4 Essential Steps to Cottage Staging

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A staged cottage is an ideal listing and marketing tool, it allows buyers to focus on the positive features of the property rather than the things in it. Below are 4 essential steps to staging your cottage this spring.

1 – Start Outdoors – Enhance curb appeal or in our area “Shoreline Appeal”

What your property looks like from the outside is a prospective buyers’ first impression. Here are some things you can do to ensure their first impression is an impressive one!

  • Mow the lawn, make sure the walkways and pathways are free of clutter and debris
  • Power wash the exterior of your home or cottage, sidewalk, deck & docks
  • Weed & mulch gardens, clean up fire pits, rake up debris around the property
  • Ensure docks, ramps, and decks are in good repair and replace any damaged or warped boards – think safety for visitors
  • it’s OK to drag out your Muskoka chairs, even if there’s still snow
  • Create an inviting deck or porch – add furniture, planters, etc

2 – Scrub and deodorize

Clean means different things to different people, make sure your house or cottage shines from top to bottom.

  • Clean windows and scrub out sliding glass door & window tracks. Wipe down baseboards, dust off ceiling fans and remove cobwebs from corners and behind furniture.
  • Sweep the garage, basement and crawl spaces
  • Remove rodent traps and clean up any excrement
  • Open up your home – Nothing gives a house and cottage a fresh spring feel like open blinds and window coverings. Open the windows for some fresh Georgian Bay air

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3 – Clear away clutter Where Possible

Clutter collects around the house and cottage that may not be evident to the homeowner but stands out to prospective buyers

  • Clean off shelves and counter tops,
  • Clean out ‘junk’ drawers, closets, attics and basements,
  • Clean up all around the house or cottage, garages, outbuildings,  crawl spaces and under foundations
  • Put things in boxes or bins and neatly stack them in the corner of the garage. Anything extra should go in a small, rented storage unit.
  • Rent a Garbage bin if needed for refuge removal  – it may be cheaper than 20 trips to the dump

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4 – Rearrange and neutralize rooms

Each room in the home or cottage should have a distinct, useful purpose. They should be neat, organized and cleanly decorated.

  • Arrange furniture in an open and inviting way.
  • Bright, floral colors are perfect for spring—and throw pillows are the perfect opportunity to introduce these hints of color to a home
  • Change bedding and pillows – replace winter bedding with lighter, brighter bedding
  • Utilize flowers – Spring bouquets, flower arrangements and  potted plants  bring life to a room.
  • Brighten up the bathrooms – Add some spring to bathrooms by accenting white towels with Bight spring shade. This will give your bathroom a light, cheerful feel

Clean and smelling fresh are paramount!!

Don’t have time for this cleaning and maintenance yourself?? There are many local businesses in the area that would be glad to do the work for you. Speak to your neighbours to see who they use or ask your Real estate agent for recommendations.

Need to add some new patio furniture to spruce up an empty deck, or a new light fixture to brighten up bland room? Normans Garden Gallery in Midland and Home & Cottage Interiors in Coldwater are filled with everything you need to freshen up a drab cottage inside and out. While in Coldwater, also check out  Off The Beaten Path, Shelly B’s/Pine Cove Gallery,  Back In Thyme and Wyley Gray & Co. for unique décor items for the home, cottage and garden.

 

Follow us on Pinterest for more project ideas and cottage related tips.

 

For tips and information on cottages for sale in the Georgian Bay and Muskoka area, please see our website georgianbaycottages.com or call 705-756-7629.