In the past when sellers were staging their homes for sale, they went all out with designer paint colors, fancy china and linen napkins on the dining room table, candles on the fireplace mantle, and lush curtains.  Today’s staging has changed somewhat – the minimalist approach seems to be working best.

RIS Media reports that according to Sandra Rinomato, host of HGTV’s Property Virgins,

“Now we take the minimalist approach. Basically, you want to strip the house to its bare essentials, depersonalize it so potential buyers can superimpose themselves and their lifestyle on the house.”

I too have witnessed this.  You want buyers to be able to visual themselves in the house and if they’re just out of college, chances are they won’t likely have the Waterford crystal candelabras to accent the entry foyer.  A simplistic approach works well so people can decorate the entire room in their own minds.

A table, chairs, couch, chair, lamp, rug, and beds in the boudoirs will do nicely.  Make the beds.  Keep surfaces as uncluttered as possible.  Make sure the front entry is also visually appealing, as well as the back yard.

However, most important for sellers is to remember to CLEAN EVERYTHING.  From the baseboard to the duct covers to behind the bathroom door and the window ledge … clean clean clean.  If it’s clean both in smell and to sight, you’re chances have improved greatly to find a buyer willing to write an offer.

Home pictured is kitchen of condo listed at $95,000 right outside of Nashville.