ProStagedHomes Blog

Lots of homes are listed for sale that are in need of some updating. I would not recommend a seller spend a lot of money on remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms. I do however, strongly recommend that sellers invest in some minor updates so that the property appears well-maintained and move-in ready. Move-in ready, one of the top “must haves” on buyer’s lists of wants/needs.

So what do you do when you have a kitchen that is still in the 80’s? Oak cabinets, tile countertops? There are things home owners can do to counter the dated look. With some elbow grease and sometimes a small cash investment, you can have your kitchen and baths looking great.

Real Estate Agents and Home Stagers cannot stress enough, the importance of a clean, uncluttered home. Make sure that every surface in the kitchen and bath from floor-to-ceiliing have been washed, scrubbed, dusted and polished. Nothing turns a potential buyer off more than dirty, unsanitary rooms, fixtures and appliances.

Tile Countertops: Replace or repair cracked and/or broken tiles. Clean the grout and if necessary replace it. Try using sandpaper to scrub the surface of the grout or use a grout cleaning solution. There are also grout markers available at most home improvement stores that come in a variety of colors. You may need to reseal so check with your home improvement expert.

Cabinets: Paint and stain is your best friend when replacing the cabinets isn’t an option. This home stager recommends not painting over the hardware. It’s best to remove cabinet doors and hardware for painting.

At the very least, cabinetry should be washed and polished. We recommend Murphy’s Oil Soap. This product cleans the wood and brings back the shine and luster. See the difference in this cabinet door? 

Pro Staged Homes suggests updating faucets, fixtures and lighting whenever possible. These items can be purchased relatively inexpensively but provide a lot of bang for the buck.

   Home Depot sells contractor packs of knobs for about $40 and 10 packs of pulls for about $16.

Taking the time to make these small changes will net great gains in the amount of time it takes to sell, the selling price of your home and quite possibly multiple offers. Home selling is about perception and a well-maintained home is always perceived with a higher value!

Thinking or planning on selling? Properties staged by Pro Staged Homes average less than 10 days to an accepted offer and less than 54 days to close of escrow. Call us today and schedule your home staging consultation. You’ll be glad you did!

Proven results in priced-right, staged-home sales!