Staging to Sell
Trying to sell your home? I frequently talk about the significance and art of staging, but there are some specifics you should know too. Here are the stripped-down facts about how to help buyers see themselves in your home.
Assure curb appeal
Pretend you are on a blind date: before any words are exchanged, he wants to see what you look like. The outside of your house is critical because it sets the expectation. Repair damages, wash your windows and screens, weed the yard, trim bushes, add new mulch, and update the entry with fresh paint, a wreath, or a new entry mat. Your home is supposed to look livable, not lived in.
Declutter
Remove excess stuff. Think of this as pre-packing. Box up clothes, dishes, bulky or extra furniture, small appliances, toys, collections, etc., and place them in the garage or a storage unit. Buyers know you are leaving and rarely look in the garage, and, if they do, they are accepting of that fact that it is a space frequently used for storage.
Clean, clean, clean
No one wants to buy someone else’s mess. A clean, functional home is a home that’s well taken care of, and, in real estate, “well taken care of” translates to higher value. Get rid of the dirt, fix those leaky faucets, touch up the paint, and replace the fruit punch-stained carpet. Avoid including an allowance in your sale. That way, you’re in control of the cost and can avoid creating a negative impression that may cause the seller to underbid.
Remove personal items
This may seem harsh, but remove family pictures, diplomas, and religious symbols. The goal is to make the house appealing to the buyer, as if they were walking into their new home instead of being a guest in yours. Also, be sure to put jewelry, guns, medication, accounting documents, and keys in a secure place. You never know who will be in your space.
Furnish
Is your home lacking that special oomph? Borrow nice furniture pieces from a friend or rent them. Group the furniture into an attractive conversational setting to bring out the best features of each room.
Do something special
Want to maximize your profit? Spend your dollars on updating the kitchen, renovating the master bath, or finishing a basement. Too much? Just add decorative lighting, upscale flooring, or a well-developed garage storage system.
Hire me!
Need help? Let me do the labor for you. I have a warehouse full of staging items and extensive experience helping clients sell their home quickly and at a price point they can afford. In addition, I have a great outsource team for all those little things that need fixing.