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Sherri Williams, Realtor with RealtySouth in Birmingham, in her home staging room. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

When it comes to selling a home, first impressions are everything. One of the most effective ways to make your listing stand out and sell quickly is smart and strategic staging.

But what exactly does that mean and how do you do it right?

To learn more, we caught up with Sherri Williams, a seasoned Realtor with RealtySouth and a true home-staging enthusiast. She’s staged over 100 homes across the Greater Birmingham Area, and a with a staging room in her home that looks like it was lifted straight from of a home design magazine, she clearly knows how to make a space shine.

Here are her top tips for staging your home like a pro.

1. Trust your Realtor’s advice

Realtors walk through dozens of homes each week, and with just one stroll through yours, they can spot exactly what will help or hurt its chances of selling.

“You only have one shot at a first impression. You want a Realtor that will be honest with you about what needs to be done to make your home show at its best.”
Sherri Williams, Realtor, RealtySouth

While it may be hard to take their advice to paint, remove personal mementos or make certain changes before listing, these experts know all the tricks to helping you land the best deal for your beloved home.

2. Decorate with discernment

RealtySouth staging room — Pillows are a Realtor’s best friend when staging a home. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

It’s astounding how much we accumulate in our homes. Let’s be honest, if you don’t want to see it, neither do others.

Pillows and soft furnishings, for example, help create a soft, relaxing vibe—your antique cuckoo clock or porcelain frog collection doesn’t.

When staging your home, Sherri says to think “less is more, especially in the kitchen.”

“Put away small appliances that aren’t used daily. Clear counters create a sense of space and give buyers the clean, open feel they crave.”
Sherri Williams, Realtor, RealtySouth

3. Depersonalize your space

Is your home filled with family portraits? While they add a personal and warm touch for everyday living, it’s best to tuck them away when staging your home to sell. This helps potential buyers envision themselves in the space.

“Buyers want to imagine themselves living in your home, not like they are a visitor. Remove personal photos and bold decor that might distract from the overall space.”
Sherri Williams, Realtor, RealtySouth

4. Consider how each room will be showcased in photos

Staging your home isn’t just about potential buyers visiting your home in person. It’s also about how it will look in photos. Think about how many homes you have checked out online. You were drawn to the ones with the best photos, right?

Check out some pics of homes on the market now with RealtySouth and you’ll get the idea.

Before staging a home, Sherri and her team take before photos to map out a personalized plan. Then they bring in items from their curated staging inventory or go shopping at local home stores for essentials like:

Elegant bedding
Neutral pillows
Subtle pops of color with candles or vases
Tasteful lamps

“We go into a home, make tweaks and open up a space through neutrals and light accents. It completely changes how a room feels.”
Sherri Williams, Realtor, RealtySouth

She’s not kidding! Sherri showed me some before and after photos of spaces she has staged and the changes were stunning.

Take a look for yourself in the slideshow below.