Staging Plan

Selling an empty house is a challenge – that’s certainly not a new revelation.  There have been entire TV series centered around the power of staging.

When we first listed our first flip house, we didn’t do any staging.  The living room was huge, especially for a house its size.  It was an addition, and the old living room became a dining room.  All of the living spaces were large, so I think when buyers entered the bedrooms, they felt small, even though they were normal size for a house its size.  We decided to stage the bedrooms to give the buyers a better feel, and it was amazing what some staging did.  It made the house feel warmer and more inviting, and it actually made the bedrooms feel larger.  Shortly after we finished staging, we were under contract.

We completed that staging in fire drill fashion in 5 days.  So this time, I’m trying to be a little more prepared.  I laid out a staging plan for each room.  The biggest thing missing is furniture.  So I’ve been both shopping for and building furniture and accessories. Unfortunately it has been ridiculously hot and humid here, and it has made my time in the garage slightly less than comfortable, but when I focus on a project, I find it hard to stop.

Because we didn’t stage the living area in the first house, it is the room that is requiring the most attention this time around.  To start, I looked at purchasing a couch or loveseat, but I ultimately decided against it. It wouldn’t fit my criteria for staging pieces:

1. Easy to move – ideally by myself.  I don’t need Mr. Tax Man to whine about having to move furniture.  For some crazy reason he hates moving stuff.  So I want to try to leave him out of it.
2. Budget friendly – I just don’t have the budget to furnish an entire house.
3. Versatile so that I can use them in future houses
4. Bonus – easy to store, like stacking chairs

1. Table for the breakfast nook
2. Office chairs
3. Office desk
4. coffee table
5. 2 end tables
6. Desk for kids room
7. Living room chairs
8. Dining chairs for breakfast nook
9. Bookcase for loft area
10. seating for loft area
11. rugs
12. decorative accessories.

Of that list, I’m making the office desk, kids desk, nook table, coffee table, 2 end tables, and a few decorative accessories.  Let’s just say I’ve been busy and covered in sawdust for a couple of weeks, which is quite itchy by the way.