STAGING MODUS OPERANDI
Ask any realtor which room will sell your house first and you will hear kitchens sell the house. In fact, recent industry data shows that staging the kitchen is often considered essential because it’s one of the first spaces buyers focus on when viewing a home. The bathroom, apart from being one of the most used rooms in a house, also plays a key role in buyer decision-making and resale value. By taking extra care with these two rooms when staging your home for sale, a homeowner can gain a substantial return on investment from these two rooms alone.
During an open house, if the kitchen appeals to all of a buyer’s senses, then chances are it is a great kitchen and the buyer is thinking I must have it.
There was a certain ambience about it. The colours were well chosen, the cabinetry had a great finish, there were exquisite pendant lights and ahhhh…an aroma of freshly-baked cookies, (maybe). Perhaps it was the sunlight streaming across fresh cut flowers on the quartz countertop that caught their eye or the Meile slide-in range.
This same staging psychology holds true for the bathroom. In the primary ensuite the must-have signals here are its spa-like atmosphere, complete with whirlpool, air jets, scented candles, pure white fluffy towels and fragrant soaps of lemongrass or French vanilla in glass jars. If this sounds inviting, this is staging at work.
Whatever stresses were imposed on your kitchen or bathroom, will determine what needs staging or even renovation. Whether it is staged by you, the homeowner or requires a professional’s touch, you will definitely get your money’s worth back — homeowners who invest on average two per cent of their home’s overall value by staging their homes for resale purposes, will on average see a 9.3 per cent additional profit. So if you are unsure about the value-add, look no further than your kitchen or bathroom.
WHERE TO BEGIN? | Start in the kitchen by asking yourself what a buyer might find fault with. Be very honest. Look at the condition of the walls, ceilings, the paint, cabinetry and hardware, lighting fixtures, windows and trim. Don’t forget to check the air quality for pet smells and cooking odours. Whatever your first impressions, chances are these flaws might affect a buyer.
In today’s highly-competitive market, you need to go the extra mile – especially if there are other houses for sale on your street – you need to make a great first impression, so that a buyer will want your house over the competition.*
THE KITCHEN IS THE HUB
Ever wonder why “kitchen parties” naturally occur in them every time you have guests?
Well, it’s because the kitchen is the hub of every home. It’s where we get nourishment, refreshment, gather and regroup after a busy day. It is a room with real value for every family. At Re/Max we’ve learned that kitchen upgrades can really deliver, with a 44 per cent higher return on investment over the average return on other popular rooms you might consider.
Stainless steel appliances continue to hold a lot of interest. In cabinetry, look at fine-grained maple, stained or natural. Laminates and marble are great choices for countertops, but granite continues to be the most popular surface of all. Check out the latest fixtures in today’s new, brushed nickel finishes.
BATHROOMS – YOUR PERSONAL SPA
Today’s stress-filled world leaves us all crying out for rest and relaxation, making your bathroom the best it can be will generate a 56 per cent better return on investment than the average renovation.
The goal should be to create a spa-like environment in your bathroom by installing a soaker tub with relaxing jets, or perhaps a new steam shower stall.
*Buyer Behavior & Staging Impact
- A 2025 Investopedia summary of NAR data notes staging influences 60 % of buyers’ perceptions and that areas like living rooms and kitchens are among the most important rooms to stage.