Preparing Your Home for Sale: Essential Staging Tips

Published On: February 10, 2025|Categories: Real Estate|

Getting ready to sell your home in Jasper, Evansville, or anywhere in Dubois County? First impressions matter, and staging can make a big difference in how quickly your home sells—and for how much. The goal of staging is to highlight your home’s best features, minimize distractions, and help potential buyers picture themselves living there.

This guide explains the following:

Why staging matters when selling your home
How to declutter and depersonalize
Easy updates that boost visual appeal
Staging tips for key rooms in the house
What to do before showings and open houses

Here’s a closer look at each.

Why Staging Matters When Selling Your Home

Staging helps your home look its best. It allows buyers to focus on the space, not your personal belongings. According to national real estate trends, well-staged homes tend to sell faster and for more money than homes that haven’t been staged.

In today’s market—whether you’re listing in Huntingburg, Ferdinand, or nearby—buyers often start their search online. Well-staged homes photograph better and attract more attention in listings, which can increase showing requests.

How To Declutter And Depersonalize

The first step in staging is decluttering. Go room by room and remove anything that doesn’t serve a clear purpose. That includes:

Excess furniture
Countertop items
Knickknacks and decorations
Toys and personal collections

Once you’ve decluttered, focus on depersonalizing. Remove family photos, personalized décor, and anything that reminds buyers that someone else lives there. You want the space to feel neutral, clean, and welcoming.

If you’re not sure where to start, ask your REALTOR®. They can walk through your home and offer suggestions based on what local buyers are looking for.

Easy Updates That Boost Visual Appeal

You don’t need a full renovation to make your home shine. Small, inexpensive updates can have a big impact:

Fresh paint: Neutral colors like light gray, beige, or soft white appeal to most buyers.
Updated hardware: Replacing cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, or light switch covers can modernize a space quickly.
Lighting: Make sure each room is well-lit. Swap dim bulbs for brighter ones or add lamps where needed.
Clean everything: From baseboards to ceiling fans, a deep clean makes your home look newer and well-maintained.

If you’re unsure what changes are worth your time and money, your real estate agent can help prioritize.

Staging Tips For Key Rooms In The House

While every room matters, some spaces are more important to buyers than others. Focus your staging efforts here first:

Living Room

Keep furniture minimal but functional
Add a throw blanket or a few neutral pillows
Make sure the layout flows and the room feels open

Kitchen

Clear countertops completely—no appliances, no clutter
Add a bowl of fresh fruit or a small plant for a pop of color
Make sure everything is spotless, including appliances

Bedrooms

Use neutral bedding and make the bed neatly
Remove personal items from nightstands and dressers
Limit furniture to the essentials

Bathrooms

Clear off counters and stash toiletries
Add clean towels, a new shower curtain, or a few decorative items
Make sure mirrors, sinks, and toilets are shining clean

Your REALTOR may suggest hiring a professional stager if the home is vacant or needs extra help. In many cases, though, a few thoughtful touches go a long way.

What To Do Before Showings And Open Houses

Once your home is staged, keeping it ready for showings can feel like a lot—but it gets easier with a routine. Before a showing or open house:

Open all blinds and curtains to let in natural light
Turn on lights in every room
Take out the trash and hide laundry
Tidy up surfaces and make beds
Do a quick sweep or vacuum if needed

If you have pets, make arrangements to remove them during showings. Some buyers may be allergic or uncomfortable around animals.

Your REALTOR can also help coordinate showings and give you tips specific to your home or area—whether you’re listing in Santa Claus or Newburgh.

FAQ About Home Staging

Check out these commonly asked questions about home staging. If you don’t see your question here, please call our office and we’ll find you the answers you need.

Do I Really Need To Stage My Home?

Yes. Staging makes your home more appealing to buyers and helps it sell faster. Even small touches like decluttering and neutral décor can make a big difference.

Should I Hire A Professional Stager?

It depends on your budget and how much help you need. Many sellers can stage their homes with guidance from their REALTOR, but a professional stager can be a great option if the home is vacant or needs a big transformation.

What Are The Most Important Rooms To Stage?

Focus on the living room, kitchen, primary bedroom, and bathrooms. These areas have the biggest impact on buyers and are often the most closely inspected.

Can I Use My Own Furniture For Staging?

Absolutely. In most cases, your existing furniture will work fine. You may need to rearrange or remove a few pieces to create more open space.

How Much Does Staging Increase My Home’s Value?

Staging may not directly increase the appraised value, but it can help your home sell faster and at a higher price by generating more interest and stronger offers.

Staging doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With a little effort and the help of a knowledgeable real estate agent, you can make your home shine. If you’re ready to list your property in Dubois County, a REALTOR can give you personalized advice, connect you with staging resources, and help you make the most of your home’s potential.

Are You Thinking of Buying a Home in Dubois County?

Use our site to search homes for sale in Jasper, Dubois, Spencer, Martin and Davis counties, as well as all the surrounding communities. Unlike the “big name” sites out there, at Sell 4 Free Welsh Realty, our site is directly connected to our local MLS. We update it with new homes every hour.

Sign up for new listing alerts so you can stay on top of the newest homes for sale – and get price change alerts so you can stay ahead of other buyers and beat them to the hottest deals!

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Sign up for New Listing alerts to stay ahead of other buyers, receive price-change notifications, and be the first to discover the best deals on homes in the area. Experience a smarter, faster, and more local way to buy with Sell4Free Welsh Realty Group.