Strawberry Trifle and My Top Staging Secret for Sellers
There's something magical about summer desserts that bring people together. Last week, I found myself in the kitchen preparing a strawberry trifle for Sunday dinner in a nice neat trifle bowl. It got me thinking about how the principles that make a home sell faster often mirror the same ones that make life more beautiful and organized.
Today, I'm sharing both my go-to strawberry trifle recipe and the staging secret that has helped countless clients achieve faster sales and higher offers. Sometimes the most impactful changes are the simplest ones!
Ingredients:
2 lb. fresh strawberries, hulled and halved lengthwise
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup cream of coconut (from 1 [13.66-oz.] can)
1 1/2 tsp. grated lime zest (from 2 limes)
4 cups meringue cookies, broken into about 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup toasted unsweetened coconut flakes
Here’s How to Do It:
Macerate strawberries:
Stir together strawberries and brown sugar in a medium bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Using a fork, crush about half of the strawberries in bowl. Stir; set aside.
Make coconut-lime whipped cream:
Beat whipping cream, cream of coconut, and lime zest in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
Spoon one-third of the strawberry mixture (about 1 cup) into a 3-quart trifle dish.
Top with half of the meringue mixture (about 3 cups).
Repeat layers:
Repeat layers once. Top with remaining strawberry mixture. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Serve immediately.
Watch the entire recipe come together here!
My Top Staging Secret for Sellers
You probably noticed something in that video - my countertops were completely clear while I was cooking. No coffee maker tucked in the corner, no fruit bowl, no everyday appliances cluttering the space. This isn't just my personal preference; it's the staging strategy that transforms kitchens from lived-in to move-in ready.
When I'm preparing a home for sale, I tell my clients to clear their counters completely. And I mean completely. This single change makes more impact than any other staging technique I use, yet it's the one that surprises sellers the most.
Here's why it works: buyers need to envision their own lives in your space. When they walk into a kitchen and see your coffee maker, they're not admiring your beautiful granite countertops - they're mentally rearranging where their coffee maker would go. Instead of falling in love with your kitchen, they're problem-solving.
Clear counters allow buyers to see the true beauty of your space. They showcase the size of your countertops, the quality of your materials, and the potential for their own dream kitchen setup. Just like that trifle looks more elegant when properly layered and contained, your kitchen looks more spacious and expensive when it's completely clear.
The result? A kitchen that photographs beautifully for online listings and shows like a model home during walk-throughs. Clean counters equal faster sales and higher offers - and after fifteen years in real estate, I can tell you this simple change makes all the difference.
Whether you're planning to sell next month or next decade, keeping your counters clear is a habit that serves you well. Your kitchen will feel more serene, your home will always be showing-ready, and you'll be amazed at how much more space you actually have.
Trust me on this one - sometimes the smallest changes create the biggest impact.
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