Martha's Vineyard Home Staging

Jen Hawkins O'Hanlon, REALTOR®

06/11/25

The Rooms That Matter Most When You Sell

What Is Home Staging?

Home staging isn't about creating a magazine spread. It’s about helping your property feel welcoming, fresh, and move‑in ready—so potential buyers can envision themselves living there.

Whether you're making small cosmetic updates or opting for a full redesign, strategic staging is one of the most powerful tools to help your home stand out in today's market.


Why Staging Works: The Data Speaks

According to the National Association of Realtors®, staging offers a real return:

The most impactful rooms to stage, according to buyer agents, are:

  • Living room (37%)

  • Primary bedroom (34%)

  • Kitchen (23%)


The Key Rooms to Stage

You don’t have to stage your entire house. Focus your efforts—and your budget—on the spaces that carry the most weight. Living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens are where emotional connections happen. They help buyers imagine everyday life, relaxation, and family routines.

Dining areas, bathrooms, and entryways also contribute, while home offices and guest rooms typically rank lower in importance.


Personal Touch: Martha’s Vineyard Edition

On Martha’s Vineyard, where many buyers are looking for second homes or retreats, first impressions are everything. We often help sellers create a relaxed, coastal look that feels effortless—but shows care and detail.

Common staging suggestions include:

  • Removing window screens and having windows professionally cleaned to showcase Island views

  • Changing the front door color—think classic black, coastal navy, or a cheerful pop of sea glass green

  • Refreshing landscaping with native plants that thrive in coastal climates

  • Swapping out tired bedding for white or beach-toned linens that evoke breezy calm

  • Decluttering and depersonalizing for a clean, universal appeal


The O’Hanlon Group Covers Your Initial Consultation

We make staging easy by paying for your initial consultation with a local stager. When working with the O'Hanlon Group, you’ll receive a personalized list of recommendations that can range from simple DIY fixes to larger projects like painting or landscape updates.

Many sellers can tackle the smaller updates themselves—and we’re happy to help coordinate vendors for anything more involved.


Bigger Updates? Let Compass Concierge Help

For improvements that require more time or investment—like interior painting, exterior cleanup, lighting upgrades, or professional staging—we offer Compass Concierge. This program lets you:

  • Make impactful updates with no upfront costs

  • Pay for everything at closing

  • Work with vetted vendors and fast-track your listing preparation

  • Choose from dozens of approved service categories (including staging, landscaping, painting, deep cleaning, flooring, storage, and more)

It involves smart, strategic prep designed to help your home sell faster and for more. Learn more via Compass Concierge | Compass.


Bottom Line

Staging doesn’t need to be expensive or overwhelming. It just needs to be intentional. We’ll help you make smart choices that align with your goals, your property, and the market here on the Vineyard.

✨ Let’s walk through your home together and discuss what will make it stand out—and how our team can guide every step, from consultation to Compass Concierge.


📞 Ready to Get Started?

Reach out today for your free staging consultation, covered by The O’Hanlon Group. We’ll make sure your home shines—in person and online.

WORK WITH THE O'HANLON GROUP

As a team, we work in harmony for the benefit of our clients. We handle multiple transactions at once and are able to execute a complex marketing strategy by leveraging team resources. We can be in several physical locations at once to ensure showings are always possible for our buyers and sellers. Our clients benefit from the combined experience of our agents and administrative staff.

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