Sell STAGED!
First impressions are powerful and when it comes to selling your house, a first impression is a lasting impression. Every time prospective purchasers enter your home, it's very important that they are met with WOW factor!
You Can Stage For FREE
It's important to be able to envision what Buyers will look for in your home. Can they see themselves living here & entertaining friends/family? Home staging is key in helping make their vision a reality & can make a strong impact on selling price & the time it takes to sell.
Does this mean you need to hire a stager? NO! Staging is pretty simple. It's not brain surgery. Money spent on a stager is money that can be saved & put back into your property to help prepare it for sale. One must also be careful not to hire a stager who OVER STAGES a property.
Thanks to technology, there are thousands of home staging websites with articles, tips, before/after photos available for Sellers to access & obtain valuable info from, for FREE.
Presentation! A first impression is a lasting impression. Your property should look great to potential buyers.
ADVICE: If you’re ready to sell, STAGE FIRST!
Stage First... Here's How
Emotionally Detach. Think of your house objectively as a product on a shelf. Your memories will last forever, but the selling process shouldn’t.
Declutter & Depersonalize. Remove extra: furniture, accessories & collectibles. Decluttered rooms feel larger & permit buyers to imagine their furniture in the space. Remove family photos, trophies, children’s artwork & extra clothing from closets. You want buyers imagining themselves living here, not feel like they’re intruding on personal space.
Paint! Fresh paint makes a gloomy room happier. A fresh coat of paint gives you more bang for your decorating dollar than anything else. Scuffs or wear marks will send out a bad vibe. Unusual color choice, even if it’s high in fashion, may limit your home’s appeal. Going neutral is wise. Warm white, taupe/earth tones.
Improve lighting. Replace dated light fixtures. If it’s over 15 years old & not vintage (50-75 years old) or antique (older), it should go. “Retro” is not something most buyers are looking for.
Create a spa-like feeling in all bathrooms & give dated bathrooms a face lift. A nice bath helps sell a house. Bring an out-of-date bath up to speed with: a fresh coat of white or lighter color paint; ceramic tile; and new modern style lighting.
Use white or off-white towels and make sure to fold them just like the top hotel chains do.
Place greenery on counters or the tub area to create the feeling of warmth and relaxation.
Neutralize. Great hotel décor appeals to a wide set of tastes and so should your décor. Cool red, orange, gold or green walls may be to your liking, but could turn off a buyer. Same goes with artwork. A Buyer may not appreciate the classic Scarface mural.
Make necessary repairs. If you know something will fail an inspection, fix it beforehand. Make certain light switches work, faucets don’t leak and broken windows and tiles are replaced. You may have lived ok with these inconveniences for years, but a buyer might wonder what other maintenance has been neglected.
Pets. Remove chewed toys, messy pet bowls and clean litter boxes. Keep in mind that although pets can be adorable, not everyone shares the same love for them. Keep aquariums and small animal cages spotless. If possible, you may consider having your pet visit with a friend at least during property showings.
Clean spotless. An excellent return on your investment comes in the form of a good top-to-bottom cleaning.
Go beyond just vacuuming and dusting. Wash windows inside & out, power-wash the outside of your home.
Wash cupboard fronts and floors, have furniture and carpets cleaned.
Give the empty room life. A feeling of emptiness doesn’t make for happiness. A vacant room won’t bring joy to a potential Buyer.
A little life to the room keeps the Buyer in tune.
Up the décor quotient. You may have decorated your home nicely, but there’s nothing wrong with a few extra touches. They can make the difference that leads to a sale. Make small rooms appear larger by painting them with lighter colors.
An entrance foyer can be made more welcoming with a console and mirror. Put silk flowers in pretty vases throughout the house. Replace old heavy draperies with those of more lighter and modern styles.
Throw pillows can illuminate a sofa.
Maximize curb appeal. Drive around the neighborhood and take notice of which houses look most appealing. You may notice the grass is trimmed, the urns are planted, bushes are pruned, trim is painted and the home looks well cared for. Your home’s exterior should look equally polished. Don’t forget to update the exterior light fixtures.