FrontDoor's Real Estate Do's and Dont's

If you have an extra room with a hodgepodge of uses, clear out the clutter and stage it for one purpose, such as a home office.

Bonus Room and Office Staging Tips

Stage rooms with one purpose so buyers will know what it is.

Potential buyers are confused by extra rooms that have a mishmash of uses. To avoid this problem, first clear away clutter and excess furniture. Paint the walls a neutral tone and then furnish the room with a desk to stage it as a home office in which buyers will want to get down to business.

The simple addition of a comfortable armchair, a small table and a lamp in a stairwell nook will transform it into a cozy reading spot, Russell suggests. Or drape fabric on the walls of your basement, lay inexpensive rubber padding or a carpet remnant on the floor and toss in a few cushy pillows. Voila! Your new meditation room or yoga studio.

Don't forget to stage your storage space, too!

Resist the temptation to shove clutter into closets -- buyers will be opening all your closet doors during showings. It's a good idea to clear out unnecessary clutter, and organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have. Plus, it gives you a chance to start packing, as you will definitely be moving once buyers see all that closet space.

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