Ever wonder why some homes seem to sell practically overnight and for more than the asking price, while other languish on the market and sellers endure open house after open house? The answer may lie in whether the place has been staged.

“It’s a huge advantage,” says Jennifer Walker, owner of Newmarket’s Pearl Street Home Staging. “I’d say 99.9 per cent of people look at homes online first, and the impact of those pictures cannot be under-estimated.” An unmade bed, cluttered family room or messy kitchen could get a seller’s home scratched off the list of a potential buyer, just based on photos. On the other hand, she says, professionally set the stage for the photographer and watch that house sell.

What about those of us who have no plans to move, but wish our homes looked ready for the market or, better yet, a magazine shoot? Walker, who worked in magazines for years before becoming a home stager, has a few tips that will help you make your home look and feel more appealing — no expensive reno required.

1. Walls“It’s boring, but paint makes a massive dif-ference,” Walker says. Your current paint will tend to reflect colours that you are drawn to or whatever was trendy at the time, meaning your place might look more dated than you think. A fresh coat of paint, though, and your space gets an instant facelift. “It’s probably the cheapest update you can do.”

Secretsof Home StagingHow to make your house look bidding-war worthy,

even if you have no plans to sellBY JACQUELINE KOVACS

home | DIY Décor

GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 1

home | DIY Décor

2. FloorWhen you tour your home, what’s underfoot? If it’s old wall-to-wall carpeting, you might want to consider changing it. “Hardwood is your best bet, but it doesn’t have to be expen-sive,” Walker says. “There are alternatives that won’t break the bank.” Think laminate, cork, engineered wood, bamboo, tiles and modern vinyl. Love the coziness of carpet? Go for it. There are tons of options with a variety of price points, and all will freshen your floor.

3. CeilingYou might not think much about your light fixtures unless you have to change a bulb, but those builder-grade flush-mount ceiling lights aren’t doing much for your space. “Lighting doesn’t have to be expensive,” Walker says. “Swapping in a pendant light or a drum shade makes a huge difference.” To further stretch your budget, focus on the main rooms of your house — the kitchen, living room and master bedroom.

“You want your bathroomto feel like a spa and yourkitchen to feel clean”

4. ClutterIn most homes, Walker says, stuff piles up. “Maybe there’s a certain spot on the kitchen counter that is a paper magnet, full of stuff from school or bills waiting to be paid. Or maybe you’ve got a lot of small appliances on your counter or collections of things on your shelves.” Of course, you don’t want to throw away meaningful or useful things, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be out and available all the time. She recommends doing an “edit” of your household items seasonally or twice a year. Put half of your accessories away, for example, and then swap them back in six months later, putting the other half away. Stow kitchen appliances to open up counter space.Clutter, Walker says, can be overwhelming, and often we don’t even notice. A little clearing, though, can go a long way. “You want your bathroom to feel like a spa and your kitchen to feel clean,” she says. It’s all about setting the stage for your best home life.

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