Kitchens are one of the most important rooms in a home.  As homeowners, family meals are prepared and even enjoyed here.  For buyers looking at houses, a kitchen can be a determining factor as to whether or not an offer is made.  When you are preparing to sell your home, whether you’ve got a house in Wilderness Shores or a home in Lake of the Woods, taking time to stage this space will only benefit you during the home selling process.  Because this room is used daily, it can also be tough to know where to start and what to do; I’ve got you!  Here are some kitchen staging tips to implement in your home!

Kitchen Staging Tips:  Declutter

No one should be surprised that my first tip is to declutter the space.  As daunting as this task feels, decluttering helps buyers to focus on the room itself and not the things in it.  Since buyers will be interested in how much storage space a kitchen has in the cabinets and pantry, this declutter is more than surface level.

Cabinets

  • Simplify things  Go through all of the cabinets in your home and determine what to keep, donate, or trash.  Remember, everything is going to need to be packed up eventually, so it’s smart to determine what you don’t want to lug with you to your new home now.  It may be time to pass on the small appliances that you rarely use.
  • Seasonal Items  If you won’t be reaching for holiday plates any time soon or that ice cream maker, take the time to pack it up now.  This will open up space in your cabinets and you’ll be a step ahead in your move.
  • Wash  Kitchen cabinetry gets dirty; give the interior and exterior of the cabinets a good scrub while the items are out of them.

Countertops

  • Less is More The fewer items on a countertop when kitchen staging, the better.  Having a mixer or toaster on the counter is okay, you do live here after all, but you want to avoid filling all the space with items.  
  • Deep Clean  Properly cleaning a countertop can depend on the type in your home.  Make sure to give it a good scrub and pay extra attention to any areas that are around the stove and could be harboring grease.  
  • Basket  If the kitchen countertop typically becomes a catch all for mail, car keys, and school paper, then consider keeping a basket on the counter to contain all these items.  You can easily stash the basket during showings but still have access to these items.

Pantry

It is really easy for a pantry to look cluttered; just let a few kids have access to it over a day and it will look messy.  When selling your house, having an organized pantry allows buyers to appreciate the space inside and visualize their own things in it.

Kitchen Staging Tips:  Update if Needed

For most people, an overhaul of the kitchen before selling is not in the budget.  However, making a few cosmetic changes can go a long way.

  • Paint   The kitchen is the one area of the home where there is more wear and tear on the walls.  If a good wash of the walls doesn’t help to rid them of scuff marks or stains, then it is time to repaint in a neutral color.
  • Cabinet handles  Updating the handles on your cabinets or adding some can update the kitchen.  There are many online options, like these from Amazon that can get this task done without breaking the budget.
  • Fixtures  Another way to update the kitchen is to switch out old light fixtures and faucets to new.  If it is not in the budget, then make sure to give the fixtures a thorough cleaning.

Kitchen Staging Tips: Deep Clean

When declutter you have already given the cabinets a good cleaning, but don’t forget about the other areas of your kitchen.  Clean the windows, wipe down light switches, clean the trash can, and appliances.  Give the floor a good scrub too.

Kitchen Staging Tips:  Staging the Countertops

The amount of things you put on the countertops is dependent on the amount of counter space that already exists.  The items that you select to stage the space shouldn’t be the things you reach for everyday like your favorite coffee cup or spatula.  Instead select items kitchen related that look new.

Use a cutting board or small tray to stack a few cookbooks next to a decorative salt and pepper shaker.  Try placing a bowl of fruit in the middle of the counter or place a few small pots with herbs on the window seal above the sink.  It is important to leave working areas in the kitchen.  A buyer will look for space to do food prep.

Remove all small appliances from the countertops except for a coffee maker or a larger mixer.  

Kitchen Staging Tips:  Out with the Old

Before your kitchen is photographed or before a showing, make sure to stash the old sponge used to wash dishes and tuck away the tea towel that hangs off the dishwasher.  Remove any paper on the refrigerator and take out the trash.

While getting a kitchen ready is probably one of the most time intensive areas of your home, the pay off in positive showings and potential offers is huge. You don’t have to wait until you have decided to sell your house in Wilderness Shores or elsewhere to get started either! Getting a jump start on tasks like tasks like these will help make it easier when you do decide to sell.