The goal is to make it easy for buyers to imagine living there. Before each showing: make all beds, clear kitchen and bathroom countertops completely, remove pet items and odors (one of the most common reasons buyers pass on homes), open all blinds, turn on every light, set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature.
Vacate during showings — buyers are much more candid with their agent when the seller isn’t present, and candid buyers make faster decisions. Don’t leave valuables, prescriptions, or financial documents visible. NAR’s staging research shows professionally staged homes sell 73% faster than non-staged homes and for up to 10% more.