It’s a potential buyer’s first impression of the inside of your listing; the entryway. Are you staging yours to feel welcoming? It doesn’t take much to set the stage. No matter how small an entryway is, do not overlook staging it.
 

When you are selling your house or condo, the way your property is presented speaks volumes. By adding special care to the entryway, it suggests to a potential buyer that you have also cared for the rest of the space.
 

Once curb appeal has attracted a potential buyer and they open the door to step into the listing for the first time, are you giving that person a hint of what to expect in terms of the feel of the property? Help them feel welcome AND peak their interest to want to see more by staging an entryway.
 

Take this staging consultation we provided in West Springs, Alberta for example. With some professional guidance, the seller created a modern Zen feel to her entrance that introduced calm immediately upon entry. It helps the potential buyer experience that “ahh…” feeling of coming home after a long and stressful day.
 

In this Slopes home, the entry space was part of the staging safe inventory rental service we provided for our client. In this example, staging an entryway is a nice introduction to the home and sets the tone for a cozy, family friendly house.
 

Staging an entryway is important when selling. Welcome a quick sale! For more staging inspiration, check out the Home Staging Tips board by Set Your Stage on Pinterest.
 

Think of the potential buyers who will be viewing your house for sale. What’s the first thing they’ll smell when they walk in the door? Hopefully nothing. Nothing but clean indoor air. If you are living in your home while selling and have time to care for them, use simple house plants to stage your property with clean and fresh smelling air as your goal.
 

Our sense of smell is powerful. You know how it feels to walk into a home and notice the first smell. If you’re selling, that opening sniff better make a positive first impression.
 

If not, it’s a challenging memory to overcome. After seeing ten listings, what will the potential home buyers’ lasting memory be of your place? It could easily be that first scent impression. Don’t allow that to create a problem impacting the progress of your sale.
 

Sometimes we get used to the scents that surround us, so it’s helpful to ask a trusted friend (or home stager!) for their honest feedback. Maybe you’ve seen that commercial where the person’s kitchen is presented as a fish market to show how others experience the space. It’s a bit exaggerated, but true.
 

So when I saw this infographic on Pinterest about clean indoor air, I knew it would be a helpful Pin to add to the Set Your Stage DIY Home Improvement Board.
 

I’ve written before about the importance of getting rid of smell to sell. Plants provide an ideal natural solution.
 

For home staging purposes, choose a plant from the list that reflects the style and feel that you want your home to express to potential buyers.
 

Beachy? I’d go with the areca palm.
 

Health conscious? Why not aloevera?
 

Don’t have a green thumb? Chinese evergreen is a hardy choice.
 

Inspiration can come from anywhere. When it comes to clean indoor air, look no further than nature…and of course, Pinterest!
 

For more staging inspiration, check out the various boards we have at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.
 

When I came across this infographic, I immediately pinned it to the Selling Tips board for Set Your Stage on Pinterest.
“Terms that reek of desperation, such as “motivated seller”, actually prolong time on the market by 10%.”
As a professional home stager in Calgary, I know that the words don’t actually have to show up on a listing to imply desperation. The way your property is presented speaks volumes.

• homes that have overgrown & unkept lawns, no curtains, and a “nobody lives here” feel to them (Creative Real Estate Online)
• vacant properties, since owners are likely making payments on another home while waiting for the vacant home to sell, making them very motivated (The Nest)
• “For Sale by Owner” and “For Rent by Owner”, estate, pre-foreclosure, or moving situation (WikiHow)
• same owner for 10 years or longer, adding to the likelihood that they fully own (or have a small mortgage remaining) and have more freedom to sell at a discount

• Work with a realtor who collaborates with a professional stager.
• Pay attention to curb appeal.
• Furnish your vacant property.
• Update the look and feel of an older property.
• Make it feel move-in ready and welcoming (like somebody has cared for it) with these staging checklists: Kitchen, Living Room, Bathroom.
• Keep more of your money!

Don’t be perceived as a motivated seller. Stage your property and keep your money! For more staging inspiration, check out the various boards we have at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.

Art inspires my work every day. As a visual person, I pay attention to the colour palettes and also notice the feeling that the art inspires. Then I use that as inspiration in my work to stage properties that sell. Done properly, using artwork for house selling can entice potential buyers with a sense of home.
 

In my home staging business, I’m often advising people during consultations to de-clutter and remove personal photos/items – but not to go so far as to make the property feel lifeless. That’s how artwork plays a role. Selected strategically, and Hang Artwork Like a Staging Pro, artwork can be a perfect tool for creating a listing that appeals to buyers by making it feel lived in but not too personalized.
 

Here are three tips for how you can use artwork for house selling:
 

Set the Tone:
 

Think about the sightlines and what feeling you want to suggest for that zone. In this Copperfield Photo Album, the blue is consistent in the two prints, but the red gives a kick of energy to the downstairs main living area and the calmer tones of beach and sand that greet you upstairs suggest a quiet zone for winding down at the end of the day.

Think outside the box:
 

Artwork can go anywhere – 3 Easy Laundry Room Ideas for Home Staging!

Be strategic:
 

Place art where you want to draw the potential buyers’ eyes. In this Cranston Photo Album, placing art on both sides of the window draws the eye to visibly pull you into the space and to notice the natural light.

I love to support local artists, but inspiration can come from anywhere (you can see some of the art that inspires my work on my Pinterest ‘Artwork’ Board). When you focus on the feeling that you want potential buyers to experience, using artwork for house selling can set just the right mood.
 

For more staging inspiration, check out the various boards we have at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.