Home staging a pantry can help to improve the kitchen space in any home. In fact, staging practices should always be used to optimize the value of a pantry in any type of residential real estate offering.
Pantries come in 3 main varieties. There are walk-in pantries that are the food storage equivalent of a walk-in closet. There are also smaller versions of a pantry that are simple normal closets which are set up for food storage. Finally, there are unenclosed panties that consist of dedicated food storage shelving which is exposed to the rest of the room. Regardless of which type of pantry may be contained in your kitchen, it is vital to present the space as a useful property asset. Therefore, there are specific staging techniques that can be utilized to impart the most value to any pantry area of the home.
This tutorial instructs home sellers on the best way to organize and beautify their pantry prior to listing their parcel of real estate for sale on the competitive market.
Home Staging a Walk-In or Standard Pantry
Walk-in panties and standard pantries are real buyer-pleasers, as long as they are well-staged and convenient to the rest of the kitchen. In fact, buyers consistently rate walk-in pantries as common wish-list criteria for their dream kitchens.
A walk-in pantry is basically a walk-in closet that is geared exclusively towards food storage. Meanwhile, a standard pantry is a simple, non-walk-in version of the closet used for food storage. Both varieties should be located in the actual kitchen itself, or immediately off the kitchen proper.
Pantries that are located far from the kitchen, or even on a different floor than the kitchen, are far less useful and unattractive to prospective buyers. Therefore, if your pantry is far removed from the kitchen, it might be best to convert it to a different use in the staging plan, since its perceived value will be suspect anyway.
Properly located standard and walk-in pantries should always be staged in order to maximize their appeal to buyers using the following simple steps:
The door should not exit into busy traffic patterns within the home and should open and close easily and silently.
The pantry should not be moist or extreme in temperature, such as too hot or too cold. This can compromise its storage effectiveness and lead to food spoilage.
Shelves, bins and baskets should be perfectly organized, in working order and aesthetically arranged. Everything should be accessible and the overall presentation of the space should be both functional and beautiful.
Obviously, the area should be super clean and free from insects, debris and unpackaged food items.
Ideally, flooring should be nonporous and simple, without a rug or carpet.
Be sure that the pantry is well lit. It is best to install lighting that automatically illuminates when the door is opened, as well as automatic lights on all the main shelving areas.
Home Staging a Simple Shelving Pantry
A simple shelf pantry is unenclosed, but otherwise mimics the functionality of any other type of pantry. Some of these open pantries are huge, encompassing more than one wall, while others are little more than several convenient shelves that are reserved for food item storage.
Open pantries are more difficult to sell as being valuable, since they tend to make the area look cluttered and unkempt. Therefore, it takes extra effort to make an open pantry into a buyer-pleasing feature. Ideally, the following techniques should always be applied to optimize the usefulness and attractiveness of an open pantry space:
Do not clutter the shelves with too many items. Instead, artistically arrange just the basics to show usefulness, without compromising the aesthetics of the space. Think “kitchen art” more than actual storage potential here.
Do not display any item that is unappealing to the eye. Stick to beautiful containers of food and kitchen tools that will enhance the space, since they will be openly visible in the room. Think imported oils and spices, rather than day-to-day packaged foods.
Be sure that all shelves are within reach and remain clean, dusted and well organized throughout the sales process.
Utilize covered storage containers to make the most of space and to maintain an organized look and feel that buyers will love.
Home Staging a Pantry Checklist
Before thinking that your pantry is ready to receive potential buyers, make sure to double check this to-do list and be certain that it is in full compliance:
Use shelf paper or cushioning foam to line each storage level. Purchase a variety of cheap coordinating covered storage solutions from your local dollar store.
Be mindful of odors that might accumulate in a pantry. Remove any strong or offensive smelling food items.
Do not clutter your pantry with too many stored items. You are selling your home, not stocking up for the next apocalypse. Be sure to place unused items in storage and only display a selection of nice looking food items and cooking tools in the space.
If you have a closet or walk-in closet style pantry, use eye-level shelves to arrange the most aesthetic selection of goods, and the upper and lower areas to store kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Always keep open-style pantries minimally stocked for best appearance.
If you follow these simple rules for home staging your pantry, you will have buyers lining up to make offers, since they will recognize the value of the space and its importance within the heart of your home.
