Home Stage Your Attic and Basement for a Better Impression

When people think of home staging, they naturally think of well-spaced-out groupings of furniture, artwork, and fresh flowers. However, staging isn't just for the lived-in areas of your home. Your basement and attic, though unused, should be staged so that their potential for a prospective home owner won't go unnoticed.

You don't have to renovate to make your less-travelled areas look their best. Clean them with the same care as you took with your living space. People expect attics and basements to be somewhat dusty and dirty. If you present a space that is clean and smells fresh, it makes the entire property seem newer and in better repair.

This is an excellent time to get rid of old possessions that are no longer of any use or interest for you. Whether it's a garage sale or a thrift store donation, get rid of them! For more unusual items, find out if your community has a Recycle Center that will take them. Many people are on the hunt for odd items and there is often a depot that will take these things for resale. Local charities also take many items, such as gently used furniture and clothing.

As for the remainder, utilize some plastic storage tubs or some shelving to store tools, out-of-season items and other things neatly out of the way. Make sure that the majority of the area can be accessed easily without a person having to step over or around anything. Stage your storage solutions carefully; they can contribute to the look of the area as a dry and safe place to store belongings.

Attics and basements can sometimes give people that "˜haunted house' feeling due to poor lighting. Avoid this impression by installing lights or placing lamps in dark corners, angled so they provide light without shining into the viewer's eyes. Any windows should be cleaned inside and out so that they let in as much natural light as possible. Basement windows can be obscured by shrubbery, so try to trim this away around windows.

You can also stage your attic or basement as a reading nook, recreation room or hobby area by placing things that evoke the image of comfort or amusement. A comfortable chair, bookcase and lamp will create a feeling of cozy afternoons with a book and a cup of tea or cocoa. If you have a work bench or table, highlight it in case a person who wants their own workshop comes to look at your property. A few bright posters, stereo system, table, chairs and a shelf full of family board games and other amusements can create a recreation room with little or no outlay of money.

The point of all of this is to open your prospective buyer's eyes to the possibilities inherent in your attic and/or basement, which can make them into selling points for your home. With a lot of cleaning and a little staging, these seldom-used areas of your home can end up being the reason a buyer makes an offer for your home.