5 Things That Will Make Your Home Stand Out on the MLS in Today’s Market

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions can make or break a sale. In today’s market, buyers are scrolling through dozens of listings in minutes, and they’ll decide whether to engage with your listing and ultimately visit your home based on those first few photos.

That’s where professional home staging makes all the difference. At Simple Spaces, we help Wilmington sellers transform their listings into showstoppers that attract attention, sell faster, and often for higher offers. In fact, according to local realtors who enlist our services, the properties we’ve staged for them have sold for 1% more than properties not staged.

Today, I’m sharing just a taste of my secrets. Here are five expert staging tips that will help your home stand out on the MLS and capture buyers’ attention.

1. Declutter Surfaces and Floors

One of the simplest, yet most powerful, ways to prepare your home for the market is to declutter. Clear countertops, open floors, and simplified shelves make every space look bigger, cleaner, and more inviting.

Buyers want to see the potential of a home, not the distractions of everyday life. If you’re still living in your home, pack away non-essentials and keep only what enhances the space. A little breathing room goes a long way.

2. Update with Current Décor to Refresh Dated Spaces

Even if your home has older finishes or furniture, you can instantly modernize it with current décor and styling. Swap out heavy drapes for light, airy curtains. Replace tired and out of date accent pillows with those that add color and style to the space. Add greenery or art in contemporary tones to create a cohesive, fresh look.

These small, strategic updates help buyers focus on your home’s potential, not its age — and that’s key to standing out in Wilmington’s competitive housing market.

3. Keep Just Enough Furniture — Not Too Much

In our 13 years of staging homes, excessive furniture is the number one thing we see in homes. The goal of home staging is to help buyers imagine themselves living comfortably in the space. Too much furniture makes a room feel cramped, while too little can make it feel cold or undefined.

A professional stager knows exactly how to strike that balance, creating flow, warmth, and purpose in every room. With the right scale and placement, your home will feel open, functional, and move-in ready.

4. Invest in Professional Photos

Once your home is beautifully staged, it deserves to be captured properly. Professional real estate photography ensures your listing looks as good online as it does in person. A photographer understands how to highlight natural light, space, and design details that stand out on the MLS and social media.

All of the realtors who hire me to do staging consultations also invest in professional photography. Again I will emphasize that a beautiful photo is what stops the scroll. If a space looks good but the photo is not, buyers will scroll on.

5. Let in the Natural Light

Light sells homes. Open blinds and curtains, remove dark window treatments, and make sure outdoor plants aren’t blocking sunlight. If a room lacks natural light, layer in warm, inviting lamps.

A bright, light-filled home feels spacious, cheerful, and welcoming, all emotions that help buyers fall in love.

BONUS: The Biggest Thing That Makes a Home Stand Out

All of these details matter — but the biggest thing that makes a home stand out in today’s market is working with a professional staging company.

At Simple Spaces, we offer a range of services to help your home shine:

  • Staging consultations with a customized checklist, so you know exactly what to do to get your home MLS-ready.

  • Staging and styling services that go beyond the checklist. We execute the checklist for you so that you don’t have to worry about the stress and time involved.

  • Decluttering and packing support to simplify your move and maximize visual space.

  • Photo day support, so that you can relax, go to work, and let us handle getting your home picture perfect on your day of photos.

Our expertise helps your home make a lasting impression — and that can mean faster sales and stronger offers.

Ready to Make Your Listing Stand Out?

If you’re a realtor in Wilmington, NC, we want to connect with you and discuss how we can add value to your listings and support the hard work you do. If you’re a seller, we’d love to connect with you and your realtor to discuss how we can partner in preparing to sell your home. Whether you need a full home stage or a customized checklist, our team will help your space stand out on the MLS and attract serious buyers.

Fill out a contact request and Melissa will contact you to set up your home staging consultation in Wilmington, NC.

Explore our staging services page for more detailed information on the services we provide.

Check out our portfolio for images of local homes we’ve staged in Wilmington, NC, Leland, NC, and Hampstead, NC.

Happy Staging, Styling, and Organizing

~Melissa