The House Hop Guide to Home Staging

Part II: Room by Room Checklist

Here we've set out a room by room checklist of what to do when you're preparing your home.

We've also created a checklist that you can print off so that you can tick things off as you go.

Some of the following suggestions may require you to spend a little money, but they should more than pay for themselves, both in terms of getting you the best possible price and by getting you a much quicker sale.

• Garden
• Exterior of house
• Entrance and hallway
• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Dining room
• Living room
• Bedrooms
• Study

Garden

• mow the lawn, trim the edges and clear up any grass clippings
• weed the lawn, flowerbeds, pathways and drive
• weed and mow any verges
• fix or replace damaged fences and gates
• make sure gates are newly painted and oiled
• use wood stains to make wooden fencing and trellis work more attractive
• trim hedges
• prune trees and bushes
• try to always have some flowers that are in bloom
• trim dead flowers and replace dead or dying plants
• use hanging baskets or terracotta pots with plenty of bright flowers
• get rid of rubbish, litter, old plant labels, compost bags, etc
• clear away toys
• clean up any oil stains on driveways
• replace worn out garden furniture (you get to take the new stuff with you)
• put bins, compost and recycling out of sight
• tidy and clean sheds and green houses
• re-stain wooden decking if required
• clean patios with a power washer
• if you have a nice car keep it parked in the drive. If it's old and battered keep it elsewhere while viewings take place
• store boats and caravans elsewhere while you are selling

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Exterior of house

• clean or repaint exterior paintwork
• repaint doors or replace if necessary
• clean windows
• polish or replace letter boxes, door handles and door knockers
• make sure the door bell works
• fix any leaking guttering and makes sure it's clear of debris
• clean up damp/mossy patches around any overflows
• make sure aerials and satellite dishes are in a good state. Take them down if they're no longer in use

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Entrance and hallway

• clean and tidy any communal areas if you live in flats
• clean or replace the doormat
• shoes and boots should be stored out of sight. If this is not possible then make sure they are stacked neatly
• ditto for coats, hats and umbrellas
• don't use the hallway to store bikes, prams, boxes, etc
• replace worn carpets and rugs
• make sure the hallway is well lit
• remember, you're trying to create a sense of space. Doors off the hallway should be left open

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Kitchen

• make sure the washing up is done and put away
• the floors, surfaces, and hob should be spotless
• sinks and taps should sparkle
• unblock sinks
• thoroughly clean ovens, extractor units and any areas that attract grease
• clean and dust curtains or blinds
• scrub or replace tiles
• replace grouting if necessary
• pack away electrical appliances save for the toaster and kettle
• fix drawers and cupboards that don't work
• replace broken handles even if it means getting a whole new set
• consider painting, staining, varnishing or sanding down dated kitchen units (it's a lot cheaper than replacing them)
• if necessary, re-seal tiled floors, sand and varnish wood floors or replace lino
• replace strip lights with halogen spots. Make sure that there are enough, especially if you fit directional lighting
• display attractive plants, flowers, herbs, a fruit bowl, pots or storage jars
• if you have room create an eating area or breakfast bar

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Bathroom

• replace dated bathroom suites with simple, inexpensive, white units
• replace dated taps with contemporary taps
• scrub the sink, bath and toilet to get rid of any grease, lime-scale or stains
• if necessary, re-seal tiled floors, sand and varnish wood floors or replace lino
• consider replacing carpet with tiles, wood, laminate or lino
• get new bath and toilet mats
• scrub tiles
• replace grouting if necessary
• get rid of any damp or mould
• make sure the bath and shower are properly sealed
• install a good quality shower if you don't already have one
• replace dirty shower curtains or better still put up a proper screen
• replace ceiling lights with halogen spots and make sure there are enough
• clear away excess clutter
• put out new towels
• get new, stylish bathroom accessories (soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, scented candles, etc)

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Dining room

• the focus of the dining room is the furniture. If it's dated or worn then buy new furniture that you can take with you when you move
• if you can't afford new furniture you can use furniture covers to improve the look of chairs. You can also hire furniture
• the room should look uncluttered, but not sterile
• well stocked fruit bowls, candles, artwork and fresh cut flowers can help make the room look like an inviting place to spend time relaxing over a meal

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Living room

• too much furniture makes the room look smaller so get rid of any that you don't need
• wash or dry clean furniture covers
• throws are a good way to disguise old or worn furniture, but if it's too far gone then consider buying or hiring new furniture
• make good use of cushions to accessorise furniture, but don't go over the top
• be aware of the orientation of furniture. Chairs and sofas need to be arranged so that viewers can imagine themselves socialising as well as just watching television.
• try different layouts to see what looks and works best
• people love the idea of a roaring fire. If you have a fireplace make sure it's in working order and if it's not appropriate to have it lit when people visit at least let them know about it
• if your living room has a dining area make sure that the lounge and dining spaces are clearly defined. You need to make it easy for people to imagine the room serving two distinct functions
• consider using a large wall mirror with a simple, unobtrusive frame to create a sense of light and space
• don't forget the importance of lamps in a room where people may wish to sit and read
• fresh cut flowers, candles, artwork and a couple of tasteful vases or similar will help complete things

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Bedrooms

• it's worth investing in some good quality bed linen. Textured, white cottons will help make the room look fresh and clean while contributing to a sense of space
• bed linen should always be ironed
• don't forget neatly placed pillows and cushions
• don't let headboards block the window
• if more than one bedroom will fit a double bed then add one in. Being able to describe your property as having more than one double room is a big selling point
• if possible, make sure that beds (doubles in particular) can be accessed from both sides. It's more practical for changing them and couples won't want to imagine themselves scrambling over one another to get in and out
• double beds should have matching bedside tables and lamps to give the room a sense of symmetry and order
• replace dated or battered dressing tables, cupboards and chests of drawers with simple contemporary furniture
• built in storage space can be an asset, but not if it makes the room look small or if it's terribly dated. If this is the case consider replacing it with free standing furniture
• again, don't forget the finishing touches — fresh cut flowers, candles, vases and artwork
• children's rooms should be kept tidy and be decorated in neutral colours. Ideally, posters should come down — they can go back up once you’ve moved
• turn bedrooms that are being used as studies, store rooms or play rooms back into bedrooms. Don't confuse your buyers about the number of bedrooms your house really has

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Study

• it's best not to sacrifice a bedroom to create a study when trying to sell. Only create or retain a study if it's in a room that is genuinely spare and will serve that purpose
• get the furniture right. Consider installing an attractive new desk, bookshelves, drawers and a small filing cabinet if you need to
• the chair should be a comfortable — something people can imagine wanting to sit in
• make sure it's tidy with neatly stored books, files and paperwork
• make use of good quality storage — boxes, file holders, desk tidies, etc
• have a good quality desk lamp
• install additional plug points if there aren't enough
• replace unsightly phone socket extension cables with wi-fi and a cordless phone on a base station

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