staging to sell

by Kitt Walsh

SELLING YOUR HOME CAN FEEL LIKE A REAL CHORE.

From finding the right Realtor to moving day, there are so many things to consider when you do decide to sell. One of the top concerns can be competing with other homes for sale. How do you make your home stand out in this competitive market? Here are a few home-staging tips that will help separate your home from the rest, and get a contract in hand quickly.

The exterior of the home is what potential buyers will see when they first approach your driveway, so make sure it is clean and well-kept. Start by cleaning the outside windows. Condo owners, make sure your screens are fit in place. Replace the mailbox, and the house numbers if they are peeling or faded. Have everything pressure washed—walks, driveway, porches, decks, and walls (which should also be checked for damage). Set out new welcome mats. Remember, it will cost you more to lower the asking price of your home than it will to invest in some minor home improvements. With that in mind, it may be a good idea to paint the exterior of your home, especially if there are chips or extensive fading. While that may seem a tad extensive, it will only raise the value of your home and help your real estate professional expedite a sale.

Pay attention to your home’s landscaping. Have overgrown trees, shrubs and bushes trimmed, stray leaves and palm fronds removed, and unused garden beds attractively mulched. Plant colorful flowers in beds, window boxes, and in pretty container pots near your doors.

On the interior, take the time to scrub every surface, from ceiling moldings to baseboards and floors. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, or replace and update your floors if they are beyond cleaning. Make all the windows sparkle. Don’t forget to clean the vents, fans and behind appliances. Replace any missing caulking around plumbing, tubs, and sinks.

Consider removing extra clothing, furnishings, and décor that you may have accumulated over the years, reducing clutter. Donate, sell, or give-away unnecessary items instead of cluttering the garage. This will make your home appear larger, while saving you time during your move once your real estate professional sells your home. This step is especially important in storage areas. An overfilled closet, kitchen cabinets, or garage can make buyers wonder if there is a lack of storage in the home, rather than show them how much you can fit in these spaces!

De-personalize your home so buyers can visualize the space as their own. The home should still have style and charm, but remove the personal touches like family photos, certificates, kids’ art, etc. During the decluttering process, pack away as many clothes as you can so you can keep them stored away and out of sight, and clear bathroom counters of personal items. It can feel a little odd to live in a home that isn’t personalized to you and your family, but it will help you get a better offer quicker.

Give each room a fresh coat of paint. Go for neutral colors with complementary accents on moldings and baseboards, so that the buyer can easily envision their furnishings in the home. Accents and accessories should also be kept neutral, but stylish and up-to-date. Throw out and replace that accent pillow you bought in 2005. If you can’t find a replacement, it’s better to not have that accessory at all.

When staging rooms, go for a strong balance of hard and soft surfaces. Avoid combining cushy sofas, overstuffed recliners, and a hassock used as a table on

a fluffy carpet. The room will look like it’s sinking. Also, stage where it counts to get the most for your time and money.

Not all rooms are considered equal, and you want to focus your efforts on the rooms that have the biggest potential to influence buyers’ decisions. These are the living room, master bedroom/bath, and kitchen. Focus on these spaces and don’t worry as much about the ones that have less influence, such as guest bedrooms, children’s bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Artistic accessories should usually be kept neutral, so pack away brightly colored items and pieces that are highly personalized to your own taste. Always group accessories in threes, it’s been shown to be the most pleasing visually. On hard surfaces, place three items displayed in a triangle like a plant, a book, and a lamp. Take your picture frames off the piano. More than three items is too crowded and overwhelming in design.

If needed, rearrange or store some of your furniture to create open, walkable space. Extra seats, an oversized recliner, or a large coffee table might help you live well in the home, but they make rooms look small and block walkways. This will also help buyers better visualize their own furniture in each room. Put extra furniture in storage, especially oversized or damaged pieces. With the furniture that’s left, rearrange it to make the room look and feel as spacious as possible. Staging a home to sell doesn’t have to be expensive, it’s about smart decisions. If you have questions, ask your agent about specific changes they suggest you make.

Make sure your home smells warm and inviting. Mist your rooms with a light floral scent or diffuse some mild essential oils. Keep scented wipes for quick cleaning. Put a sliced lemon down the garbage disposal to freshen it, and consider lighting a cinnamon-scented candle in the kitchen. You can even pop a tray of your favorite cookies in the oven before a showing, so buyers will feel immediately at home when they walk through your front door.

Once you are done staging, walk through the front door to see what buyers will first notice when they enter. Remember, your potential buyers will get their first impression of your home the second they walk in. Make adjustments, and then stand back while your real estate professional works their magic.