When you’re staging homes prior to selling, you’ll want to remove as much clutter as possible. For some of us, living like a minimalist might be an unrealistic dream. Especially for those with big, busy families. But if you’ve always admired those who live a minimalist lifestyle, it’s the perfect time to start.
Follow this minimalist approach to home staging:
1. Ask for honest advice
A great start is to ask those you trust for their advice on which rooms need serious attention. A good real estate agent will help you with home staging, so ask them which rooms they think are the most important to have looking immaculate.
2. Room by room
A good place to start is looking at how much time you have before your inspections. If you’re a month off, perhaps tackle a couple of rooms each weekend. If you’re running short of time, you may have to set aside a whole weekend. Yes, this sounds draining, but you should find it satisfying at the same time. If you write down which rooms you’ll de-clutter on each specific day, you’ll be able to prepare yourself properly. Rather than switching between rooms, try and stick to one and finish it before you move on. Don’t forget to organise storage items or boxes before you start to pack away your items.
2. Categorise the items you remove
If you have items sitting around that you simply don’t use, it’s time to say goodbye. If you find it hard to throw things out, organise these items into storage boxes, and don’t forget to label them! A great approach is to have four boxes per room. Label them: Put away, Give away, Throw away, and Undecided. Here, take the time to think about what you actually need so that you don’t end up with many undecided items.
3. Don’t just de-clutter, de-own
If you want to become a true minimalist, don’t just de-clutter and put things in storage. If you don’t use it, cull it. It might be hard at the time, but the satisfaction will come. Donate to the salvos and you’ll feel even better!
4. Hide your boxes during inspections
Prospective buyers don’t need to see your storage boxes – they’re not pretty. It’s a good idea to make sure they’re hidden away by the time inspections comes around.
5. Clear all surfaces
By clearing your surfaces, you’re giving yourself a clean slate for home staging. Here, you can place necessary items out for your inspections. Try to keep your surfaces near clear for inspections. Perhaps place a book or two on the coffee table. But if you’re in full minimalist mode, only put out what you’re currently reading! Same deal in the kitchen. Keep the fruit bowl and recipe books, put away all the utensils you’re not using.
Staging homes – what’s next?
If you’re thinking about selling your home, a good real estate agent will be able to give you great tips and advice to help you stage your home.