Stage Your Home To Sell

Staging a home is very important! There are so many homes on the market today, your home must be staged properly to stand out among the rest. You want your home to be something for buyers to remember.

Staging can bring the price of your home up by 5%. The emotions people feel when they walk into a clean, clutter free home will make them want to buy. The mistake many sellers make is thinking their beautifully decorated home will sell because they spent a lot of money using an interior decorator. However, when a home is on the market it no longer needs to please the owner's eye, but it must please the buyer's eye. Buyers did not come to see all of your collectibles, they came to look for space! Too many collectibles will take the buyer's attention away from the features in your home that they need to be focusing on.

When potential buyers walk into your home, they will decide within a few seconds whether or not it feels like a home they could be comfortable in. I personally have bought several homes and during my search I would usually look at my husband and say, "This doesn't feel like home." As a Realtor, looking at many homes, I notice even more how the little things make a BIG difference.

Here are a few ways to make your home go to the top of the buyer's list:

*If the paint on the front door is weathered and chipped, paint it! It is the opening to your home. If the front door looks a mess, the buyer will wonder if the home is in the same bad shape.

*If you do not have room in your basement or attic to store things, rent a storage unit. Remove pieces of furniture that make your rooms look small.

*Remove exercise equipment the main living area, especially master bedrooms.

*Create an open, spacious feel by packing all clutter and collectibles. I know you like to show off your collectibles, but wouldn't you rather the buyers look at your home?

*If you have pretty hardwood floors, roll up those rugs! Show those pretty floors to the buyers.

*De-personalize your home. Pack up most of the family photos, especially if the hallways are filled with framed photos. When you take down those photos, patch the holes and touch up the paint.

*Remove children's stickers from light switches, doors, and furniture. (Goo Gone works wonders.)

*When window blinds have too many slats, take the time to untie the knots at the bottom and slip off the extra slats. Make it appear that the blinds are custom made for the windows.

*Turn on all lights and lamps and open all blinds when your home is being shown. The brighter the better!

*Remove plungers and toilet brushes from beside the toilets. Always keep the lids closed.

*Remove all pictures and children's drawings from the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be completely clear and clean.

*Buyers are looking for counter space. Remove small appliances from the kitchen counters. The general rule is you are allowed 1 small appliance on the counter. Put away all clutter and keep the mail in a drawer.

These are just a few things you can do to properly stage your home. Hopefully your home will only be on the market for a short time. As soon as you get a contract on your home you can do whatever you like. The most important thing to remember is that sometimes you have to spend a little money to get your home ready to sell, but it will be worth it in the end. Happy staging!

*I will gladly help you stage your home if you choose me as your Realtor. I have staged many homes and I've even been known to paint trim to help get a home ready to sell. Call me and let's get started on your home!

Sell My House!

The Top Ten Things You Need To Know To Sell Your House

1. First impressions are everything! Cut the grass, rake the leaves, pull the weeds, trim the bushes, and put fresh pine bark around the bushes.

2. A dirty house will turn buyers off! Clean your house, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. Make sure the tile and grout are spotless and make the appliances look new.

3. Dirty or damaged carpet is a selling hazard! Spend the money and clean the carpet. If there are wrinkles in the carpet, have it stretched. If the carpet is in really bad condition, have it replaced. You don't want your house to sit on the market while buyers choose houses that have new carpet.

4. Make sure your house smells fresh and clean. Use wall plug-ins or spray air freshener before your house is shown. Bad pet smells make houses not sell!

5. Make all necessary repairs. I did not say to remodel you house, but fix anything in need of repair. When a buyer sees something he will have to spend money on, he immediately begins to think of how much less he will offer for your house.

6. A fresh coat of paint works wonders. You need to paint with warm neutral colors. Bright colors and outdated wall paper will scare buyers off!

7. Always say yes when an agent wants to show your house. Don't ever turn someone away or tell them to wait until tomorrow. When a buyer is ready to buy, he will move on to the next house if you turn him away. We live in a society that says, "I want to see it now."

8. When a potential buyer is coming to view your house, it is best for you to leave and take your pets with you. Buyers will be uncomfortable asking questions in front of you. Pets can be a distraction and sometimes buyers are afraid of animals. I have seen a buyer walk away and not look at a house because she was afraid of the family dog.

9. Price your house to sell! A house that is overpriced will not sell quickly and when it sits on the market too long the excitement wears off. People will call to inquire and then forget about your house if the price is too high.

10. Staging your house to sell is one of the most important things you can do. Put away the clutter and anything that makes your room look smaller. Rearrange the furniture to make the rooms look bigger. If you don't have an eye for decorating get help. Buyers must walk in and say, "Now I could live here!"