What Staging Mistakes Should Sellers Avoid in Minnesota?

The staging mistakes that hurt Minnesota sellers most are furniture that is too large, too many pieces in a room, furniture pushed against the walls, window coverings that block light, rugs that are too small, too much decoration and lingering odors. Each one can make a home feel smaller or darker than it really is. These mistakes are hard to see when you have lived in the home for years, and most are easy to correct once you look at it the way a buyer does.

Too much furniture, or furniture that is too big

Oversized furniture is common in homes that have been lived in for several years. Pieces bought for a previous home slowly fill a room, and nobody notices that the scale is off. A sectional that takes up most of the floor, or a dining table too large for its room, makes buyers wonder whether their own furniture would fit.

The number of pieces matters too. Keep what defines the purpose and comfort of each room and remove the rest. A living room needs a sofa, a coffee table, one or two chairs and a side table or two. A bedroom needs a bed, two nightstands and perhaps a dresser. The rest can go into storage or the garage while the home is listed.

Furniture pushed against the walls

Pushing furniture against the walls feels like it should open up the room, but it does the opposite. The middle sits empty, the edges are full, and the room starts to feel like a waiting room.

Professional stagers pull furniture away from the walls and group it for conversation. A sofa and two chairs around a coffee table, with some space behind the sofa, make the same room read as more spacious and more livable.

Window coverings and rugs

Buyers often mention natural light when they describe what they want in a home. Heavy drapes, dark curtains and blinds left half closed all make a room feel darker than it is.

Remove coverings that are heavy or dark, or make sure they are fully open for every showing. You can also add light with brighter bulbs, extra lamps or a mirror.

Rugs are usually too small. A living room rug should reach under at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs. A dining room rug should be large enough that the chairs stay on it when they are pulled out. If a rug is too small, remove it and let the floor show, or replace it with one that fits.

Over-decorating and odors

A staged home should look edited, not dressed for a photo shoot. Too many throw pillows, elaborate towel folding, formal place settings and candles in every room make a home feel like a set. Buyers respond best to a space that feels livable.

Smell matters as much as what buyers see. A home that smells of pets, cooking, mildew or smoke can leave buyers uneasy. Pet odor can be stubborn in Minnesota because homes stay closed up through the winter. Have carpets, upholstery and other porous surfaces professionally cleaned before you list. Smoke that has settled into walls, flooring and the heating and cooling system usually takes more work, which can include odor-blocking primer and new filters.

Do not cover an odor with strong candles or plug-in fresheners. Heavy fragrance makes buyers wonder what is being hidden.

Entries, hallways and photos

Sellers often put their effort into the living room, kitchen and primary bedroom and forget the spaces in between. An entry crowded with shoes, coats and bags looks disorganized the moment a buyer walks in. A burned-out hallway light or dirty wall paint pulls the impression down between the stronger rooms.

Think about the camera as well. Items that look fine in person can read as clutter in a photo taken from one fixed angle.

How to check your own staging

• Walk through the whole home, from entry to exit, as a buyer seeing it for the first time. Note anything that reads as cluttered, cramped or dark.
• Remove a good share of the decorative objects from each room.
• Deal with any odor completely before listing.
• Ask for professional feedback before you list, and keep the home staged through the whole showing period.

Stage for a wide range of buyers, not for your own taste.

Common questions

Should I hire a professional stager? Professional staging is available at a range of price points. It can be especially useful for vacant homes, or for sellers who find it hard to judge their own home objectively.

How long does staging preparation take? It depends on the current state of the home and how much needs to change. Sellers who work through it room by room can usually finish in a short stretch of focused work.

What if I am still living in the home while it is listed? Most listed homes are occupied. Build a short daily routine that keeps the home close to its staged condition, so you can get it ready quickly when a showing request comes in.

If you would like a second set of eyes on your home before you list, send us a message. We'll go through it with you room by room and point out what to change. You can also read more on our selling your home page.