How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Home Staging and Tidiness

Techniques > Home Staging > Home Staging and Tidiness

Description | Discussion | See also

Description

Ensure the house is neat and tidy before your visitors arrive. If you are normally untidy, then have a regular tidy-up so you can do the final touches within a few minutes.

Actions to tidy things up include:

• Books on the bookcases all lined up with spines level
• Things put away that normally lie about the place
• Bedclothing neat and smooth
• Curtains tied back
• Kitchen gadgets all in cupboards
• Bathroom bottles clean, lined up or put away
• Framed photograph stands put away

Tidiness also includes putting things out of sight. Even things that you would normally display, such as china figurines should be reviewed, always with the thought in mind about what your visitors would consider to be tidy.

Also tidy the garden, digging up weeds, mowing lawns, planting flowers and so on. Ensure particularly that the front of the house is attractive and welcoming.

Discussion

People tend to have very different standards for tidiness, ranging from a military regimentation to rather casual piles all over the place. If you are of the military tendency, there is little you will need to do. If you are a self-admitted slob, then you have much work in tidying up. If in doubt about your visitors, assume they prefer very tidy to moderately tidy. If in doubt, ask an honest friend, or maybe the seller's agent.

Tidiness generally means 'order'. This does not need to mean everything must be at right-angles, but it should give the impression of being pleasant. Things left out may distract the eye away from the important features of the house. A good approach is to only keep out things that truly enhance the house.

See also

Home Staging and Cleanliness