every room should be photographed, not forgetting the kitchen, bathroom, balcony or loggia. The general plan of the house will not be superfluous.

It's not by chance that the experts talk very insistently about good illumination - it is desirable to shoot in the daytime. This is not only for the convenience of potential buyers. Light rooms look more spacious. On modern smartphones, you can control the light sensitivity, which will help make photos more attractive.

But experts categorically do not recommend using Photoshop and retouching pictures - a discrepancy will pop up during viewing and can cause irritation.

These factors reduce the cost of housing and will be a reason for bargaining

Old repairs, rusty plumbing, pipes in poor condition.
Bath and toilet facilities are in poor condition and need to be updated.
Poor pressure in the pipes and, accordingly, the water runs in a small stream.
Old wiring, a mixture of copper and aluminum, this may cause a fire.
There are traces of smudges on the ceiling.
Batteries do not heat well (if the heating season).
Wind from windows.
The balcony is not glazed.
Poor transport accessibility.

- Most likely, in these cases, the buyer will ask for a discount, - Alexander Pateshman warns. - Therefore, prepare in advance the arguments why you do not want to do this. For example, in this area, your price is the lowest (but it must be true) or there are several excellent schools nearby (if buyers are with children) and an excellent clinic with wonderful specialists. If you were persuaded to a discount, ask for some kind of bonus: for example, that you will vacate the apartment no earlier than in a couple of months.

Important tips for preparing your home for photography and video shooting

Dear friends!

You probably know that starting work with any property, we conduct its professional photo and video shooting.

We always really want each house to find its owner faster, and the first impression (and it is sometimes decisive) on potential customers, in most cases, is made by photos from our websites and videos from our YouTube channel.

That's why we decided to prepare a list of recommendations for preparing houses for filming, because if you follow them, we will achieve maximum results!

The future owner/tenant must fall in love with the house at first sight.

Shooting is done once, and photos and videos are viewed by thousands of potential customers.

In a residential, furnished or turnkey home, some arrangements need to be made.

All personal belongings must be removed from view.

Bottles with alcohol and all types of weapons, including decorative ones, should not be included in the frame, as their images in the frame may violate the law “On Advertising”.

“Hide” bathrobes, towels, cosmetics, toothbrushes, basins, buckets, mops, toilet paper, rugs, hair dryers, etc. in bathrooms. and other sanitary equipment - clean.

In the kitchen: worktop, table and stove must be clean and empty. The only exceptions can be beautifully decorated fruits, pastries or sweets. It is also “permissible” to have an electric kettle, coffee machine and other small household appliances in the frame.

It is advisable to remove icons and personal photographs;

Beds must be neatly made or no bed linen, but a presentable mattress must be on the bed.

Bedrooms should be free of non-bedroom items such as crockery, food, trash cans, towels, etc. Beds and chairs should be free of clothing. Cosmetics, hair dryer, combs must be removed.

There should be no children's toys in common areas (it is better to move them to the nursery and carefully lay them out)

Turn off the TV.

Be sure to light a fireplace if you have one.

The staff quarters, if any, should also be cleaned up.

In such places as - garage, laundry room, boiler room, if possible, there should be nothing superfluous;

Check all lighting fixtures and replace bulbs if necessary.

There should be no workers, working equipment (lawn mowers, etc.), rakes, shovels, buckets and other garden tools on the site during the shooting.

Construction waste and construction materials must be removed as much as possible.

Also, it would be very good to remove the personal car from the garage, parking on the site and in the immediate vicinity during the shooting.