Staging on a Budget: Kitchen

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Real estate pros offer their best, most affordable staging ideas for kitchens.

Tease Their Noses

"I believe in appealing to all five senses of a buyer, including smell. I always put something in the oven like apple pie or fresh bread."

-Chad C. Caramanna, Shadetree Realty Group Inc., Fellsmere, Fla.

Accessorize

"Adding decorative items in the kitchen can warm up the area and make it more 'cozy'. Go to a thrift or resale shop and get great deals on glass items. Use a tray (wood, silver, glass, etc.) with two coffee cups and a small package of Starbucks coffee displayed between the cups, and pretty paper or cloth napkins. Also, find a large glass-or pottery bowl-and fill it with individual candies, pre-packaged crackers, pretzels, etc. It looks nice and each buyer who comes through can grab a snack from the bowl. It'll help them remember your listing."

-Trina Griffith, Summers Real Estate Group, Longview, Texas

Go Green

"If your listing has some green features (EnergyStar appliances, generator, double-paned windows, bamboo flooring), continue the theme with strategically placed soy candles, homemade guest soaps, and green cleaning products under the sink area. People will notice!"

-Peggy Edwards, green, Coldwell Banker, Tampa, Fla.

Published: March 2009 REALTOR magazine

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.