How to Stage Your Home Like a Million Dollar Listing on a Budget

We really love helping our clients make top dollar and staging, or styling as we like to call it, helps them get more clicks, likes, and visits which ultimately means more money in their pockets.
Here are some of our favorite tips for styling your home, whether you just want to dress up your home a bit or put it on the market.
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[@lindat6688]

In a hallway, I replaced the framed photos of the kids with photos of our yard in different seasons - highlighting some of the nice things our landscaper did. Our open house was in August, but potential buyers got to see all of our spring and mid-summer plants in full bloom that way. I wanted to make sure they saw how pretty our tulips and lilac bushes are. We got multiple offers.

[@slhemp3556]

Great idea 💡

[@HouseofValentina]

That is a FANTASTIC idea!!!

[@susanforrest4056]

Love this idea!!

[@moocrazytn]

Brilliant idea! My house was built in 1880, so I'd love to display photos of the original owners. In fact, I'd love to see those pics myself. Think I'll try to find their descendents.

[@lynnes.5022]

Wow! Excellent idea, Linda! Add this to all of Valentina's incredible tips... and hello bidding wars!

[@bamasher4384]

As an old realtor, I can tell you...appealing staging equates to $$$$. Just my personal home. I staged myself. My house sold in 4 days with multiple offers over and above my asking price. Stage your home?.....absolutely!!!

[@ruthmarshall1879]

You are absolutely right! With much resistance from my son-in-Law, I staged my daughter’s home. There WAS a bidding war and they sold for $160k over asking! Pay attention people...it’s worth it !

[@beezlebub9]

ruth marshall but why did your son-in-law resist?

[@ruthmarshall1879]

Anita, he resisted because he thought the place was fine just needed to be tidied ( they had 2yr old toys everywhere ). Even though it was costing them nothing. Plus he felt they needed to put it on the market immediately because they had purchased a big house in another city. Turns out he only waited 5 days. We did touch up on doors and trim, runner up the stairs, a couch that fit instead of a huge sectional from their first apartment, that didn’t fit, area rugs for hardwood floors, etc. Etc. As it turned out they sold a 1500 sq. ft. 100 year old house and moved into an 8 year old 3200 sq. Ft. House and didn’t hVe to increase their mortgage! He is now a believer !!!

[@HouseofValentina]

@@ruthmarshall1879 That is AWESOME!!

[@beezlebub9]

ruth marshall it was so good of you to style it for them 💓!

[@angelaj8958]

Decluttering and reducing items to half, just gives you a head start on packing to move to the new house

[@brinselyseven5530]

I’m a real estate appraiser and a home stager. It is amazing how much money people miss out on because they don’t want to make the effort to declutter or make a small investment to put their best house forward.

[@Bianca.Vanessa.Musica]

Omgggg how do I become a home stager this is something I’ve been super interested in!

[@amberc1745]

I’ve been looking at listings online and it kills me! A box of Kleenex is not a centrepiece and make the bed...

[@nancy4609]

Great advice. I’ve been a Broker for 30+ years. Every seller should watch this. Cleaning, de-personalizing and de-cluttering are so important.

[@christinemillership1189]

When we last moved, we boxed up all the surface and personal stuff and rented a storage unit. By the time we’d finished I fell in love with our house all over again! Lol!

[@juliek7650]

Smell is so important, so glad you mentioned it. If a house smells funky like smoke, pets, mold, trash, anything gross- I'm out. I worry it will never go away.I HATE plug-ins! They give me a migraine and they smell like chemicals and cover-up.

[@mov3172]

Did happen to mention which super cookie candle she got. My house is going on the market next week and I have bought 3 different candles and they really don’t give off a strong enough smell. I don’t want it to be overwhelming. But if I buy a vanilla candle, I’d like it to smell like vanilla..lol

[@jet7865]

This lady is one high society woman, you can never get tired of seeing her house. It’s beautiful and above all very very clean

[@bettekelley1465]

Great video! Had a lakefront condo for sale and staged it using pretty much all of the guidelines you suggested. We weren’t living there so was easy not to have clutter or mess to worry about once I got it ready. Then we listed it with a friend in real estate. Even though it looked and smelled great and others said it looked like a house from a magazine, the realtor stripped any decorative touches, from the throw on sofa to the beautiful area rug, leaving bare flooring in a huge great room, then she rearranged the furniture in such a way you couldn’t even plug lamps in. She had the listing for 3 years and we received no offers. I knew it would cost a friendship, but we really wanted to sell our condo. So we let the listing lapse over the winter, went in and cleaned and staged it again like I had before. We listed it in the spring with a new realtor. We got a full price offer on the first showing within a week. The realtor was so impressed with the staging and could not understand why someone would change what I had done. So be sure you get a good realtor too. Love your home and your ideas!

[@shernchine]

I couldn't believe you waited for 3 years before changing your realtor.

[@sampuatisamuel9785]

@@shernchine Me too.

[@paulortiz2035]

The first rule of business is to: DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH FRIENDS! OR FAMILY!!! NEVER! EVER!

[@sannamagranna6552]

This 'friend' rented your condo out and didn't want to lose the income.

[@CEDesigns]

“Q-Tip clean”. I’ve sold 5 houses over my lifetime and they’ve all had offers over the asking price the first day. Best advice is to have everything so clean that no dirt would show up if I ran a cotton swab over it. That means window tracks, door jams, light bulbs, drawers, etc, all have to be spotless. Before professional pictures are taken, take a photo of each room yourself. You will see the bed skirt is dragging , the lampshade is crooked. Fix those things now! Set out a bag of tangerines on the table, and then get Orange Scent and spray a bit. Everyone will associate that clean scent to the oranges on the counter. Good luck. This video is a great one to share with anyone who wants to sell for top dollar. Thanks for the hard work!

[@jodrew1845]

I'm a renter however all (or most of) the tips you're suggesting are what would make a home much more enjoyable and comfortable for daily living.

[@HouseofValentina]

It's so true! These are the things that I try to do every day, though I'm okay with signs of life, too. :-)

[@the-miss-ernie]

I can guarantee you staging is the most important part of selling your home. My realtor did not know how to stage a home and so I had to do it myself. But it worked out for us! I sold my home in 2004, not only did the buyers take the house but all my furniture and the photos on the wall. We left the house with only our kitchen essentials and our clothing. So we had to buy all new furniture and accessories for the new house.

[@michelepastele5347]

These tips really are 'magic.' We followed most of this advice, had a bidding war, and received way more for the house than we thought possible. Something I wish we would have done: put up photos of the home in all seasons - we had beautiful landscaping and the house showed really nice in every season. Also, adding plants and flowers would have made the rooms much more charming. Thanks!

[@paulortiz2035]

You can make a brochure of highlighted features of your house ( which the realtor should do!) to hand out to prospective buyers. And perhaps a bit of a letter explaining how much you love living in the house! And why! Selling in Las Vegas I made sure the house was a few degrees cooler than normal so when they stepped in there was that "AHHHH!" moment! Plus a tub of iced bottles of water was near the front door, with a plate of snacks if anyone was a bit peckish! Plus plenty of shoe covers and a chair to sit on slipping them on, plus a box to dispose of them as they left. And even with the a/c on I made sure the fireplaces had a small fire lit! It adds a lot to a room, I think, even it it is 100°+ outdoors! And I had 2 large plants. A new, good sized, fiddle leaf fig in the living room. Plus a mature pot of sansaveria! The fig was big enough to make a statement. You had to stop and consider it. And it was in a large, decorative, antique, ($3000) pot! I like to place a few of my best pieces on view, to dress up a room, making it feel more luxe than what it is. I always hope the great pieces elevate the interior just that much more without it being obvious! (The couple who bought the house wanted me to 'throw it in', which was a little tricky saying ''No!" (So, sorry! But it is on loan from my sister! And she would kill me if she didn't get it back!!! No, really! She would! (If only I had a sister!)) But he knew what it was, and it wasn't from Ikea! I also didn't list the stainless French door refrigerator, I was going to take it with! I did that so I could 'throw it in', as an extra, if a buyer really wanted it. Otherwise there is always Craig's list to get rid of items last minute! Esp stuff in the garage. I got rid of a lot of unused lumber, tools, fans, ladders, etc, via Craig's list. It goes really fast!!! (Insist on cash!!!) And have your neighbors out and about or over to talk when someone comes to buy, and do this in the middle of the day, as the buyers are strangers after all, and do this esp if you are alone, or elderly, etc. Safety first! Safety second! Safety third!!! And have a bit of game when selling on Craig's list! When someone shows up, call them by the wrong name. "Oh, your not Herman? .....Gee, the other people are late! They said they would be right over... well, I'm sure they will be here soon....... we might as well begin, in the mean time.... is that them.... no, OK, well let me show you....

[@jille9650]

Love this. I followed Leslie Hoyt's book 31 Days to a Staged Home. Very detailed, step by step, room by room. I did it all before the real estate agent came the first time and she was impressed which translated into her being excited to show the house. It sold very fast!

[@zakariahamid1361]

Please share some points. What steps/changes..

[@dawnwesterbeck346]

I can't believe only 24,000 people watch this video so far. It is the most comprehensive, extensive beautiful explanation of what sells houses what to do and not to do to sell your home. Thanks so much.

[@peggygenoway]

What a lot of people don't understand--is your home is your soul, your mind, your ❤...on the canvas called your home; your everyday habitat. Valentina has a wonderful sense of symmetry, simplicity, beauty and intelligence. It's the place we would all love to have tea.

[@maureenramchan531]

I sold my house so quickly, l had something cooking on the stove that smell delicious, and my living nice decorated, a beautiful floral arrangement on the coffee table, tall live plant in a corner,and beautiful curtains on the window, what woman can resist that homely touch.

[@paulawhite2546]

Superb video and advice! Once we were selling a higher end home in a rural area with only 5k in the county! Candles burning, decluttered, vacummed every morning and night, no garbage, live plants and flowers. Due to area, we received several low ball offers. We stayed the course. We had an older well behaved Bichon. Husband had already relocated. Son and I only used second bathroom. Realtor called one night and had well qualified buyer. Appointment was set for next day. During nightly clean I wiped down surfaces already clean. Shower wasn't being used but checked for dust or a dead bug. Ewww To my horror, our Bichon had pooped in the shower. Something she had never done before and never repeated. I cleaned and cleaned again. ALWAYS, ALWAYS DO A FINAL WALK THRU!!! Buyers purchased home for over asking. Could have been a totally different story!

[@HouseofValentina]

That's SO true! I think our pets get a little stressed when they sense something is going on. One of my clients had their pet poop right in the middle of the bedroom and thankfully she caught it right as she was about to leave the house. Selling your home IS a lot of work, but when you get to reap the reward it is all the sweeter! Congrats!!

[@marjorierushie7737]

I stage my house everyday for myself because it makes me feel sooooo good. Your channel is amazing. I have just subscribed.

[@DebraMcCarthy]

Marjorie Rushie Me too!!! Why should we just make our home beautiful for others to see?! We should be enjoying it ourselves! Bloom where you are planted! 😊🏡💐

[@HouseofValentina]

I LOVE that! It is a form of self love!

[@bonnie.k6200]

Yes I do it too. I enjoy seeing every corner neat, organise, color coordinated and smelling good.

[@momof2momof2]

I do too ! Not only does doing it make me and others feels great, but it makes cleaning every day so much easier. :)

[@bettekelley1465]

Marjorie Rushie what a great idea. Instead of just thinking of cleaning your home, think of staging or styling your home every day. Sounds like such a creative way to keep your house clean, clutter free and beautiful all the time. I love interior decorating and having a neat and clean home so this is a good way to not only achieve it, but maintain it.

[@patriciazoerner]

This is probably the fifteenth video I have watched on staging and I have to say you offered me much more detailed and useful advice than any of the others! Thank you for the indepth approach!

[@HouseofValentina]

Glad it was helpful!

[@suemcevoy5510]

I sold my house in the spring and did all the things you suggested. I went a little further; I took the everyday clutter from the bathroom vanities and placed them in plastic bins for each person, placed them under the bed. Each morning and evening each person pulled out the plastic bin for their toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. Each person got a bin for their stuff. Bought cleaning wipes and placed those in the linen closets and laundry room when I needed to touch up each of the bathrooms and counter tops when I had a house showing. I painted every room in the house and left a little paint to each room where I left it in each closet for touch ups after I moved house and if they needed it for touch up while they moved in the house. I placed individual wrapped candy on the kitchen counter next to the RE flier of the house. Declutter, declutter and declutter even more! oh yes, and clean, clean, clean! Sold my five bedroom house in the Baltimore/Washington, DC suburbs for almost asking price after the spring real estate rush and settled in July!

[@HouseofValentina]

You are a DREAM seller! Come be my client ANYTIME! :-) If sellers think of this as a "side hustle' they will realize how much money they can make with a very small amount of work! Why wouldn't you do it? (Or let me help them do it!) :-)

[@virginiaburchette7192]

@@HouseofValentina d

[@sunitamay123]

Great tip on putting small toiletries under the bed)))

[@debschroeder6241]

I personally have purchased and sold a number of homes in the last 30 years and I too was a realtor in my younger days. Every single suggestion you spoke about I always practiced and shared with my sellers. You are absolutely right, no one wants to see or buy your dirt.

[@nicolcacola]

Ok, so I'm not crazy! I told my husband when we go to sell, we're renting a storage unit and clearing most everything and getting suitcases to throw in the car for our stuff to be out of the way during showings. This was such a great video. Subbed!

[@christyetc]

This is such a great video! I love how authentic you are. Lovely home, not pretentious. A joy to watch.

[@TubeTorte]

I was a rental agent for many years and even in a rental, these things matter! I would see people looking at all the personal items and always remind them jokingly "you won't be moving in with these people". I rent my own houses out seasonally and half kill myself cleaning, straightening and depersonalizing before showing them. Everything you say is spot on.

[@HouseofValentina]

I worked with rentals here in the US and overseas and I heartily agree. These rules 100% apply for Airbnb and long term rentals.

[@organized4]

Also, when you take a picture of each room and look them over, certain areas more clearly stand out that need to be addressed.

[@CreateLoveRepeat]

I 100% agree with photographing with the lights off. I was so annoyed when our agent showed up late in the evening and took photos with the lights on. Our home looked so much better in natural light... any home looks better in natural light. Luckily our home sold quickly, but I learned a lot about what to look for in an agent after our first experience selling.

[@withabrokenwing]

This woman is amazing ! great sense of humor and so generous with her brilliant ideas .Thank you , Valentina ! I am learning so much from you.

[@ssoozee]

You are a gift that keeps on giving, Valentina: smart, funny, creative and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your house design knowledge and tips!

[@lene4102]

If I am selling in winter-time, I bake with cinnamon, if spring and summer, I have grated lemon zest in a little open jar.

[@HouseofValentina]

PERFECT!! I bet your house smells DIVINE year round!

[@3pumpkins170]

How long does the smell of the lemon zest last? How often do you replace it?

[@wildflowerwind6941]

Your tips were fantastic. I want my house to look like it is styled and staged while I am living in it. Now I know what to do so I enjoy my own house.

[@ladymeringue9870]

This is my new favourite KZbin channel. Such amazing content explained in the most professional, friendly way. There's no annoying 'filler' chat, everything is relevant. Subscribed.

[@aburgheryes]

I went through my entire house and cleaned out every cabinet, drawer, and closet to get the house ready to sell. We had lived in the house for 23 years so I didn’t realize how much we had accumulated. I also painted all of the trim and filled all nail holes from where I had taken down or re-positioned pictures and then did touch-up painting all throughout the house. This ended up being a great way for me to label paint cans for the potential buyer so they could match the paint colors they wanted to keep. (All my paint colors were slightly different colors of beige or different whites and the trim was all “Super White”) in addition, we paid to have the entire yard re-landscaped so it was all fresh. Anyway, I literally removed about half of the contents of my closets, drawers, garage, and basement with this cleaning spree. My husband travels for his job so I did most of this work by myself so it took me about three months to get all of this work completed before listing my house. We were building a new house about 1200 miles away so I had time. Our house was in a higher than average price range for the area so it took about 10 weeks to sell but we got the price we wanted and the timing was perfect because we just moved right to our new house without having to rent while waiting for the new house to be finished. Also, the buyers ended up buying most of our furniture so we moved into our new house with ease and we “had” to buy mostly new furniture to replace what we sold to the new buyers. I keep the new house “mostly” staged and I carefully watch for “clutter-creep” so that I don’t ever have to do so much work again! It was a refreshing change for us and the house we sold, as well as our new house, is so much easier to keep clean without all the clutter! You are right about the listing pictures! They need to be pristine! We had numerous showings and views on Zillow from our pictures and video. We also had numerous offers, many from clients who had a house to sell so that is why it took so long to sell ours. We had four pending offers and, finally, a cash buyer came through. I shared this nicely done video with our realtor so she could share it with her new clients. Your summary of staging do’s and don’ts is excellent! Oh, and I would add only one thing, make sure your windows are cleaned, preferably professionally, right before the photo-shoot and the first showings and Open House. Also, I had a large plastic bin with a lid. When I left the house before a showing or the Open House, I put all the dirty clothes and recently used towels and our dog bowls and dog bed in this tote in our garage as I was leaving the house. I also took our dog with me so nobody had to listen to him bark!

[@AliceInCrazyland]

I’m not buying or selling , I’m here to see your gorgeous home 😍❤️

[@HouseofValentina]

ᗩlicє iη CrazylaηĐ love it! Welcome!

[@MeGina]

I am not in real estate, nor trying to sell my home, however I absolutely loved all your tips! Your home is beautiful! I can’t wait to utilize many of them in my daily life and especially when preparing for company or gatherings! ❤️

[@angelaberni8873]

Gina Garcia,I had exactly the same thought !!

[@HouseofValentina]

yay!! Perfect for the holidays coming up!

[@rachelking7002]

Out of all the videos I watch I love this because you took it rumba room before and after and clearly explained why you did each action! Thank you for taking your time to make this video!

[@sueclucks5866]

I was in the process of decluttering our home, I love the way you work, I am now going over everything again clearing all the ( what I call "the maybe stuff" ) Thank you! Just subscribed.

[@HouseofValentina]

I love a newly decluttered space... My basement is awaiting a deep declutter! :-) Thank you for subscribing!

[@danielapenados8204]

This is the best video I have ever seen! I’m decluttering my whole house this weekend!! So inspired!

[@HouseofValentina]

yay! I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@slhemp3556]

I agree, this is my first time watching her and I’ve viewed it twice because it’s that good. It’s unsettling to see so many thumbs down, especially without comments to support their negative views.

[@bethward9270]

Couldn’t agree more with everything you mentioned... plus I always have the windows professionally cleaned. This makes a noticeable difference. It’s all about the natural light!

[@joannabenz6615]

Great job, Valentina! You did NOT talk too much, as you were teaching us, not just showing a house! I loved it and learned a lot!

[@venturesintoglory5353]

Loved every tip in your video, Valentina, on how to style your house. Each tip is not only good for selling your house but also for preparing it for special guests.

[@emmaaclaaire]

When I was viewing a small apartment I opened up one of the kitchen drawers for whatever reason and it was packed to the brim with stuff that it was difficult to close. You could tell they shoved anything that was in the counter into the drawers and it actually left a pretty lasting impression lol. The rest of the space was amazing but I remember thinking maybe the kitchen is too small / doesn’t have enough storage just because of that moment. Such an important tip to declutter drawers, so glad you mentioned it.

[@kerryallen4665]

You shouldn’t be opening drawers in someone’s home even if it is on the market.

[@emmaaclaaire]

@@kerryallen4665 yeah that’s a fair point! I guess I did it without even thinking.

[@kerryallen4665]

@@emmaaclaaire :) :)

[@Antikythera..]

Yes, you should open drawers that stay with the house. Kitchen, bath, built-ins. You’ll be buying those drawers and cabinet spaces. If it’s not staying with the house, leave it alone.

[@cap_rocks_1015]

I'm brand new at this... but one of the big (and easy) things that I did to add value is paint all the doors with a fresh, clean coat. Thank you for your amazing depth and sharing your experience with those of us trying to get started in the real estate game!

[@dbmgna3951]

I love artwork in the bathroom...when we saw this in the home we purchased, it helped to close the deal.

[@HouseofValentina]

Thank you! It's always good to hear it's not just me!

[@TemperenceTheGinger]

Amazing tips! I am not selling my home, quite the opposite actually. I’ve been married almost a year and I am still “nesting” and decorating. I love these tips, because I always like my home space to feel that way. Of course, there are a few things I wouldn’t do since we aren’t selling and packing things to move. Plants in every room, a kitchen counter free of unnecessary clutter, just make the home feel more calming. I am not a minimalist when it comes to decorating, but a lot of little things here and there really do make all of the difference!!

[@hayley070270]

This video helped us a lot when we were selling our house. We followed her tips and with one open home, we got multiple offers! We sold our house 95k over its government value 😁. Thanks heaps!!!

[@jcmhanel1]

We listed our home just before Thanksgiving 5 years ago. Granted it was a mid priced home for our location but those are always in demand. I cleaned closets and sent so many things to a thrift store that I thought I couldn’t live without before but had stowed away for a couple of years. We rented a storage unit and took items that we could live without temporarily. I did stage my home and even set up the Christmas tree. My designer friend said, people always wonder where they will put their Christmas tree so show them. As I had a color scheme, I chose gift bags that complimented and were for various ages. I was told homes sell terribly during this time frame. We had 3 offers in 10 days and sold for full price. We did not search for a home until ours was sold and took advantage of that time of year to find a home we loved!!!

[@elenasanz8750]

I'm an interior designer and you're inspiring me a lot! Thanks for sharing this tips, I love your channel!

[@HouseofValentina]

yay! That makes me so happy! xx

[@bbfreetube]

Good job...my husband and I did this when selling our last home. It took one year to sell at the time houses were not selling well. My weekends were spent cleaning and decluttering and scrubbing floors. My suggestion would be that one do all of this and think of renting a flat or motel room if houses are selling like hot cakes. Each day check the house, take the mail and don't use it until it is sold.

[@andratoma9834]

Yessss! Let the sun shine , let the LIGHT in the home! Thank you. Valentina! You are Awsome! Love you and your style! Tha mYou!

[@cobwebafternoon3737]

I'm watching your video more than once today! So many great tips, my favorite is putting dirty laundry on your trunk 👍 Anyone selling a house should really watch this!😍

[@HouseofValentina]

That's so nice! Thank you for watching!

[@lynej2011]

How about doing the laundry?

[@toodie535]

@@lynej2011 GOOD QUESTION--do people look inside washer dryers? I would assume they'd bring or buy their own appliances there.

[@DreamMom90]

I enjoyed your video so much. Very well done. I love your tip about "magazine styling" your home for photos. I recently sold my home at full price to the second couple that toured my home. Their realtor stated it was the most organized and beautiful home he's ever seen. One mistake I made was not having the photographer take photos of my Pinterest worthy pantry and linen closet. Having the right amount and scale of furniture and having everything clean and organized go a long way to getting top dollar.

[@anna8bananas]

I used to think black and white would feel lifeless because I do love colour, but your home has completely transformed how I see what gives a 'home' energy- it is the textures, contrasts and the personality you influse into it (no matter what tone or colour)! I absolutely adore your home and way you've fused your personality with the Scandinavian influence. I've learned sooo much by watching your videos! Please give us more design tips and any tips about using black and white of course! So many whites to choose from....do you go for the starkest? Which undertones do you avoid / go for etc. My house can get dark and I was recently advised to avoid white because of 'shadows' but I think I'm might just try it anyways!! Thanks again so much for your videos! Woot the the decorating begin.

[@HouseofValentina]

That is SO sweet! Thank you SO much for the kind words! I don't know if I would ever have had the courage to paint my walls white if I hadn't been given them in Scandinavia. I love those beautiful shadows on a white wall. In the morning the sun is warm and yellow and in the evenings its more of a orangey glow. Rainy days are my favorite, though. The cast of blue and grey is perfection. Own the shadows, I say! My top two colors are Polar Bear by Behr and Simply White by Benjamin Moore.

[@liannascrimger8624]

Thank you for being brutally honest with us!! I am in the process of doing a brutal pre-listing purge in our condo and you made me realize I could do a bit more. Love your tips about swapping out personal quirky art with more neutral stuff as well as the notes about hiding dish soaps and such. Emptying the dishwasher and taking out the trash - all good things to remember too!

[@DebraMcCarthy]

Hands down this is THE best video on the internet about styling your home for sale. You also make it witty, fun, quick and to the point without getting to wordy beyond what needs to be said. Bravo! And THANK YOU! ❤️

[@HouseofValentina]

That is so nice! Thank you!

[@simplesarahgirl9691]

New subscriber. Love your channel. And thank you for not being obnoxious. Your real personality is refreshing in this genre on KZbin. 😊

This was super helpful! Thank you for taking the time to really go through everything in detail! We are about to stage our home for selling and your tips make so much sense.

[@losingmychic]

"Give your home its day at the spa" I LOVE this, I'm not selling a home but AM about to move into a new country, city and home so I will be using these tips to always style my home so I can feel proud to live there and give my children something to aspire to!!!!! Thank you so much Valentina!

[@jhurbon12]

I can’t say enough about how much I LOVE your channel!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@Achayok]

I’m a minimalist and store memories away unless it’s a holiday. What I think sold my house was the clean smell & open spaces. I sold during the winter, and within three months time of showing👌🏽

[@therussells3086]

I wish people would think about this information when selling their home. Every detail you mentioned was spot on. Great job. BTW your house is really cool.💋

[@HouseofValentina]

Aww! thanks! It's a work in progress but it definitely feels like home to us!

[@Tawny593]

You are so right. I always stage my houses and they can sell in ONE showing. Your staging is amazing.

[@oldschooldesign528]

You are so personable and full of information! Thank you for giving reasons for the things that need to be done that a homeowner might overlook in getting ready to sell their home. I appreciate the word "styling" instead of "staging", too. Your house is beautiful and very clean.

[@kayelle8005]

Puppy under the glass coffee table 😍

[@sharamyers9686]

A friend of mine, who had her home staged, told me it is recommended to put away photos..

[@dawnwesterbeck346]

Yes they don't want to see your family there they want to see their family living there.

[@mulliganstew72]

Yes, Basically anything that shows too much of your personality. They want to imagine themselves there.

[@grumpyschnauzer]

Beautiful house! Amazing video! My bf and I purchased an old house that was smaller than all the other newer houses on the block because we thought we’d keep it for a long time and work on it. But we realized it’s still too big for us and We mistakenly bought a house for an envisioned future, not our current lifestyle. Now I am struggling to figure out how to sell an old house. We aren’t handy, we are tired and just want to sell it without updating/renovating (I.e., older carpet, linoleum floors, laminate counters, popcorn ceiling, wall paneling, etc.). We’d even be willing to sell for less. My biggest fear is that it won’t sell and we will be stuck with it 😂 That’s what keeps me up at night.

[@blakeyrebeccaross]

Excellent tips! My house is going on the market in a few days and your video helped me immensly!! I thought that I thought of everything already, but you've proven me wrong, thanks! : )

[@irishb9993]

You are my favorite house designer of all. I love everything. Such an inspiration.

[@Lashlove16]

Great tips Also when you are getting an appraisal done , they take pics . Your lender and others see them and file them . Clean it and put the clothes in the closet and put the toilet seats down . Her home is amazing despite that it’s being lived in . Most homes that I see are so cluttered with piles of clothes or boxes. The kitchen and bathroom counters can’t be seen

[@ptj4620]

Yes, thanks for that tid bit easily overlooked

[@cathybuchanan8624]

I’m located in Ontario, Canada, which is too for from you to stag my house. The fortune thing is that we’re not planning on moving for another two years, which gives us time to put in place some of the wonderful tips learned from your video. Looking forward to seeing more of you via video. Keep up the good work and thank you.

[@dpinar21]

We are on the same page! I don't know why this channel was a recommendation to me but it's perfect! I think on these terms every day.

[@HouseofValentina]

I'm so glad! Welcome!

[@annetteanderson3375]

The last house we lived in I staged it, we had multiple offers! I would do it again and again! Thanks so much for your video...its inspiring!

[@abf7172]

i cant believe i just discovered you, you are a godsend , im remodeling my house and you've given me some really great ideas . Thankyou times a zillion, love from lyon

[@HouseofValentina]

oh how wonderful! Lyon is such a beautiful place!

[@kimberleyjohnson1793]

I sell in Texas, and I tell sellers to hide the dog bed under their bed, and take kitty litter boxes to the garage before showings. Remove the pets if at all possible. And take a laundry basket (or 2) around the house to pick up "daily stuff" like extra shoes, daily mail, etc. and take it to the car as you leave for the showing so you aren't filling up cabinets and drawers. And before leaving for work each day, tell yourself you have a showing so you're always ready if an agent wants to pop by and bring a buyer. Don't forget the back patio. Make a "moment" where a buyer can envision themselves enjoying the yard. Rug, furniture, pillows, etc. for the perfect backyard space. Less is more, but sterile is also a turnoff. Excellent tips, Valentina !

[@morozhenochka]

OMG your tips are GOLD! Love your home and style!

[@HouseofValentina]

A. O. Thank you!! Xx

[@toodie535]

Really good solid rules! For open house, I baked a homemade apple pie WITH A REAL BUTTER CRUST and left it in the oven, with the door ajar (the light was on and the oven clean). First thing in the door, your mouth started to water!

[@minikorsi]

HI Valentina, this was the most comprehensive, real life and enjoyable video on staging! I’m watching from the UK where only new homes are staged ( and not very well-I must say) we need this knowledge desperately here. 💕👍

[@HouseofValentina]

I got my start in Copenhagen... though they were all so minimalistic that I was usually putting stuff IN to the house! Thanks for visiting all the way from the UK! xx

[@gwendolynkrupa8892]

Thank you. Homemade bread out of oven on counter and vanilla in bedroom is very helpful. I just used frozen bread dough. Sat out homemade jam too. Country house sold in 2 days.

[@annw1395]

Excellent video! Decluttering, CLEANING, and staging are vital. When we were house hunting, there was a seller who had followed your tips (immaculate, not fancy but was nicely decorated, had homemade cookies on counter, everything fresh and inviting...) The interesting thing was that -- even tho my brain could recognize that they were deliberately creating a good sensory experience -- AN EMOTIONAL LINK WAS FORGED IN MY BRAIN THAT I COULDN'T SHAKE. The feeling of peacefulness, calm, homey fragrances, and overall order dug in deep on a subconscious level. I didn't buy the house bc it wasn't what we were looking for, but it was HARD bc my emotions had really bonded with it, bc they'd done such great staging! Idk if I'm explaining this right, but it's a whole primitive, emotional part of your brain that gets triggered using these tips.

[@lindatoews5265]

Great advice! We recently sold as the market was going down, we did all of that, even renting a space to put things we wanted in our new place that we’re adding to a cluttered home, I’m an artist, my husband a musician (works in a winery)so between us we have a lot of stuff. I updated the bathroom light fixture, all the other bathroom necessities and kept one new towel and new hand towel on the ring. Cleaned,cleaned and then some more, fill holes from pictures, repainted, all of what you said. Oh yes I have glass doors in my built in china cabinet and so it was suggested to take out all the colourful things that were distracting, it looked great. I was still dealing with the remainder of double pneumonia so it was hard. But when all was said and done, our realtors were over the moon. They said it would take probably a month, I said I think 10 days. It sold in 8, we got our asking and I’m sure in a wavering market we did well! A couple of times, hubby thought I was going overboard in the end he appreciated that it was all worth it. $$$. I hope they listen to you, it will save them thousands and in a falling market you want your to be on the top of the list.

[@LivNtheBESTLife]

Amen! I sold my previous home in 28 days with 3 offers. I hid my dirty Laundry in my washing machine. Quick and easy clean up in a pinch for a showing. Valentina thank you for all your tips and tricks! Can’t wait for your closet reveal

[@HouseofValentina]

LivNtheBESTLife congrats!!! It’s such a stressful and overwhelming time when you are selling so I’ll do anything in my power to make it easier and faster for my sellers!

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

I kept mine in my car trunk when I was selling because I hated smelling dirty clothes when I was looking.😉

[@candiskubiak730]

Great advice that a lot of people are clueless about. Very informative and compelling. Love it!

[@OHMaven1]

#1 tip Clean, organize, and stage your house BEFORE you interview realtors! Too many of them are over eager to get your listing so they will pretend that they already have a buyer who wants your house! This creates unnecessary stress and a premature listing time that you are being manipulated into establishing! I fell for this trick a couple times, until I realized what was happening! #2 tip Abide by the 60-30-10 color scheme. 60% of the room should be the primary color, 30% the complimentary color,; and 10% the splash or accessory color. This is extremely important in open concept rooms. This includes flooring; window treatments; decorative touches and furniture!

[@lisawhesper4084]

Love this! ...oh I feel like .light the fireplace if showing it !...it shows not only that it works and doesn't leave the realtor flailing to prove it works but it make for a beautiful showing . Same goes for pools and fountains ☺...love you guys! Happy new year!!!!

[@Barelykeepingittogether]

This video was super helpful when we listed our house this was my favorite staging video I found!

[@sharalane3171]

I love black and white design, so glad I just found your channel.

[@junkjournalguy]

Great ideas! Your home is "styled" so beautifully ❤

[@callynt]

I worked my you know what off for weeks, to get my home staged to put it on the market. I went under contract within 3 days! Staging is definitely a must do, especially if you are in a competitive market.

[@HouseofValentina]

yay!! Congrats!!

[@timbrown4890]

We are in the process of having our dream home built. Leaving behide our home of 30 years. Your experience and knowledge is so helpful in our journey of what can add value to the sale of

[@sophiegirl752]

Hi Valentina!! I absolutely adore you!! Your home is gorgeous!! Your style is so classy and beautiful! I’d love to see more if it. Thanks for sharing this information. I wish you the absolute best of everything! 😇

[@HouseofValentina]

Thank you so much!! Loads more coming very soon! Anything in particular that would interest you?

[@sophiegirl752]

Yes! Your design aesthetic is beautiful. I’d love to see more about how you designed your house and others you’ve done.

[@HouseofValentina]

Abby C great! I can definitely do that!

[@Joeyz088]

Hi Valentina, great blog! I’m working with a lower budget for styling but my taste is similar. Any suggestions and examples of buying attractive household items at stores other than home goods?

[@zaanussaa]

I saw a home about 10 years ago and me and my husband still talk about it- but we don’t remember anything else, except that there was dog’s poop in one of the rooms, and it was smelling really really strong.

[@cachaygreen9641]

Your house is beautiful!!! Thanks for taking the time to be so detailed. I am an aspiring stager❤

[@drouinjohnny9036]

Amen……..I bought a condo with beautiful design and furniture……..look slick and airy……..great tips………❤

[@KewBlinkla]

The video the world needs. Seriously. People ask how I make my house look like “a show home”.... it’s just about little things and cleaning up 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@aflowers1039]

I appreciate you real life presentation to design. You empower your viewers. Thank you.

[@joy2world858]

Great advice. Would love to see a video on how to make plants a part of decor rather than a mini greenhouse. What is an accent and what is too much.

[@HouseofValentina]

Joy 2world love that idea! I get asked that a lot so I’ll have to dive into that one!

[@joannawardell152]

@@HouseofValentina please do!

[@donnagwinn920]

So much awesome information. Thank you! Sold our house to first buyer for asking price with others sending letters to please consider them ….using your awesome tips.

[@colleens6934]

Thank you so much for a great video

[@HouseofValentina]

It is a LOT of work to sell a house, but the reward always makes it worth it! You had great instincts! And it never hurts to have your husband tell you that you were right! LOL!

[@lynnes.5022]

Love the soothing music idea! It appeals to yet another one of our senses. Thanks for sharing!

[@donnasouris]

Great job! I will be sure to pass along a few things I learned to my customers. I love the herbs in the kitchen idea and the super neat pantry & fridge. So important...

[@shelleyjacobs2563]

I'm currently in the market to buy a house you made me giggle when you said people who come to look at your house instantly sniff so so true I do that at every house.

[@NdnUrbanCat]

I even do this in my own home, as soon as I walk thru the front door!