A Picture-Perfect Flip: How to Stage for Maximum Impact

By Carissa Kristoff
Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties

If you’ve recently completed a home flip, congratulations on your hard work! Now comes the fun part—showing off your property to potential buyers. Whether you’re working with a seasoned investor or a first-time homebuyer, staging your flip correctly is a key factor in creating the “wow” factor that encourages buyers to fall in love with the home. 

After 19 years in real estate, I can tell you that staging is one of the most effective tools for attracting serious buyers and closing a deal quickly. Let me walk you through some key staging tips that will set your flip apart and make sure your hard work truly shines.

Why Staging Matters: First Impressions Count

In today’s competitive real estate market, buyers are looking for more than just a place to live; they want a home that feels ready to move into and reflects their taste and lifestyle. Staging is your opportunity to showcase the property’s best features and make it feel like home for potential buyers. A well-staged home can increase its perceived value, reduce its time on the market, and potentially even lead to multiple offers.

1. Highlight Key Features: Accentuate the Positive

The goal of staging is to let buyers see themselves living in the space. Start by highlighting the home’s key selling points. Whether it’s an open floor plan, large windows with great views, or a spacious backyard, make sure these features stand out.

  • Furniture Placement: Arrange furniture to create a natural flow and draw attention to architectural details like fireplaces or vaulted ceilings.
  • Lighting: Brighten up the space by ensuring that rooms are well-lit. Open the blinds, add lamps if necessary, and choose light fixtures that complement the home’s style.

2. Neutralize the Space: Keep It Universal

While bold colors might be your personal preference, buyers are often looking for a blank canvas where they can envision their style. Neutral tones—think whites, beiges, grays—allow potential buyers to mentally “move in” without distractions.

  • Walls and Floors: Freshly painted walls and refinished hardwood floors provide a neutral backdrop, making the space feel inviting.
  • Decor: Use accessories like throw pillows, rugs, and artwork to subtly add personality without overwhelming the space.

3. Maximize Curb Appeal: Don’t Forget the Outdoors

The exterior of the home is the first thing potential buyers will see, so it’s essential to make a strong first impression. Curb appeal can set the tone for the entire showing.

  • Landscaping: Maintain the lawn, trim bushes, and plant colorful flowers or greenery. Even small touches like adding a welcome mat or updating the front door hardware can make a difference.
  • Exterior Maintenance: Power wash the siding, clean gutters, and make sure the driveway and walkways are clear of debris.

4. Depersonalize and Declutter: Let the Buyers Imagine Themselves

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen in flips is leaving behind personal items or excess clutter that makes it harder for buyers to picture themselves in the space. The key to successful staging is creating a neutral environment where buyers can mentally move in.

  • Personal Items: Remove family photos, personalized decorations, and anything that might make the space feel too “lived in.”
  • Declutter: Keep countertops clean and remove excess furniture. This will allow the space to feel larger and more inviting.

5. Add the Right Finishing Touches: Small Details Make a Big Impact

It’s often the smallest details that leave the biggest impression. Once you’ve cleaned and arranged everything, step back and take a critical look at the space. Do the rooms feel welcoming? Is the overall aesthetic cohesive?

  • Fresh Flowers and Plants: A vase of fresh flowers or a few indoor plants can add warmth and life to any room.
  • Fresh Towels and Bedding: In bathrooms and bedrooms, fresh towels, linens, and bedding can make the space feel clean and luxurious.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Staging

Having worked in residential real estate for nearly two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful staging can be in the home-selling process. It doesn’t just help the property stand out in photos, which are often the first thing buyers see, but it also creates a vision of how the home can function and feel. A home that is staged well will sell faster and often for a higher price than one that isn’t.

By carefully staging your flip, you’ll be able to attract more buyers, create emotional connections, and ultimately close deals more quickly. With my background in real estate and hands-on experience with homeownership, I understand how staging can make a difference. It’s the little touches and thoughtful details that elevate a property from a house to a home.

About Carissa Kristoff

With 19 years in residential real estate, Carissa Kristoff has built a reputation for providing clarity and confidence throughout every stage of buying, selling, or leasing a home. As part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties team, she collaborates with seasoned brokers, agents, and administrators to secure optimal outcomes for her clients. Carissa’s work ethic is matched by her commitment to enjoying life: she’s an avid sailor, snow skier, and certified yoga instructor. She also brings a hands-on approach to homeownership, thanks to her background running a residential cleaning and management company, where she honed her DIY skills in gardening, painting, and decorating. Whether guiding a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, Carissa leverages her well-rounded experience to simplify the process and deliver top results.