When staging a home, you must ensure that everything is neat and organized so the home is presented in its best light before potential buyers arrive—even when you’re pressed for time.
Fortunately, you can prepare your house for a viewing in 10 minutes or less. The 10-minute home staging method includes quick tasks worth prioritizing for maximum impact. Here’s how it works in just minutes … Ready, set, go!
1. Clear tables and countertops
Counter space is considered negative space. Architect-turned-abstract artist Amrish Malvankar explains that negative space influences emotion—and so you can harness these psychological effects to boost a listed house’s marketability. It’s why Clint Collin, the owner of Houston Furniture Rentals, is big on clearing and wiping down kitchen and bathroom counters. Collin says that most homeowners pay closer attention to those rooms—so focus your efforts there to make every second count. He recommends having disinfecting wipes handy to clean these areas quickly.
2. Let the light in
Neutral-colored curtains, drapes, blinds, shades and shutters lend character to otherwise bare and drab windows. However, they should take a backseat—and let the spotlight shine on the sun. Using abundant daylight can make the space appear larger, and it’s an inexpensive, easy way to stage a house limited in square footage.
Dr. Marcia Layton Turner, the award-winning and bestselling co-author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell,” says if she only had five to 10 minutes to prep a home, she’d prioritize opening all window treatments as wide as possible. Turner also would turn the lights on in the house to brighten up the areas that natural light couldn’t reach.
3. Freshen up the air
Scents can affect people’s emotional state. They can evoke personal memories, so filling the indoor air with a pleasant smell can lift the mood of visitors. Zeynep Mehmetoglu, co-founder of the family-owned residential housekeeping company Maid Bright, recommends using essential oil diffusers, candles or air fresheners to welcome visitors with a pleasant, sweet-smelling scent. This simple home staging idea also can help mask any offensive odors, like last night’s tuna dinner.
4. Hide highly personal items
A properly staged house should be devoid of any trace of the current owner’s relatives, likes, interests and beliefs, allowing buyers to imagine themselves living there. Hiding the seller’s personal belongings out of sight is a must.
Kiel Wuellner, the senior creative director at Southern California’s Vesta Home, suggests discreetly tucking away all highly personal items belonging to the current owner of the house, including family photos, refrigerator magnets and toiletries. Not seeing any reminders of the current homeowner maximizes the impact of the initial walk-through, as potential buyers can then more easily envision themselves living in the house.
5. Make the beds
The bed is the focal point of any bedroom. Its appearance sets the tone for the rest of the room. An organized bed makes the area look clean, inviting and well maintained.
This strategy is one of Stephanie Engel’s favorite home staging hacks. Engel, the strategic interior design adviser at Real Estate Bees, likes to concentrate on the primary bedroom. Make the bed, topping it off with accent pillows and having it feel inviting.
6. Handle clutter systematically
Relentless decluttering is one of those simple staging ideas that works like a charm. Ensuring the house is mess-free is essential. However, it can be challenging to keep everything spotless and organized for constant home vistors.
Fortunately, tidying up doesn’t have to be arduous. James Clear, the New York Times bestselling author of “Atomic Habits,” suggests focusing on your organization system rather than your cleaning goals. Develop an efficient decluttering process you can apply to any room, and you’ll see that this chore magically becomes easier. It could even mean having a go-to basket or under-bed tote to stash items away on the fly.
Bottom line: 10 minutes is enough time to accomplish a ton when you know what to do and how to do it. Keep these hacks in your back pocket whenever you need to stage a home in-between short viewing intervals.
