Staging your house for a faster sale and more money

Your home staging is Marketing 101. You want your home to stand out from the crowd. Staged homes sell faster and for more money. Therefore, consider the small expense of staging as an investment, not a cost. Many real estate agents prepare houses for their clients by suggesting that they paint them, remove the curtains, and remove clutter. However, effective staging involves much more than that. It’s selecting the right “accessories,” getting rid of furniture and other items that make the space look cluttered and smaller. It’s also about adding finishing touches that produce an attractive appearance and create focal points in the main living areas.

A properly staged home showcases the possibilities and potential of the home, creates an inviting space to inspire potential buyers, and creates a mood to match the home (inside and out).

Remember… First impressions are lasting impressions

Potential buyers will evaluate your home before they even walk in. If your home lacks curb appeal, many potential buyers will turn it down out of hand or try to undercut your price. Here are some tips for turning browsers into buyers:

• Paint the house if the paint is peeling or dull.
• Display easy-to-read house numbers.
• Mow the lawn and trim the bushes.
• Wash the windows.
• Pressure washing of coatings and corridors.
• Make any repairs that make the exterior of the house look unattractive.
• Make sure the doorbell works.
• Select a doormat that complements the architecture and color of your home. (One that says “Welcome” works, but monograms and team doormats don’t.)
• Remove garbage containers and anything else that might be unsightly. (As obvious as it sounds, I’ve seen it many times.)

Sure the Foyer is attractive

The foyer is the first space the potential buyer will see once they enter your home. Add color through artwork, place fresh or silk flowers or a table lamp on a living room table, and spread out a beautiful rug to add warmth and interest. Don’t forget the smell. Have a dish of potpourri or place an incense stick on the shelf over the edge of the door. If you don’t have a foyer, you can create an entrance feel by placing an interesting chair or small table near the front door.

Get rid of clutter

Once you decide to sell your house, it’s not really your home anymore. Think of it as a commodity. Get rid of clutter. The main contributors to a cluttered appearance are too much furniture, too many trinkets, too many family photos, too many items on the walls, and too much stuff on the refrigerator door. Take a hard look at what you have and ask yourself what you can live without. You can always rent temporary storage for large items that you need to remove but will want to use in your next home. And if you’re not going to use those items, throw them away. There are many organizations that will be delighted to receive you.

Add some interesting and colorful accessories

This does not contradict the elimination of clutter. For example, after removing the small appliances, pot set, and recipe books from the countertops, place a colorful bowl of fruit on the center island, place a flatware set on the table or counter, or place some bottles colorful of food for cooking. oil with a cookbook on a lectern. This will make the kitchen look like a cozy place to gather.

Play Musical Chairs

Consider moving furniture, artwork, and accessories to other rooms. Just because you bought that armchair for the living room doesn’t mean it won’t look great anchoring a living room in your bedroom. And the hope chest at the foot of your bed can be a lovely piece in a hallway or foyer. Try to restore the part to give it a fresh new look.

Make your dining room look bigger

Remove a sheet and use fewer chairs to make the dining room appear larger. Consider putting a colorful runner over the table, but not a tablecloth (it will make the room feel smaller). And if you have a nice hardwood floor, show it off instead of having a carpet.

Paint for rooms that seem bigger

If you want a room to appear larger, paint it the same color as the adjoining rooms. This creates a seamless look that will give the illusion that both rooms feel like one larger space. For an even greater illusion, paint your walls the same color as your window treatment. Also, remove all wallpaper.

Make sure each room is well lit

Many houses have inadequate lighting, making them cold and unwelcoming. Increase the wattage of your lamps and fixtures, and use dimmers. Don’t depend on one or two fixtures per room. Try to have a variety of lighting in each room: ambient (overhead) lighting, task lighting (under cabinets or reading), and accent lighting (on tables and walls). And when your home is shown, make sure all the lights are on. us. This is especially true if you don’t have natural sunlight.

raid your garden

Well-decorated houses usually have fresh flowers. Instead of buying them, collect them from your garden. Forsythia come out in spring and make a cheerful arrangement in a vase. Shimmering fall foliage can warm your décor on a chilly fall day. And branches of holly (full of berries) will add holiday spirit during the cold winter months.

Bottom line… When potential buyers can see your family and friends lounging in the living room, relaxing and watching TV, or sitting around a candlelit dinner, they’ll think they’ve found the holy grail. The next thing you’ll see on your front lawn is a sign that says SOLD.