Staging property for a flip.

[Jim Bruggenschmidt]

Here is a question I have for investors that flip several properties per year: Do you "stage" the property before you put it on the market? If so, do you rent furniture for every room in the house?

[Lou Castillo]

You don't need to put furniture in the house to stage it. I have tested both, and found that the furniture is not worth it unless you are going to go all out (think interior designer) and that just is not worth it for one house. Builders can do that to sell multiple houses from 1 staged property.

What you need to do is make the house feel more like a home than a rehab. Focus on the main areas that sell the house: Kitchen & Master Bath. Use floor rugs and towels to add color.  I like to open a bag of coffee beans in a decorative bowl to add aroma. I will also lay out a cutting board with piles of aromatic spices.

In the bath, decorate with decorative bottles, pot pourri, aromatic soaps. You can add bouquets of silk flowers if you use high end silks.

If you have a fireplace, decorate the mantle. You can place lean a large picture on the wall and decorate around it.

Yes...always stage before placing it on the market. You want your best foot forward.