I'm a big believer in staging properties for sale. Did you know that the objective as a seller should be to get the buyer to commit emotionally to the property witihin the first 30 seconds? The impact staging has on market time and sale price is significant. I know it's a pain, I've been through it. Its also difficult to come up with an effective plan, and it may be that you need to consult with a designer....a small investment that could lead to thousands more for your home. This can be especially true in urban markets, where space is a premium. You can't add space, but you can create the perception of it.

We all realize the importance of cleaning, de-cluttering, and de-personalizing (family photos, personal effects,etc) a property before putting it on the market. It's also quite important the property does not reflect a dominant masculine or feminine theme...make sure it appeals to males and females alike and you'll reach the widest audience. Staging takes it a step further.

Here are a few essentials:

Remove, Replace, Reposition

If you have too much furniture the room will look small and crowded. Remove the oversize pieces and bring in some smaller ones that fit proportionaly. Rent it if you must. Put them where they SEEM like they belong. An ideally staged property is often not the most functional layout. Hard to believe but true. This will also make the room flow better.

Rejuvinate

Is the paint old or outdated? Colors come and go seasonly, and a fresh coat of an "in" color will do wonders. Nuetrals are the way to go. Don't be afraid to change out some fixtures to give the property a updated feel. New hardware is often a very small investment with a big effect.

Accessorize

Coordinate with pillows, rugs, and other decorative elements to tie the place together. This often feels daunting for those of us who don't care to bother....but don't stop here, it's worth it!

Follow these general rules to get the property in shape, and the payoff will be well worth your troubles. If you don't have what it takes to do it yourself, get a designer! I know several, so drop me a line if you need a referral.

When the time comes to choose the right real estate agent for your next home sale or purchase, seek advice and you'll find that opinions differ. This is especially true if you ask the agents themselves. Ultimately, it's a personal choice and a good idea to ask around, but keep the following essential criteria in mind:

● Track record of satisfied clients

● Good listener and communicator (negotiating skills)

● Energetic and driven

● Tech-savvy (!)

● Available 24/7 (well, almost)

● Resources (fellow agents, admin support, associations)

Also keep in mind that several years of experience and/or an inventory of listings does not always translate to the right agent for you. In fact, an agent who's spread too thin might not be able to give you the attention you need. Some listings can be high maintenance endeavors and perhaps a hungry new agent who's willing to grind it out is the right one for the job. The same is true on the buy-side; an agent with a lot of sellers to deal with proabably does not have the time to visit a dozen properties on their Saturday afternoon. Ask the agent before you start working together if he or she will have the time to devote to your transaction.

Bottom line: an agent with good rapport and the right tools who's willing to hustle on your behalf is probably a good choice...so long as you're comfortable with them.