Staging Your Home

“The way you live in a home and the way you market and sell a property are two entirely different situations.  Staging a home is about making it inviting to the largest number of potential buyers.   Staging is allowing a buyer to imagine they are living there. 

Think of selling your home as if you are going camping.  Keep only the essentials in your home.  Pack up the items that are not truly "essential", and store them somewhere safe.

“You may need a Professional with an objective point of view to help you with this process, such as an Accredited Home Staging Professional, ASP™.  Remember, you will eventually be packing up your belongings when you move, so you will just be getting a jump start on your packing." 

First Impressions:  A good first impression won’t guarantee a sale, but a bad one can scuttle it.  If the entry way is blasé, that can set a precedent for the rest of the house.  Outside - clean thoroughly and pay close attention to the front door.  Inside -  consider touchup painting in the entryway, and add a mirror if the area doesn’t get much natural light.  If the front door leads directly into your living room, without a foyer or vestibule, use furniture to create a sense that you are walking into the area where you decompress.

Clean and Fresh: Clean as thoroughly as you can, perhaps hiring a cleaning service for one or two visits.  Pay attention to doors, baseboards, light switch plates, ceiling fans and windows.  Clean all appliances, especially older ones, so they sparkle.  Then take a good look around and consider minor repairs or repainting.

Clear the way: Banishing clutter is crucial.  If your house is cluttered it tells a potential buyer that there is not enough storage available, and if you reduce the clutter from your home and store you’re out of season clothing it will make the rooms and closets look bigger.  Clutter draws the eye away from the important parts of the house that you want the buyer to see.

Uncluttered rooms feel larger, and buyers will have an easier time envisioning their own belongings in the space. 

Spend a weekend clearing off countertops and purging the home of anything you don’t want or need. 

Remove Yourself from the Equation:  It’s a rule to take out two-thirds of your personal things – make it a generally inviting space, rather than something just right for your family.  Think about the way it feels when you check into a good hotel room, the space is clean, comfortable and stylish, but also something of a blank  canvas.  A home that’s for sale should have that sensibility.

CLUTTER FREE HOMES ARE MORE APEALING

AND SELL FASTER!