When you’re putting your home on the market, you have hopefully spent some time learning about home staging your property for viewing by prospective homebuyers. What you may have yet to consider are various things that you must avoid in staging in preparation of showing your home to prospective homebuyers.

Here are eight primary missteps must be avoided when it comes to staging in advance of putting a home on the market.

 1. Failure to Deep Clean

A good many homeowners believe that a comprehensive home cleaning is what is needed in advance of staging a home for the market. In fact, failing to undertake a true deep clean of the residence can prove to be a notable mistake.

Professional house cleaners recommend that a deep clean in advance of staging encompass everything from the ceiling to the floor and everything else in between. The ultimate objective of a staging deep clean is not just to present a pristine property, but to send a message to prospective buyers that a homeowner was highly diligent in caring for the residence.

2. Improper Furniture Placement

Another mistake some homeowners make when it comes to the staging process is the misplacement of different furniture items. Improper furniture placement nearly always involves placing too much furniture in a space or placing items that are too large for a particular part of a home. Professional stagers suggest that unless a particular room is extraordinarily large, only three substantial pieces of furniture should be included in a space.

In addition, when it comes to improper furniture placement, care needs to be taken to make sure the furnishings in a space match its purpose. For example, even if this is what you do in your home, a treadmill should not be maintained in the master bedroom. Similarly, something like a baby changing table should not be stuck in a home office.

3. Neglect of Storage Space

Nearly all homes have a space set aside a larger area for storage. This might be part of a basement or even a room used for storage. If you do have a room designated for storage, you might want to give thought to clearing out the stored items and placing them elsewhere. You will want to give serious consideration to staging the space for a specific purpose that the room otherwise suggests.

With that noted, when it comes to a storage space, a common mistake is a failure to organize and tidy up the area. In addition, attention must be paid to all of the smaller storage spaces throughout the house. You need to take time organize and tidy up closets and cupboards. The reality is, prospective buyers will spend time exploring all of the different types of storage areas throughout the house.

4. Over-Personalizing the Décor

Like nearly all people, you undoubtedly have a myriad of items throughout your home that are unique to your own tastes and desires. You have photos and other personal items situated throughout the house. Yet another mistake people make when it comes to staging is over-personalizing.

A key element of avoiding over-personalizing a home is to eliminate knick-knacks and similar items that undoubtedly are scattered throughout your home. A simple rule of thumb when it comes to items of this nature is less is more when it comes to staging.

When you are preparing to put your home on the market, think of your home as something of a blank slate for a prospective buyer. In other words, you want your home to be staged in a manner that permits a homebuyer the ability to imagine what the property would look like with his or her items, objects, and furnishings in the home.

5. Failing to Hire a Professional

When putting your home on the market for sale, you will engage the services of an array of different types of professionals, including a Realtor. A common error people make when it comes to staging a home is failing to seek professional assistance. You should give serious consideration to retaining a professional to assist with staging. Indeed, in this day and age, many Realtors will connect their clients with staging professionals.

6. Using Fake Items in the Staging Process

A surprising number of people place fake items throughout a residence during the staging process. This can include everything from fake fruit to fake plants to even fake electronics. In fact, you should avoid the placement of fake items throughout your home. In other words, rather than place a fake personal computer on a desk, use a real one or nothing at all.

7. Underestimating the Power of Curb Appeal

Finally, more that a few home sellers underestimate the crucial importance of curb appeal when it comes to selling a home. The reality is that if the exterior appearance is not up to par, prospective buyers will be inclined to forgo touring the inside of the home. The failure to focus on curb appeal can result in loss of prospective buyers.

Developing a comprehensive home staging plan is the key to getting your home truly ready for showing to prospective buyers. Armed with what you should and should not do in regard to home staging, you will better present your home to prospective buyers and help you achieve top dollar for you home.