Doug Martin
Realtor® Emeritus Broker
561-339-3299
Email Me
Jason Martin, PA
Residential Realtor® Agent
561-624-4544
Email Me
South Florida Palm Beaches Real Estate
LOCAL EXPERTISE GLOBAL REACH
Martin Group of Realtors®
+1-561-339-1779
Home Staging Tips For A Successful Sale
7 Proven Steps to Attract Buyers and Sell Faster
Selling your home quickly and at the right price takes more than just listing it online. To draw in potential buyers and secure top offers, your home needs to stand out. That’s where home staging comes in.
By strategically preparing your home—through redecorating, repairing, and making it look its best—you can make a lasting impression and significantly increase its appeal.
The numbers speak for themselves: according to the National Association of Realtors, 81% of buyers’ agents report that staging makes it easier for potential buyers to envision themselves living in a home.
Moreover, 44% of buyers’ and sellers’ agents say that staging can increase a home’s sales price, and 48% of sellers’ agents agree it shortens the time a house spends on the market.1
You can choose to stage your home yourself with advice from your real estate agent or work with a professional stager. Whichever route you take, here are seven essential strategies to transform your home into a buyer’s dream.
Step # 1: Declutter and Depersonalize
The first step in staging is to declutter and depersonalize your home. A recent survey of real estate agents found that this simple step can increase your home’s sale price by 3-5%.2
Decluttering the home is the most common home improvement task recommended to sellers by agents, with a recommendation rate of 96%. Home cleaning was the second most recommended task.
Ideally, you want to create a clean, neutral canvas where potential buyers can imagine their own lives. Remember that staging isn’t interior design—the goal isn’t to add personal, homey touches but to take them away.3
While you may love having plenty of comfy furniture, family photos, and unique knick-knacks, these items can distract potential sellers and make your home feel smaller.4 Be especially mindful to remove children’s toys and pet items.
The task can feel overwhelming, but consider it a head start on packing for your move — and an opportunity to clear out things you no longer need. If you have a lot of belongings, renting a storage unit might be a smart way to keep things tidy while your home is on the market.
Step # 2: Deep Clean and Repair
A sparkling clean home leaves a fantastic first impression. Deep clean every room, paying special attention to areas that are often overlooked, like baseboards, windows, and appliances.
Even minor smudges, scrapes, or signs of pet hair can put off some buyers. Your goal? Make it look like no one has ever lived there!5
Minor repairs are equally important. Fix slight imperfections like chipped paint, regrouting tiles, and replacing worn hardware. For example, refinishing hardwood floors can offer a 147% return on investment.6
These easy cosmetic updates make a big difference in how buyers perceive your home’s value.
Need help getting your home spic-and-span? Let us recommend a professional who can help.
Step # 3: Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
While buyers may repaint after they move in, the color and condition of your walls still have a big impact on their impression of the home as a whole.
Neutral tones, like light beiges and off-whites, appeal to the widest range of buyers—and to the friends and relatives who are also weighing on purchasing decisions.7
If your home features bold colors, striking wallpaper or out-of-date colors, consider a repaint before you list.
When choosing paint colors, make sure to think about how they’ll appear in listing photos and videos. Light, neutral shades can make rooms look brighter and more spacious.
Repainting is especially important in high-traffic areas like the kitchen. Painting outdated cabinets in white or a soft gray can also modernize your space.8
Step # 4: Enhance Curb Appeal
First impressions matter, and your home’s exterior is the first thing buyers will see. That’s why 98% of agents believe that curb appeal is crucial to attracting a buyer.9
Boost your home’s curb appeal by power-washing the exterior and touching up your deck’s varnish.5
You might also consider repainting your front door. Research shows that a freshly painted front door in a classic shade like black or terracotta can increase offers by thousands of dollars.10
And don’t forget landscaping! Keep your lawn tidy, remove dead or dying plants, and consider adding seasonal flowers. Even standard lawn service can lead to a 217% return on investment.9
If you are not a DIY type person and need assistance, we’re happy to offer a referral to landscapers in our area.
Step # 5: Stage Key Rooms
When staging, concentrate on the rooms that matter most to buyers: the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen. These spaces have the greatest influence on a buyer’s decision.1
If you’re working with a professional stager, they may bring in furniture and decor.3 If not, make the most of what you have, and don’t worry about how you’d arrange furniture in real life. This is just about showing off the space.
Arrange furniture to create an open, inviting flow.5 Use large rugs to make rooms appear bigger and ensure artwork complements rather than overwhelms the space.7 Add pops of color with fresh flowers or simple decor like pillows to bring warmth without personalizing the space too much.
Step # 6: Put Your Home in Its Best Light
Lighting is key to creating a welcoming atmosphere in your home. Natural light in particular makes any room feel more airy and spacious, so it’s essential to make the most of it.
First, remove heavy curtains or blinds — if a room feels bare without a window treatment, hang sheer curtains or light-filtering shades to invite the outdoors in. Next, take a look at the landscaping surrounding your home.
If overgrown hedges or trees block windows, especially on the ground floor, consider cutting them back or removing them entirely to let in the sunshine.
Of course, homes need more than just natural light — and it’s important to use a combination of types of lighting to suit different uses and moods.
Experts recommend that each room have three light sources: ambient lighting (think ceiling lights or chandeliers), task lighting (like lamps or under-cabinet lights), and accent lights (like track lighting and picture lights).11
If needed, replace outdated fixtures with more modern options.12 Even swapping out lightbulbs can make a difference—opt for warm, 2700k bulbs to create an inviting glow.7
Have hard-to-reach windows or need help installing new lighting fixtures? We’re happy to refer a professional who can help.
Step # 7: Show Off Your Work with Photography
These days, most buyers will first see your home online, making high-quality photos essential. According to the National Association of Realtors, 89% of agents agree that professional photos are critical to marketing a listing.1
Depending on your home and market, you may also benefit from marketing your property with videos, virtual tours, and even virtual staging, where photo editors swap out furniture and colors to show how your home would look with different decor.
Talk to your agent about what makes sense for your situation, and work with them to hire professionals who can capture your staged home in its best light. When it comes time, treat the photo shoot like an open house—everything should be spotless, well-lit, and arranged to show off your home’s best features.
Reminder: Staging Helps to Make a Successful Sale
Top 7 Proven Steps To Attract Buyers And Sell Faster
📦 Declutter & depersonalize to help buyers imagine life in your home.
🫧 Deep clean your home & make any necessary repairs.
🎨 Put on a fresh coat of paint — neutral tones are key.
🏡 Spruce up your home’s exterior for a good first impression.
🛋️ Rearrange furniture and decor to show off the best features of key rooms.
💡 Build ambiance by maximizing natural light and using artificial light strategically.
📸 Get high-quality listing photos to capture potential buyers’ attention.
Bottom Line:
In today’s real estate market it is vitally important that your home is shown at its best, both online and in person, so that it excites and brings the buyers in.
Yes, your home will eventually sell, with so much demand and so little inventory, but a fast sale means less time on the market, less paid in overhead holding costs, less need of a price decrease and more views, more offers and more money in your pocket!
Staging is one of the most lucrative home marketing techniques with incredible rates of ROI and should be a part of every real estate marketing plan.
If you are considering selling soon, contact us and we can help you! And if you happen to need a referral to a Real Estate Agent, please reach out to us. We work with the best.
Let us focus the spotlight on your home!
Whether or not staging is worth the investment depends on your home’s condition, your desired sale timeline, and your local market. We can help you assess the best path forward and connect you with the best professionals to make it happen. The above references are opinions and for informational purposes only. They are not intended to be financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult the appropriate professionals for advice regarding your individual needs.The Martin Group of Realtors®
Helping you reach your real estate goals!
LOCAL EXPERTISE GLOBAL REACH
Ready to Buy, Sell, Rent, or Invest in Real Estate?
Let’s chat!
Get tips based on 40+ years of experience as Realtors® and Custom Home Builders.