12 Mistakes People Should Avoid When Staging Their Home

So your home décor is a little eccentric — so what? It shouldn’t matter what some random stranger thinks…unless that stranger is a potential buyer. Get Open House insights. Get REALTOR®.

1. Making a creepy doll collection the focal point.

Fox / Via arresteddevelopmentgifs.tumblr.com

These should be secondary statement pieces if anything.

2. Having a literal garbage pile for a housemate.

nate bolt (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Via Flickr: boltron

If a room is a junk room, it's hardly a room at all.

3. Displaying a giant collection of plastic grocery bags out in the open.

Jo Naylor (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: pandora_6666

Instead of stuffing them in a cabinet under the sink where they belong.

4. Using your bathroom as a shrine to hotel shampoos.

Barry Pousman (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: castle_life

Showcase that 🛁.

5. "Displaying" a "collection" of "collectables."

PROKate Brady (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: cliche

The odds of a buyer who also loves old jars? Unlikely.

6. Neglecting to spiff up that — err, um — grotto?

Alan Levine / (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: cogdog

A well-maintained outdoor space can help boost property value.

7. Modeling your landscaping after one of those "before" photos.

Michael Pereckas (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Via Flickr: beigephotos

The yard doesn't have to look like a magazine, but it could still look like a yard.

8. Celebrating Christmas way past Christmas.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/misocrazy/334687712/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/6552148197/

If the season is 🌞, pack up that 🎄.

9. Filling the house with the aroma of brussels sprout cookies.

slgckgc / (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: slgc

The odor may be off-putting, so stick with a traditional chocolate chip.

10. Not neutralizing your walls.

EvelynGiggles (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: evelynishere

Beige, tans, and grays are everyone's friend.

11. Too much taxidermy.

ryan harvey / (CC BY-SA 2.0) / Via Flickr: ryanh

All those dead heads can really take the life out of a room.

12. Literally this:

Pip R. Lagenta / (CC BY-ND 2.0) / Via Flickr: pip_r_lagenta

Don't let it happen to you.

When selling your home, don’t go it alone. Use a Realtor® and turn your listing from one of a million to one in a million.