Design A Move Real Estate Staging


The Design a Move^® staging objective is to increase the value of your home and obtain maximum market value in a timely manner at the least amount of expense to you. If you were selling your car you would clean it, remove garbage, personal items and attend to any necessary repairs to ensure top dollar for your vehicle. The same principle should apply to your home, it is a marketable commodity and to maximize the return on your investment it should be prepared for sale. It is important to emphasize the features of the home more than the personalities of the owners who currently live there. Keep in mind, the way you live in a home and the way it is staged for sale is in no way a critique of your personal style or decorating ability. Potential buyers will easily be able to visualize themselves living in the home, with their furnishings fitting in beautifully. Putting them well on the road to making an offer on your home.

	Popular TV decorating shows have raised buyer’s expectations when viewing homes for sale.	85% of Buyers shop the internet before contacting a Realtor. A home that shows well will attract buyers to your listing
	As an objective eye we can determine the most effective steps to be taken to increase the value of the home.	A professionally staged home will appear more spacious, balanced and appeal to a wide range of buyer’s tastes and preferences.
	Staged homes show to their utmost potential, therefore they sell faster and for more money adding to your bottom line.


Design a Move^® will send in a team of decorators to conduct a hands on service. This will include editing and proper placement of existing furniture, art, lighting and accessories. An additional comprehensive written report of outstanding issues and recommendations for the exterior and interior of the home will be included. Design a Move^® service will:
	Assess Curb Appeal.
	Improve foyer (first impression).
	Assess the home for necessary cleaning.
	Assess the home for neutralizing, repairs and upgrades. Determine if money needs to be spent for maximum return on your investment.
	Define areas to be de-cluttered and de-personalized.
	Visually enlarge the space.
	Create focal points.
	Improve traffic flow.
	Redefine spaces if necessary.
	Enhance positive features & distract from any negative features by properly placing furniture, lighting, art and accessories.
	Apply basic principles & elements of design to create a warm and inviting environment.

Clearing clutter costs nothing, just time and effort. It will make a bigger difference than almost anything else when it comes to getting your asking price. Remember Space Sells!!!!

Buyers really do look in the closets, cupboards, drawers and storage areas to see that the home has ample storage. As a home owner you are the only one who can identify what is important to you, what is used and what is not. These areas should be cleared out and organized. If this means emptying half of your belongings from them, then it should be done. Not only will this increase the value of your home but it will be much easier when it is time to move, the work will be half done.


Potential buyers are looking for space. Once you have de-cluttered your closets, cupboards and drawers, do not overfill onsite storage as the home will still appear crowded and lacking space. If possible, store excess items with family or friends, or if necessary rent a temporary storage unit. This could be the best money you spend to increase the value of your home.

Obtain Boxes, packing paper and a large tipped black felt pen for marking.

For all items not being used make four separate piles.

Keep - Items that will be going to the new home.
Sell - Garage sales or consignment stores.
Donate - to family, friends or your favorite charity.
Throw away - Items you no longer want.

It is hard to predict what you are going to need but it’s very safe to pack out of season items, for example; decorations, clothing, sporting goods, camping equipment etc. Evaluate and discard items you have not used in a year.

Using the “Keep, Sell, Donate and Throw away rule”, clean out the closets, cupboards, drawers and storage areas. Throw away as you go along by actually taking bags of trash to the garbage. That way you won’t be tempted to keep things that should be discarded. Place the sell and donate piles in labeled boxes and remove from the room. Neatly put away the items you will be using between now and the time you would be expecting to move.


	All free standing bookcases should be packed up and removed.			Bathmats, tank and toilet seat covers.
	Free Standing coat racks removed, fixed coat racks should be clear of all items.			Bathroom wastebaskets, toilet brushes and plungers.
	Shoe racks			Any visible laundry, hanging robes or used towels. Bathroom counters should be clear of personal toiletries and items.
	Table cloths, runners, placemats, doilies etc.			Anything on the fridge.
	Scatter mats and hall runners			Hanging calendars.
	Portable fans and heaters.			Items from peg boards.
	Ashtrays.			Unframed posters and art unless on canvas.
	All items from window sills.			All unhealthy and excess plants


A home for sale should not reflect personality. Personal items distract buyers from the architectural features of the home and also prevents them from visualizing themselves living there. This could make them feel uncomfortable and they will move through the home too quickly.
	Remove all family photos.
	Remove family names from the interior and exterior of the home.
	Remove all accolades, trophies, medals, certificates etc.
	Religious and political symbols, literature and paraphernalia should be removed.
	Other items of personal taste that could be offensive to others, items displaying profanity, nudity, fur rugs, antlers and other items prepared by a taxidermist.
	Exotic pets and their housing should be removed from the home when it is listed. Example, spiders, snakes etc.
	Personal items in bathrooms, on counters, in and around shower stalls and bath tubs should be stored in a bin out of sight. Consider under the bathroom counter for easy access.

With the busy lives we all lead today buyers are looking for spacious homes that are move in ready. This means there are no immediate changes that need to be done to their new home. With an objective eye assess the exterior and interior of the home for necessary painting, cleaning, updates and repairs to maximize the selling potential of the home. The home’s interior should be painted in neutral colors that would compliment the furnishings of any buyer. The house should be clean. There is nothing that can turn away a buyer faster than a smelly, dirty un-kept house. A professional handyman and housekeeping service can be brought in for very little per hour. Use the handy check list to assess your home.

Please Print our Exterior and Interior Checklists