How Home Staging Can Help Sell Your Home
Home Staging should be done when you sell your home. Staging a
home can bring you a much higher selling price and help you get
offers on your home faster. A home staging professional can be
hired to tour your home and direct you to make the changes that
will increase your homes marketability. Make sure the stager you
hire is accredited.
Staging a home is not redecorating it. Redecorating a home
focuses on the seller and their personality. Staging focuses on
the buyer. It provides the current home owner with the knowledge
to rearrange the furnishings, pictures, accessories, etc. in the
best possible manner to enhance the rooms function, appearance
and balance.
The seller of a home has a strong emotional attachment and often
times lacks the objectivity to know what's best to enhance their
homes looks.
Real Estate agents will often hire a stager as part of the
selling package because they may be uncomfortable disclosing to
the seller that their home needs work and avoid upsetting them.
The main purpose of the staging professional is to help the
buyer see themselves and their belongings fit into the home they
are viewing. They do this by rearranging the home to appeal to a
broad base of purchasers. Stagers can be expensive, so if you
want to go it alone please follow the tips below.
The first and most important consideration to prepare your home
for sale is to get rid of clutter. There should be NO clutter
anywhere in your home. Go through each room and remove any
clutter you see. Organize toys in decorative boxes that are
hidden away in a storage room (perhaps a room for storage in the
basement). You can always take them out again when you don't
have any booked showings. Bookcases should be neat and
attractive interspersed with a few ornaments. Closets should be
cleaned out so that only clothes are visible. Remove storage at
top and bottom of closets. Place clothes out of season in
storage. In fact, place any clutter you have found in storage as
well. You have to move anyway and you will have to pack less for
later when you do move!
The foyer provides the buyer with the first impression. It
should be clean, uncluttered, bright and inviting. If any rooms
are dull brighten them up with higher wattage bulbs in lamps.
Remove personal photos from all rooms if possible and replace
with prints or ornaments. You want the buyer to focus on your
home, not your personal life. This can be distracting.
A fresh coat of paint is mandatory. Paint your home in a neutral
colour (white or beige is best).You can ad a splash of colour
with colored accessories, pillows, throw rugs, candles, etc.
Bathrooms should be sparkling! Counters should be clear with no
personal items visible. Tub tile grout should be clean and
shower curtains and glass shower doors should be free of mildew.
Hang fluffy, colorful towels on the towel rods.
Kitchens must be spotless. Remove all notes, magnets, etc. off
the front of the fridge. Keep counter space clean and clear of
all items. Clean out under sinks and organize the pantry. Paint
outdated cupboards with a neutral colour and put new modern
knobs on doors for a fresh look. Dishes on the floor for pet
food should be eliminated during a showing.
Furnishings should be simple and minimal. Leave space between
pieces and remove nick knacks. Your most attractive piece of
furniture should be placed on the wall you see when you enter a
room if possible. Tuck away Cd's, videos, etc. Hang pictures at
eye level. Group accessories in odd numbers (one, three or
five).Fireplace mantles should be depersonalized by removing
pictures. A flower arrangement, mantle clock or piece of art
would be appropriate here.
Garages, front and back yards should be cleaned as well. Plant
flowers or shrubs in the yard for a welcoming effect. Prune any
shrubs you may already have. Don't leave bikes or toys around
the yard. Clean the pool if you have one. The lawn should be cut
and watered to give the home a well cared for look. A coat of
paint on the outside of the house may also be in order.
If you can afford a stager it is well worth the money. If not,
just make sure you clean and get rid of clutter! A spring
cleaning will definitely pay off. This can not be stressed
enough! A coat of paint will do wonders. Have lights on in every
room (even during the day) and soft music playing before a
showing. Spray a nice gentle room spray around the house to
freshen it up. Be careful it is gentle or the buyer will think
you are covering up something. All the best! Good Luck!