Home Staging Checklist

Who this is for

Get the home ready for photos and viewings. Work through each area, ticking off the jobs that apply and noting anything that costs money. A short list at the end covers the few minutes before every viewing.

Sellers preparing a home for the market, whether they are living in it, have already moved out, or are selling on behalf of someone else.

What this helps you track

• The jobs to do outside and at the entrance
• Room-by-room preparation for living areas, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms
• Garden jobs and small repairs that are easy to forget
• A quick routine before each viewing

How to use it

1. Write the property, the date of the photographs and the first viewing at the top.
2. Walk round with the sheet and cross out any items that do not apply to your home.
3. Tick jobs off as they are done, and keep a note of anything you buy so you know what the preparation came to.
4. Aim to finish the room lists before the photographer arrives.
5. Run through the before each viewing list every time someone is due, or print a copy for whoever is showing the home.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Do I need to do everything on the list?

No. It is a list of things sellers commonly do, not a standard. Cross out what does not apply, and add your own items in the browser version or in the margin.

Should I spend money on staging?

That is your decision. Many items cost nothing but time. Where something does cost money, write it down so you can decide whether it is worth it for your home.

What if I am still living in the home?

Focus on clearing surfaces, storing what you do not use every day and keeping the before each viewing list to hand. The room lists are designed to work while the home is lived in.