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A Crucial Step in
Preparing your Home for Quicker Sale |
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What is Home Staging?
Home Staging is the process of preparing your
home for sale. It transforms your house into a place that will
appeal to a larger number of potential buyers resulting in quicker
sales. Research shows that staged homes sell 32% faster and for 3%
to 10% more money than vacant and unstaged homes. Staging creates a more
inviting and appealing product. It includes, depersonalizing,
decluttering, cleaning and improving the condition prior to placing your
home on the market. There are many professional Home Stagers that
can offer their services. Below, you will find some inexpensive
and practical self-help tips to stage your own home. Remember, a
little investment can mean potential gain when selling your home. |
Step 1. PREPARE YOUR
MIND TO SELL.
Once you decide to sell your home, you must
remember that you are now selling a product. You must make the decision to
"let go" of the house and the emotions that are attached. You have made
memories here, but don't look back . Look ahead to your future. You
are not selling your home, you are selling a house. Remember to remove and
replace any built in items that you do not want to include with the house. This
would include window coverings and other fixtures. If you want to take
that special chandelier with you, replace it before you show the house.
This will eliminate the need to say no to a potential buyer who really wants
THAT chandelier. |
Step 2. DE-PERSONALIZE THE
HOUSE.
Your goal is to allow
the perspective buyer to picture themselves in living in your house.
You're planning on moving anyway. Get a jump on the packing. Start with
storing your personal photos, collectibles or hobby items. You want the buyers
to imagine their pictures on the walls. You do not want them to see how
you lived in the house. You want them to say, "I can see myself living
here." |
Step 3. DE-CLUTTER !
A large majority of
buyers are looking for more space. The best way to create space is to
remove the clutter. Clutter is not just junk. Clutter is excess
clothes in the closet, too much furniture in a room, too many appliances on the
kitchen counter, etc. All these things create the illusion that the
area is full and small. If the buyer sees your space filled, they will not
be able to imagine enough space for their own things. Start packing now.
Get rid of items you have collected over the years that no longer are useful.
Store items that you will need in your new home. But "CLEAR THE DECKS"
before marketing your house. Buyers cannot see beyond the clutter. |
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Below you will
find practical ideas for each area of your home. Need Storage Space?
We can help. |
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Living Room/Family Room |
Before
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After
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• Remove
excess furniture. Rearrange remaining furniture to make room appear
more spacious.
• Furniture should not block windows or doorways. The path around the furniture
is open to navigate freely.
• Remove personal items and replace with simple decorations.
• Small throw rugs can sometimes add dimension to the room.
• Replace heavy drapes or window coverings with shear panels.
Open window coverings during the day to allow the room to
appear lighter.
• Bookcases should be very lightly stocked. Pack up excess books
and arrange the remaining books neatly by size. Add a small decorative accent.
• Keep the area swept daily and thoroughly dusted. Clean ceiling fans, light fixtures and base boards.
• Replace old switch plate covers with new, bright white ones.
• Keep the carpets cleaned and fresh. If you have pets,
keep them as invisible as possible. Not everyone is a pet-lover like
you are.
• Living areas should be spacious and light. Clean the
windows inside and out. Clean all interior mirrors.
• Odors can be offensive. Buy an light air neutralizer.
Stay away from heavy scents as some may aggravate allergies.
• Buy a few new throw pillows for a decorative accent. But avoid
overdoing. Remember: Less is Better. Remove afghans or lay them
neatly folded
on the corner.
• For fireplaces, clean the inside. Polish and clean the
hardware and glass.
• Put a log in the fireplace to give the buyer the image of sitting
there on a cold winter evening.
• Make sure all lighting fixtures are working properly.
Replace any burned out bulbs.
• Remove items from the coffee or other tables. (remote
controls, magazines, ashtrays, etc.)
• Pack up collectibles, valuables and breakable items. Pack
anything you are not using and store off site for use in your new home. |
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Bedroom |
Before |
After |
Before |
After |
• Remove
any excess furniture. A sparsely furnished room is best.
• Remove personal pictures and decorative items. Clutter will
make the room feel more chaotic and less restful.
• Stage the bed as the centerpiece of the room.
• Place your best linens on the bed. Invest in a new bedspread
if yours if worn. Perhaps a small throw pillow for accent.
• Sweep the floors and dust daily. Keep mirrors and
windows clean and streak free.
• Remove all items from the bedside tables. Leave only a book or
decorative item. Remove alarm clocks. A lighted small bedside lamp is
great for atmosphere
during a showing.
• Update the curtains if needed with lighter materials. Open them
during the day for natural lighting.
• Children's rooms should be simplified. Pack up a large
percentage of the toys and invest in a container to store what remains in a
neat
and organized manner.
• Remove posters and other items from a teenager's room. Game
systems should be packed up to avoid wires draped from the furniture.
• Pack up your child's trophies and awards. As much as you may
be proud of their accomplishments, the buyer cannot appreciate their
efforts.
• If your child's room has wallpaper or borders that appear juvenile,
you may want to consider removing it and painting. You want the buyer
to
imagine that room suitable for any age group and not just for a
child or teen.
• Clean out your closets. Pack up out of season or unused
clothes to make the closet appear much larger. Keep a
few weeks worth
of clothes in the closet and arrange them neatly by color and
style.
• Remove clutter from the floor and shelves. Leave only a few
items that are boxed and labeled neatly.
• Keep shoes to a minimum and have them lined up neatly.
• Invest in new matching hangers.
• Make sure closet doors open freely and quietly.
• Remove televisions and other electronic devices. |
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Laundry/Garage |
Before |
After |
Before |
After |
• Clean out
the garage. Discard old and unused items.
• Invest in storage cabinets for tools, paints, etc. |
• Organize
by adding storage shelves and neatly boxing items.
• Paint the garage floor. Use a degreaser first to
remove any oil spills.
• Make sure the garage door opener works.
• Be sure the washer and dryer are clean.
• Remove clothes baskets and ironing boards.
• Limit laundry products that cannot be hidden from view. If you
do not have a cabinet, place detergents in a nice container or basket.
• Keep all laundry clean and replaced in dressers and closets.
• No dirty laundry should be visible. |
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Ready to stage your home for sale?
Give us a call.
1-937-277-1111
or
1-866-902-0222 |
For more tips, see also:
Curb Appeal-Tips for making a good "First Impression"
Suggestions to help make your Open House a success
Guidelines to make your move less stressful
Moving Checklist |
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