How to Stage Your Home Like a Million Dollar Listing on a Budget

Brand new white towels in the bath really freshens up the bathroom.

This may seem like a dumb question Where do you put all the stuff you removed?

I love this for everyday living in general. Why not treat yourself to the spa home? The clutter just stresses me out. I call it clutter creep because one thing leads to another. Most of the time I don’t realize the impact it has on me until after I put everything in its place. Ahhhh. Clean and fresh are key. Dust is a pet peeve. Clean the cabinets and light switches. TY Valentina. I am new to your channel and love your content.

Id love a video with tips on how to shoot magazine style vs realtor style

May I please have the kitchen cabinet paint color. Thank you!

As a realtor I prefer photos with lights on - I have noticed that Architectural Digest has started using photos lights off - not a fan

Question: What scents (and products) do you recommend to use to make the home smell amazing? (I like sugar cookie for the kitchen),....... the house I'm listing is 4000+ sq feet...I think I could have another scent or two in specific areas. (like primary bedroom , upstairs, hall bath). Do you recommend reed or oil diffusers?, candles? or ? (I 100% agree about the plus ins! Brilliant tip!) LOVE your channel! I"m a reatlor in Dallas, TX, I have used your tips with my clients and for my own home. You are spot-on, and so much fun! Thanks!

Where are those black shelves from on your kitchen wall? Love them

I love your house with all the gorgeous windows!! Great tips ty

Great ideas! Your home is "styled" so beautifully ❤

Great advice! We recently sold as the market was going down, we did all of that, even renting a space to put things we wanted in our new place that we’re adding to a cluttered home, I’m an artist, my husband a musician (works in a winery)so between us we have a lot of stuff. I updated the bathroom light fixture, all the other bathroom necessities and kept one new towel and new hand towel on the ring. Cleaned,cleaned and then some more, fill holes from pictures, repainted, all of what you said. Oh yes I have glass doors in my built in china cabinet and so it was suggested to take out all the colourful things that were distracting, it looked great. I was still dealing with the remainder of double pneumonia so it was hard. But when all was said and done, our realtors were over the moon. They said it would take probably a month, I said I think 10 days. It sold in 8, we got our asking and I’m sure in a wavering market we did well! A couple of times, hubby thought I was going overboard in the end he appreciated that it was all worth it. $$$. I hope they listen to you, it will save them thousands and in a falling market you want your to be on the top of the list.

I have so enjoyed your video and had a good few laughs. Loved your remarks about the toilet. The lid needs to be down as well as the seat! It is a pet peeve of mine and I have a framed request in the guest bathroom. 'Put the lid down before flushing and leave it down'. I will take that frame away before we show our house of course.

A home scent question for you Valentina haha If we don't use the plug-in scents...what do we use? I totally agree with you that they're gross! But what if we can't be there to light the candles? Would you then opt for reed diffusers and maybe even electric ones too? Please and thank you for your help!

People think they’ve decluttered when they could and ought to remove about 75%more.
They could spend 75% more time cleaning and $75 more bucks buying a few plants for inside and the front steps/porch.

For a million plus, listing should the dining table be staged with pretty dishes or napkins/rings etc?
Or just a centerpiece?
Thanks!!
Love all your videos!!❤

My husband and I bought a house in 2022. The hosing making was so crazy at the time. Homes were on the market one day and sold the next. It was extremely stressful buying process. My husband and I had to look at home that were on the market for a long time because we kept getting beat out for homes because our competion was NOT getting a home inspection. One house we toured had stuff everywhere. The seller every had dirty panties on the laundry room floor.

I agree completely - in theory. And I know this video is old, but I laughed when you said overstuffed drawers, closets, whatever tell buyers there isn't enough room. 🤔 Uh...yeah...maybe that's why the family is moving???? 🤣😂 Because they need a bigger home! Seriously though, I get what you're saying, but some buyer's expectations are just unrealistic. Plus I'm sure it depends on the market. If it's a seller's market, then many of these ideas can be forgotten. During Covid (and even now) I've heard in my Midwest area that people are buying homes site unseen except for online anyway. They are snatching them up long distance - which I can't imagine ever doing but I guess it happens more than I realize according to an old friend who is a local real estate agent.

Having written all that, this video has somewhat focused on the smaller details. That is great and I'm not criticizing, but what I saw in online listings when I was searching for homes is how many people seem to LOVE lots of migraine-inducing color schemes and decor. To me, THAT is a much bigger turn-off than a cereal box in a pantry. I'm referring to bright red walls with yellow sofas and different color pillows 🤮 I am much more into a neutral palate and can not believe how many people's tastes are just so busy and hideous. I'm no minimalist in terms of items...I love books and pillows and candles and plants and objects, etc... but in terms of color, I like white walls (or charcoal or black like some of your newer videos) and neutral furniture and decor items. Again, when I was house hunting, I was shocked at how many homes I saw that I turned down because my brain could not forget the image of their wild colors I saw online. I couldn't even PICTURE the home WITH my color aesthetic so I told my realtor NO WAY - I WON'T EVEN WASTE A MINUTE OF MY TIME IN THAT HIDEOUS HOUSE! I have a retired Aunt who was a real estate agent from the 1970s through the 1990s and she said they used to tell people get everything mostly monochromatic. Paint the walls white and remove lots of decor and knick knacks and junk if they EVER want to sell. But now it seems the housing market has relaxed on all that and it doesn't matter 🙄 I think about those hideous houses that I wouldn't even go look at and wonder if they ever sold. I suppose it would take a buyer who was either desperate or liked those colors themselves or had an eye way different than mine - eyes and a brian that could visualize beyond that mess of noncohesive color scheme. I need an Excedrin just THINKING about it. Anyway, sorry to go on, but those houses that assault your senses are the worst! I'm not sure if you have a video about all that, but it might be a good one. I'm betting you'd agree.

Excellent info for preparing your home for showings! Much is common sense, but some things had not even occurred to me. I think it’s just a nice way to present your home to guests.

Thank you, Valentina!!❤ I followed as much of this advice as I could, and we had an offer on the house within 2 days of listing on Zillow!!

I have been having a lot of issues with your links to products. Usually it brings up an entirely different product.

Amen……..I bought a condo with beautiful design and furniture……..look slick and airy……..great tips………❤

I can guarantee you staging is the most important part of selling your home. My realtor did not know how to stage a home and so I had to do it myself. But it worked out for us! I sold my home in 2004, not only did the buyers take the house but all my furniture and the photos on the wall. We left the house with only our kitchen essentials and our clothing. So we had to buy all new furniture and accessories for the new house.

If I could do all these things I would never move. Lol!

How do you feel about placing an area rug over carpet in a small livingroom

Extremely helpful and informational guide to staging! Thank you!

This was great information. My biggest issue is how to make my small(er) basic bathroom with a small shower and separate garden tub look bigger and more inviting?

What do you do if Seller is not willing to invest in renovation or staging?

Thanks for the great tips! Our house has been on the market for a few months and my friend suggested we home stage. I really liked your video and will definitely try all your suggestions! We thought we did a good job but looks like we have even more work to do.

Don't some ppl think you're trying to cover up a bad smelling house when u burn candles?

One of ur best videos!! TY so much!!

Beautiful house! Amazing video! My bf and I purchased an old house that was smaller than all the other newer houses on the block because we thought we’d keep it for a long time and work on it. But we realized it’s still too big for us and We mistakenly bought a house for an envisioned future, not our current lifestyle. Now I am struggling to figure out how to sell an old house. We aren’t handy, we are tired and just want to sell it without updating/renovating (I.e., older carpet, linoleum floors, laminate counters, popcorn ceiling, wall paneling, etc.). We’d even be willing to sell for less. My biggest fear is that it won’t sell and we will be stuck with it 😂 That’s what keeps me up at night.

Your hair! So gorgeous here. Great advice!

You have so many useful tips!! I’ve been house shopping and wished a lot of homes watched this LOL. Thank you!

Brilliant video!

The term “million dollar listing” is hilarious in the current economy. A million dollars gets you a shack on 1/10 acre in Miami.

Oh my goodness I have watched and watch zzzzz

Hi, Valentina! Are there any updates to this list that you and your husband would add for 2022?

I'm late to the party here but loving your content! We're getting ready to sell our house. Our downstairs windows have no blinds on them. The light is fabulous but we live in a typical suburban subdivision so there are neighbors in the back. Should we go to the expense of installing blinds and then just pull them up at sale time or not bother?

“Q-Tip clean”.
I’ve sold 5 houses over my lifetime and they’ve all had offers over the asking price the first day.
Best advice is to have everything so clean that no dirt would show up if I ran a cotton swab over it.
That means window tracks, door jams, light bulbs, drawers, etc, all have to be spotless.
Before professional pictures are taken, take a photo of each room yourself. You will see the bed skirt is dragging , the lampshade is crooked. Fix those things now!
Set out a bag of tangerines on the table, and then get Orange Scent and spray a bit. Everyone will associate that clean scent to the oranges on the counter. Good luck.
This video is a great one to share with anyone who wants to sell for top dollar. Thanks for the hard work!

LOVE THIS VIDEO! TY

This was the most helpful video I’ve watched - THANK YOU

How does one display family photos without putting on wall?

Great tips! I need to write these down. It's the little things that add up to make an impact. Thank you! :)

Love the video.
I have a question about kitchen cabinets, do you add a toe kick or not.
I like cabinets without it .

Great advice

I sell in Texas, and I tell sellers to hide the dog bed under their bed, and take kitty litter boxes to the garage before showings. Remove the pets if at all possible. And take a laundry basket (or 2) around the house to pick up "daily stuff" like extra shoes, daily mail, etc. and take it to the car as you leave for the showing so you aren't filling up cabinets and drawers. And before leaving for work each day, tell yourself you have a showing so you're always ready if an agent wants to pop by and bring a buyer. Don't forget the back patio. Make a "moment" where a buyer can envision themselves enjoying the yard. Rug, furniture, pillows, etc. for the perfect backyard space. Less is more, but sterile is also a turnoff. Excellent tips, Valentina !

Yes this is true my son just bought a house in another state and the pictures exaggerated I’m not talking about staging with decor well maybe a little took pictures to make house look bigger then it was really a lot smaller wood floor had to be redone plus had the gull to ask for 3,000 more when houses were already overpriced at this time and they did it because they had been looking over a year greedy people sure you want to get more but when your already getting above price worth and then mb bath tub has a hole in it that has to be repaired or replaced thanks Zillow I admit his Zillow real estate agent should have told them more then she did ? Greed also ???? Disappointed but stayed out of it they didnot tell me and I’m invested also I like it but the people in this world and it was pretty dirty not cleaned I cleaned mine and prepared to it’s best ability