{"id":18189,"date":"2011-07-07T09:05:50","date_gmt":"2011-07-07T13:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/?p=18189"},"modified":"2018-10-15T12:48:18","modified_gmt":"2018-10-15T16:48:18","slug":"house-staging-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/house-staging-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"House Staging on a Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>In a difficult house market, it is vital to try to do things that make your house stand out in a crowd when you are trying to sell it. <\/strong> With many houses having competitive pricing, you&#8217;ll want your house to be memorable.\u00a0 One way to do that is to stage your house to make it more inviting to prospective buyers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/Tips-for-How-to-House-Stage-on-a-Budget-from-The-Happy-Housewife.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29894\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/Tips-for-How-to-House-Stage-on-a-Budget-from-The-Happy-Housewife.jpg\" alt=\"Tips for How to House Stage on a Budget from The Happy Housewife\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/Tips-for-How-to-House-Stage-on-a-Budget-from-The-Happy-Housewife.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/Tips-for-How-to-House-Stage-on-a-Budget-from-The-Happy-Housewife-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/Tips-for-How-to-House-Stage-on-a-Budget-from-The-Happy-Housewife-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/Tips-for-How-to-House-Stage-on-a-Budget-from-The-Happy-Housewife-400x600.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I will admit that I never thought much about staging a home for sale.\u00a0 I had seen shows all about it, but since we weren&#8217;t selling our house, it just wasn&#8217;t anything I worried about.\u00a0 However, when my Grandpa was unable to sell his very unique home after a year on the market, he switched realtors and the new one brought in a professional house stager to give us suggestions.\u00a0 I was thrilled when many were small changes that made a big impact (and without breaking the bank).<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Goal<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>House staging, or setting up your home in a particular way for the sake of presentation, has a couple of goals in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To more quickly sell your home<\/li>\n<li>To help prospective buyers better envision what their lives might look like in your home<\/li>\n<li>To keep the attention of a prospective buyer<\/li>\n<li>To enhance the flow of your home<\/li>\n<li>To highlight the positives in each room<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>General Guidelines<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In every area of your home (inside and outside), there are some changes that easily help the appearance:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Remove clutter from surfaces, corners, wherever you tend to gather clutter &#8212; even if you think, &#8220;Oh, but I have my phone book and papers all neatly stacked in one spot on my kitchen counter,&#8221; find a drawer for it.<\/li>\n<li>Make small repairs, especially those that are very visible<\/li>\n<li>Clean your home in a way that you would normally clean it for special company.\u00a0 If you are no longer living in the house, try to periodically clean again.<\/li>\n<li>If a piece of furniture isn&#8217;t needed &#8211; remove it.\u00a0 (For example, in my Grandparents&#8217; dining room, they had a TV stand and television.\u00a0 These were removed, and instantly gave the room better flow.)<\/li>\n<li>Remove decorations that are very loud or that take away from the decor.<\/li>\n<li>Remove any seasonal decorations that are currently out of season.<\/li>\n<li>Remove decorations like doilies, lace runners, or other such items.<\/li>\n<li>If you have moved out of your home, make sure you aren&#8217;t leaving pieces of furniture like china cabinets or entertainment centers with nothing on them.\u00a0 Leave at least a few decorative items.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/cookbook.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29880\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/cookbook.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/cookbook.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/cookbook-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Kitchen<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Clear as much off the counters as possible.\u00a0 Then, add back in some colorful accents (but not too many), such as a cookbook on a stand, a bowl of fruit, a chopping board, or a colorful bowl.\u00a0 This was, hands down, one of my favorite changes in my Grandparents&#8217; house.\u00a0 It was simply having a $6 book stand with a cookbook open to a yummy looking recipe and picture.\u00a0 So simple!\u00a0 (We also added in a cobalt blue bowl in another area.)<\/li>\n<li>Clean all appliances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/dining_room_table.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29881\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/dining_room_table.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/dining_room_table.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/dining_room_table-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Dining Room<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>If your dining room table has seen better days, consider using a crisp, simple table cloth.\u00a0 If you have a lovely table, however, let it uncovered.\u00a0 (In my Grandparents&#8217; house, they always used a table cloth, but they have a gorgeous wooden table.\u00a0 Removing the table cloth instantly gave the room a richer look and feel.)<\/li>\n<li>Fresh flowers in a simple vase can greatly enhance the look of your dining room table.\u00a0 (Because fresh flowers would be difficult at my Grandparents&#8217; house, we went with very realistic artificial flowers that are in a clear vase with rocks at the bottom and &#8220;water.&#8221;)\u00a0 Another option would be candles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/downstairs_livingroom.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29882\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/downstairs_livingroom.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/downstairs_livingroom.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/downstairs_livingroom-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Living Areas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Matching throw pillows were a suggestion that came up again and again from our professional stager.\u00a0 She wanted a couple on each couch, as well as on the beds.\u00a0 This gives the house a more homey feel.\u00a0 We were able to buy inexpensive throw pillows at both Goodwill and Walmart.<\/li>\n<li>Keep curtains or blinds open when showing the house.<\/li>\n<li>During showings, turn on lamps, if you have them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/office.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29884 size-full\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/office.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/office.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/office-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Bedrooms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Always, always, always make sure that beds are made before a showing.<\/li>\n<li>A couple of decorative pillows on a neatly made bed can be a lovely addition.<\/li>\n<li>Keep curtain or blinds open during showings, if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Bathrooms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Clear off counters.<\/li>\n<li>Remove\/hide trash can.<\/li>\n<li>Always make sure the toilet seat and cover are both down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29887 size-full\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom2.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom2.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom2-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Focus on Most Unique Part of Your Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Do you have something unique about your home?\u00a0 If you do, this is an area to put special focus on.\u00a0 Maybe you think you don&#8217;t have an area like that, but take some time to consider something that you might have that doesn&#8217;t show up in the majority of homes.\u00a0 This could be as simple as a window seat or as elaborate as the two story sun room with fish pond that my Grandparents house has.\u00a0 (For the record, in my own home, though I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s an impressive area, our unique area would be our screened in back porch.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/outside.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29885\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/outside.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/outside.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/outside-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In my Grandparents&#8217; house, we spent special time setting up areas that would help people to imagine spending relaxing time in this sun room.\u00a0 That included setting up a sitting area with magazines and a coffee mug.\u00a0 We also took a patio set out of that room and moved it outside.\u00a0 We finally took down my Grandma&#8217;s Christmas tree and put it into storage, switching it out for a ficus tree that had been sitting elsewhere in the house.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-29886\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom1.jpg\" alt=\"House Staging on a Budget | The Happy Housewife\" width=\"355\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom1.jpg 355w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/07\/sunroom1-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We were thrilled at the results of a weekend of work and less than $100 spent.\u00a0 It also made the house perfectly ready for a session with a professional photographer that the realtor arranged for the listing pictures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What suggestions do you have for easy house staging on a budget?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Angie, a contributing writer at The Happy Housewife, is a homeschooling mom to three children and writes about everything that happens in their lives between all the loads of laundry at <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manylittleblessings.com\" target=\"_blank\">Many Little Blessings<\/a>.\u00a0 She is also the founder of <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hsclassroom.net\" target=\"_blank\">The Homeschool Classroom<\/a>, <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.catholicmothersonline.com\" target=\"_blank\">Catholic Mothers Online<\/a>, Tiny Owl {Designs}, and <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/AutumnDaisy\" target=\"_blank\">Just a Tiny Owl<\/a> {Etsy shop}.<\/em><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a difficult house market, it is vital to try to do things that make your house stand out in a crowd when you are trying to sell it. With many houses having competitive pricing, you&#8217;ll want your house to be memorable.\u00a0 One way to do that is to stage your house to make it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2554],"class_list":{"0":"post-18189","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-tips-and-tricks","7":"tag-home-management","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18189"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31808,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18189\/revisions\/31808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}