Selling tips: How to stage your house

If you’ve ever walked into an open house and had your breath taken away by the gorgeous furniture and art, chances are that house was staged. That’s the term for professional services that help home sellers declutter and decorate their properties to appeal to the widest range of buyers, and garner a higher selling price in less time, says Gary Morse, president of the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Stagers charge about $250 for a single consultation. If you need to borrow furniture or accessories, or would prefer the stager’s team to do the actual work of moving things around, the fee will climb accordingly.

You can also try staging yourself. The most critical things to do are hiding razors, toothbrushes and used soaps; using rooms for their intended purpose (so turn that playroom back into a dining room); and removing evidence of pets.