When preparing your home for sale, everyone knows the basics - tidy the kitchen, make the beds, mow the lawns.
But in today’s market, where buyers view dozens (hundreds) of listings online before deciding which ones to see in person, you need more than just ‘tidy’ to make your home stand out. Presentation is everything.
Successful staging is about understanding how buyers think and creating a space that feels effortless, welcoming, and full of possibility. It’s not simply about cleaning, it’s a strategy.
In a competitive market, that feeling - that instant emotional pull - is often what motivates buyers to take the next step. And when done well, it can increase offers, shorten days on market, and elevate your property above competing listings. Here’s why preparing your home thoroughly matters, and how staging, decluttering, and thoughtful presentation can make it stand out, for all the right reasons.
Why decluttering matters
Before you even make that first call to your real estate agent, decluttering is one of the most valuable steps you can take. Think of it as getting a head start on moving - but also as giving your home the chance to shine without distractions.
Buyers aren’t just looking at your walls and floors; they’re imagining themselves living in the space. But that’s hard to do when the home is full of personal collections, kids’ artwork, overflowing bookshelves, or busy benchtops.
A pared-back environment creates a sense of calm and spaciousness. It also provides a more accurate sense of the home’s layout, flow, and storage - all things buyers consider carefully.
Pictured: Linda Fogarty, Canterbury and West Coast Sales Manager
According to PGG Wrightson Real Estate’s Canterbury and West Coast Sales Manager Linda Fogarty, the effort you put into preparing your home before the first photos are taken can make a world of difference. But decluttering doesn’t mean stripping the home bare.
“You do need to remove clutter,” she says, “however it’s also important to not take all of the personality out of the home. People need to feel it’s a home and imagine themselves living there.”
The goal is to balance being warm, inviting, and lived in - but not messy or overly personal.
The power of staging - help buyers imagine their future
Staging is one of the most effective tools in modern real estate marketing, especially in a digital-first landscape where buyers scroll listings quickly. A staged home looks more polished in photographs and evokes a lifestyle that resonates emotionally.
“If the home is empty or has minimal furnishings, you need to stage it, as it can be very hard to sell a bare house” Linda says.
From showcasing the scale and purpose of each room, to highlighting lifestyle features, intentional styling and staging can make your home feel warmer and more welcoming, create standout photos that get views online and help buyers emotionally connect with your property.
Staging is about clarity, not quantity. Ask yourself whether your couch shows how large the living room is, or does it shrink it? Does this sideboard help buyers understand the room’s layout, or block flow? Does this rug pull the space together, or make it feel busy?
Buyers notice ease of movement. A home that flows well feels bigger, calmer, and more valuable. Even partial staging - a few well-chosen pieces to elevate the main rooms - can make a big difference.
Common mistakes property owners make
From Linda’s experience, many sellers don’t prepare properly for the all-important photoshoot. And while small, these oversights can make a big dent in a buyer’s first impression.
“I sometimes see dishes left in the sink, towels on the floor, weedy gardens and long lawns,” she says.
Want to avoid missing any crucial elements when readying your house to put its best face forward?
- Don’t leave personal items visible:Make sure you hide washing baskets, toiletries, pet beds, toys, and paperwork.
- Clean thoroughly: Buyers will notice smudged walls, dusty shelves, or sticky surfaces.
- Consider street appeal: Don’t forget to mow the lawns, trim hedges, weed the garden, and remove clutter around the entry.
- Fix the ‘little things’: A dripping tap or chipped paint sends the wrong message - that a house hasn’t been properly looked after there will be money to spend on the property when they move in.
- Clear the cupboards: Buyers will look inside and messy storage gives the impression of limited space.
Remember that simplicity and tidiness go a long way.
Creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere
A well-presented home doesn’t just look appealing - it feels appealing. That emotional response is often what turns casual browsers into motivated buyers.
Small touches can elevate buyer experience:
- Fresh, matching linen on beds
- New cushions or throws on the couch
- A vase of greenery or seasonal flowers
- Soft lighting to brighten darker areas
- Clean, neutral-smelling interiors
- A warm fire in winter or open doors in summer
You’re not just selling a house - you’re selling a lifestyle.
You know your likely buyer best: whether they’re a family, downsizers, professionals, or someone seeking a lifestyle change. If possible, tailor your staging to highlight features they’ll value most.
Why professional photography matters
Buyers scroll through listings with incredible speed - often giving a home just a few seconds before deciding whether to click. This makes professional photography absolutely crucial.
“You have three seconds to get people’s attention on websites or social media,” Linda says.
“People often look for a reason not to buy a property, so you need to give your listing the best chance of getting people physically through the door.”
High-quality photos and virtual tours:
- Highlight the home’s strengths
- Make your listing stand out in crowded feeds
- Present a clean, bright, spacious feel
- Encourage more buyers to book a viewing
- Create confidence through accuracy and clarity
When combined with thoughtful staging, professional imagery not only attracts more buyers - it elevates the perceived value of your property.
Small investments, big impact
You don’t need to spend a fortune to improve your home’s appeal. Many effective updates cost little or nothing, like new cushions or throws, updating a shower head or toilet seat, repainting walls, adding a few indoor plants, buying coordinated duvet covers and pillows and swapping out tired curtains. And of course, most of these items can be taken with you to your new home!
Sometimes, all you need is a bit of ‘elbow grease’ to take care of things such as water blasting decks and driveways, tidying sheds and outdoor storage, weeding gardens and wiping down windowsills, skirting boards and all visible surfaces (including windows) and cabinetry.
These small touches show buyers the home has been well cared for - a major drawcard in any market.
Top tip 1. Declutter by lifestyle, not just by room
Most people declutter room by room, but buyers don’t see your home that way. They experience it as a lifestyle. Instead of asking, “What can I remove from this space?” ask yourself “What lifestyle does this room need to represent?”
For example:
- A spare bedroom shouldn’t feel like a storage zone - stage it as a hobby room, home office, or nursery.
- A dining area stacked with paperwork should only show one purpose: gathering and eating.
- A sunroom becomes much more appealing if it communicates ‘quiet morning coffee spot’ rather than ‘place things get dumped’.
- Align every room with a lifestyle your ideal buyer desires, and your home will feel more cohesive and intentional.
Top tip 2. Remove 30% more than you think you need to
Here’s an insider secret from professional stagers - once you think you’ve decluttered enough, remove 30% more.
Why? Because we all become blind to our own possessions. What might feel ‘minimal’ to you probably still feels full to a buyer who’s seeing the home for the first time. And this extra reduction creates visual space, emotional space and the feeling of possibility.
Top tip 3. Curate meaningful personality
Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home - but they also want the home to feel warm and inviting. That’s why a minimal aesthetic isn’t the end goal.
For example, in the living space, keep 3 to 5 subtle, universal personality pieces such as a beautiful ceramic bowl, a coffee table book, a textured throw, a leafy plant and a piece of neutral artwork.
These hints of personality make the space feel loved without overwhelming buyers with your story.
Give your home its best chance to shine
Preparing your property for sale takes time, but the return on that investment is clear. A tidy, staged, carefully presented home attracts more interest, photographs better, and creates an emotional pull that can drive stronger offers.
The better your property looks - inside, outside, and online - the more confident buyers feel, and the more successful your sale is likely to be.
We’ve sold our fair share of properties right across New Zealand and our experienced agents are always happy to offer their advice and knowledge when it comes to staging your home for sale. Give us a call today - we’re here to help with your tomorrow.
Related posts
Back to News & Publications
