Who knew that getting rid of family photos and clearing off countertops could help you snag top dollar for your house? These are just two secrets from Debra Gould, founder of Staging Diva. Gould, a professional home stager, has helped scores of homeowners clean up, rearrange, and style their homes to command top price.
That can mean anything from putting extra books in storage to getting rid of moldy caulk in bathrooms to renting furniture to fill up too-bare spaces. “The goal is to make your home clean, organized, and welcoming so potential buyers can picture living there,” says Gould. Thus the no-family-photos rule: “They make people feel like they’re invading your space,” she explains.
Based in Toronto, Gould has trained a network of 800+ home stagers across the U.S. “Most owners aren’t seeing bidding wars the way they were a few years ago,” she says. “But with the right staging, you can get close to your asking price.”
Before
Problem: With toys piled behind the sofa and books and knickknacks taking up space on other surfaces, the living room felt overcrowded.
Listed: $688,000
Sold: $667,000 (97% of list)
Staging costs: $5,000
Before
Problem: Jam-packed counters and a table heaped with books left no room for food preparation or eating. (And how many fridge magnets does one family need, anyhow?)
This home sold the week after Gould finished her staging – much to the owners’ relief, since they’d already bought another home.
Listed: $688,000
Sold: $667,000 (97% of list)
Staging costs: $5,000
