Home Staging Tips – Number 1 – Bathrooms
The bathroom has to be one of the least glamorous rooms in a house; but, the potential impact it can have on the purchase decision of potential buyers can be enormous.
In response to a recent study that asked buyers what cleanliness conveys to them when looking at a potential new home, their answer was, “Kitchen sink, laundry room, and bathrooms.”
You’ll notice a recurring theme throughout these tips: CLEAN! And I don’t mean surface cleaning once a week… I mean DETAILED CLEANING.
So arm yourself with the following list of supplies and products and follow me to the bathroom:
– Gloves
– Sponges (I use three different ones: one for the sinks and surfaces; one for the toilets; and one for the bathtub/shower)
– scrub brush
– an old toothbrush (great for corners, along baseboards, around toilet base and grout)
– Paper towels
– Bathroom cleaner (preferably one with bleach; a disinfectant – I like Soft Scrub)
– Glass cleaner (eg Windex)
– Clorox Bleach Pen (great for cleaning grout)
– Zap Cleaner and Restorer (removes rust, iron stains, calcium deposits, hard water stains, limescale, soap scum, mold and mildew, and grime stuck to porcelain, fiber glass, tile, and grout)
– Easy Off – BAM (for shower doors). Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to help with tough spots.
– Gonzo Odor Eliminator (absorbs smoke odors, eliminates musty odors caused by mold and mildew, and also helps with pet odors. All-natural, odorless, non-toxic volcanic crystals are safe for environment for pets).
CLEANSED:
– Floors
-Walls
– Ceilings (tear down any cobwebs)
– Door (both sides) Exhaust Vents
– Bathtub (make sure to run the jets in the bathtub to ensure there are no surprises)
– Shower (clean grout)
– Shower doors
– Sinks
– Taps
– Toilets
– Drawers and vanity cabinets (inside and out)
-Mirrors
– Windows (inside and outside)
– Screens
– Window treatments (consider removing completely or washing and ironing before putting back on)
– Shelves/Built-in
– Wardrobes for linen (inside and outside)
THE BATHROOM:
Complete any pending projects (improvement projects).
Wallpaper? Take it off! Why? Wallpaper is considered a personalized decoration option; and, it will seldom be the Buyer’s choice.
Patch all holes and cracks in the walls.
Paint the walls a neutral color. Avoid white for the walls. Instead, choose a soft (universal) color.
Touch up any wood trim. Trim, ceilings, and doors should be white. It is preferable to use the same trim color throughout the house.
Wash all windows (inside and out, as appropriate).
Replace outdated light fixtures.
Replace pitted or cloudy faucets.
Consider replacing cabinet hardware for an inexpensive (yet effective) way to update the look of a bathroom.
Re-caulk as needed.
Remove all cleaning supplies from sight. If the next best place for them is under the dresser (arrange them NEATLY in a container).
Vanity cabinets should be clean and organized: no clutter.
Linen closets need to be tidy: Make sure the contents are appropriate for what should be in a linen closet. APPROPRIATE: Bath linens (towels, wipes); Bedding (sheets, pillowcases); Soap bar. INAPPROPRIATE: Clothing; food; Craft supplies.
Put away all trash cans (if possible, put them under the dresser). When the home is shown, trash cans should be emptied of all debris and covered with trash bags that “fit” to the size of the trash can.
Delete family or personal photos.
Put away all toilet brushes and plungers.
Remove all toilet and tank lids and pick up all rugs.
Remove items normally found on the floor (eg scales, baskets).
No personal items should be visible. These items should be collected and placed in a basket that fits easily under the sink (inside the vanity).
If you have a “kid’s bathroom”, I recommend you change it to an “adult bathroom”. Theme rooms are a turnoff for shoppers.
Shower curtains should be fabric (preferably white). There are no “busy” patterns. I have seen some stripe patterns work very well.
Put a full roll of toilet paper on the holder.
If there are candles in the bathroom, they should be new candles (not candles that have been previously burned).
Put a new pump of soap in each sink.
Place fresh, clean towels on each towel rack. General rule: if the walls are white, the towels should be one color. If the walls have color or a pattern, the towels should always be white. My preference: white.
Add a touch of green to the room (eg, potted ivy).
Place all toilet seats in the “down” position.
ACCESSORIES TO STAGE A BATHROOM:
– Terry towels, thirsty
– Vegetation (bamboo, ivy and palm fruits are some to consider)
– Herbs/Reeds
– Art/Framed Prints
– Soap’s bubbles
– Fresh pillar candles (varying in height)
– Fabric shower curtains
– Roll of toilet paper
– polished river stones
– sea shells
– Wicker baskets (for functionality as well as for staging purposes)
EXAMPLE: A clean, neat and organized bathroom will create a “spa-like” experience for the Buyer.