Summer is a wonderful time to maximize the Curb Appeal of your house. We know all the standard Curb Appeal Do's such as water the lawn, trim the bushes, power wash, etc. I see a lot of houses on the market that have followed all the tips and their homes look, how shall I say..."very well groomed" That's a great thing...its better than weeds in the landscaping and a dirty front door, however, sometimes it just looks well...standard and kinda boring.
Yard is green and mowed (check!),
bushes trimmed (check!),
2 flower pots on either side of the front door (check!),
and new mat (check!...double check!)....you get the idea here.
The Curb Appeal can be "neat" but sometimes lack personality. Summertime gives you that opportunity to create Curb Appeal that will have potential Buyers hearts pounding as soon as they pull up in your driveway!
Use these Summertime Curb Appeal Tips that sing "WELCOME HOME!"
Tip #1: FLOWERS...FLOWERS...and more FLOWERS! Pick a nice color scheme of flowers that compliments your front door and shutter color. Plant flowers in your landscaping, group pots together in groups of 3 and use those plant stands to achieve various heights to add interest in a corner of a porch, patio or deck area. Fertilize, water, dead-head and baby those plants! Keeping them beautiful, fresh and blooming big all summer will be KEY to creating irristable Curb Appeal. There's nothing worse than brown, limpy, dying plants by end of July.
Tip #2: A FRIENDLY FRONT DOOR! Give your front door a fresh coat of paint, polish up the hardware or replace it with new, same goes with the light fixtures...if its seen better days, replace it., look up and check for cobwebs, clean the doorbell or replace with a shiny new one, add a shiny brass knocker and a beautiful summer wreath. Be sure your wreath is new and updated for the season. There's nothing worse than a faded and dated wreath.
Tip #3: HAVE A SEAT AND STAY AWHILE: Does your front door area have a space for a pretty, weather-proof piece of furniture? This is a perfect way to welcome potential buyers and give them a preview of whats to come inside! A pretty chair tucked in a corner, a pair of rocking chairs, or bench with a few colorful pillows visually invites your Buyer to have a seat and stay awhile!
Tip #4 CHARMING LITTLE EXTRAS: Don't overlook the little charming extras that can make your Buyer fall in love with your house. Put out a tray of fresh lemonade and cookies if you have a porch with chairs and a table, add a book, magazine, or rolled newspaper by the tray. Fill your bird feeders, hang a small windchime, add fluffy pillows and even hide away a sachet of lavendar close to the doorway for a subtle hint of fragrance that says welcome.
Tip #5 MAINTAIN IT!: Let's face it...Summertime can be busy with vacations, entertaining, running the kids, etc....and on top of it selling your house! No matter how busy it gets, maintaining your Curb Appeal has to take priority and is critical to a successful sale. Create a scheduled time each day and week to water, mow, sweep, fertilize, trim, etc. Making a plan keeps you organized and on top of it.
Creating Curb Appeal that goes above and beyond what is standard is key to creating an unforgetable first impression in the minds of your potential Buyers. Taking the opportunity to use these Summertime Curb Appeal Tips that will have your house singing "Welcome Home!" and you'll be asking "Where do I sign?" when you get that offer!
Happy Staging!
You can use this article in your ezine, blog or website as long as you add the following bio box:
Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President. Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.
The part of my job I love the most is the opportunity to work with wonderful, savvy real estate professionals that really understand marketing their listings to get them sold quickly and retain as much of the equity in their client's house. They use powerful marketing tools such as staging and professional photography to achieve that goal. I wanted to share this powerful testimonial from Jennifer Cox of The RealCincyGroup as she shares her perspective on using staging to help sell her listings.
"I was introduced to the concept of staging several years ago, just as the market was starting to slow, and home sellers were trying to understand why their home wasn't selling as quickly, and for more money, than the neighbor's had the previous year. Inventory was increasing, sales were slowing, and precious few homeowners wanted to talk to the realtor that had a glimpse of the future, now present, real estate market. Fortunately, I did have clients that wanted to know more. They wanted to try something that would set them apart. They did so, with success! Embracing the concept and seeing the powerful results of staging, I was fortunate to be on a WKRC Money Alert segment in 2006, just as the idea of Home Staging was starting to really take off in this area.
Here's the thing: Many home owners still just don't "get it" that by investing in a few hours, and potentially a few dollars into their home, prior to going on the market, the result will be a quicker sale and, bottom line, put more cash in their pocket! I suppose it's up to us, the real estate pro's, to really impress upon our clients that this is in their best interest.
I want to share the story of one couple who did "get it". Dustin & Kristina Haggard, former owners of 8 Oriole Court, located in the Sedona Ridge subdivision, in Amelia. The Haggards owned an adorable 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath, 1 car garage home, no basement, but nicely decorated and updated, in a neighborhood of 2 full bath, 2 car garage homes. Unfortunately, in this subdivision, and the adjoining, competing neighborhood of Quail Creek, homeowners often find that they are competing against short sale & foreclosed on properties. We knew we had our work cut out for us.
When pricing this home, we had to be cautious to not price too high, so that we were not competing with homes that are structurally more appealing, with 2 full baths, a basement and an additional garage space. We also wanted to send a message to the "deal hunters" that this is not a distressed sale. The sellers were not in a short sale or foreclosure scenario and simply, and correctly, refused to sell in the price range of those homes.
Knowing that we were going to need to strongly appeal to those who did tour, the Haggards worked closely with Teresa Meyer of Stage a Star, following her instructions perfectly! They stained the deck, removed the personal photos, re-arranged the living room furniture and placed inexpensive decorative items to highlight the focal points of the home. Knowing that the pictures and online promotion would be critical to a successful sale, the owner's wisely accepted that if we took our time and prepared the home, following Teresa's ideas and instructions, prior to listing, our selling time would be reduced, and the stress of being on the market and preparing for showings, would be shortened. I am adamant with sellers that the month of the year, or the day of the week that they enter the market has far less impact than the condition of the home from day one.
The results?Dramatic! Showings were non-stop! We had 2 low offers within the first 2 weeks. Offers made by customers shopping outside of their comfort price range, but hoping to take advantage of the current market scenario. Of course they loved this home and you can't blame a' guy for trying! We often tell sellers that the first offer will be their best, but in this case, we knew differently.
The 3rd week on the market, I received a call from a gal who wanted to view the home. It was a perfect fit. The "house" on 8 Oriole was clearly going to be her new "home". The customer asked that I help her purchase this home and we were under contract on Day 30. 30 Days on the market, with a 96% list to sell ratio. The seller concessions were minimal: a small contribution to title insurance.
The sellers and I absolutely consider this a Staging Success Story!"
The homeowners did a fabulous job preparing and staging their home. A Staging Consultation with Stage a Star gave them the "plan" they needed for a successful sale. They were under contract in 30 days in this challenging market. Staging works! Are you ready to finally get your house sold? It's easy. Give Stage a Star a call and we can discuss how staging can help you too!
To Your Staging Success!
Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President. Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.
Wow..it's been awhile since I've posted on my blog. I've missed the writing and sharing with all of you but Spring SellingSeason is upon us and Stage a Star has been very busy staging homes and consulting with homeowners to prepare for selling. I've got a ton of great before and after photos and success stories to share and hope to start posting these very soon.
A few weeks back, Stage a Star was contacted by Amy Howell, the editor for the Home & Style section of The Cincinnati Enquirer. She had taken a peek at some of our "Before & Afters" on our website and loved one of our bedroom makeovers. She was writing a fabulous article on "3 Days, $300" to help homeowners get some ideas and tips on how they can refresh their home over Memorial Day Weekend whether they are selling or not.
2 of Stage a Star's staging projects were featured with photos. I was happy that Amy wanted to also feature our "Window Seat" makeover because this was one of my favorite projects.
Kate Hart of Hart Staging was a featured contributor as well. Who knew she'd end up helping Cincinnati homeowners too!
I hope the article will inspire you to take a few days over Memorial Day and transform a room. It doesn't take a lot of money; just the "know how" of what a few key things to invest in to make a big impact.
Happy Staging!
Are you a Cincinnati homeowner that needs some help making over those spaces for selling? Contact us today to get started so you can get your home sold quickly and for the most money possible! Call Teresa directly at 513-379-5488 or visit our website at www.stageastar.com
Teresa Meyer is an Accredited Staging Professional and Owner/Lead Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company. Teresa is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and OHIO President of RESA. Her work has been featured on WCPO Channel 9 News, Home Improvement magazine and The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Well...I'm happy to report that the first buyer that viewed the property made an offer! ONE DAY after it was staged and then professionally photographed, it was listed and UNDER CONTRACT! And even better...the offer was for 99.96% of the asking price! It doesn't get any better than that!
One of our very best Realtor clients was the driving force behind this successful sale. She knew that in order for this property (that was filled with dated furnishings) to appeal to buyers, staging was the key. She was right on the money too. The first buyer that walked through made a great offer. It's set to close in a couple of weeks. She and her seller clients are THRILLED!
After the staging, I received this kind email from the Realtor:
Teresa, The seller is thrilled with the staging. The seller sent me an email after she saw the photos and wrote, "It looks like a model home". We had several showings scheduled for the day after we listed. The first buyers that viewed the home made an offer and wanted an answer within hours. They knew there was several other showings and didn't want this one to get away. I'm happy to tell you that it is under contract. Staging made all the difference!
Thank you Teresa. It's so great that you have this God given talent! You are the best!
Take a look at those before and after photos above.
Did Staging and Professional Photography make an incredible difference?
Do you think the potential buyers would have been impressed and fallen in love with this home if they walked into the "before" photos instead?
I don't think so.
If you've been on the fence about staging your property or listing, this staging success should convince you that staging does work. It really does folks!
Happy Staging!
Selling a home in the Cincinnati area? I'd be happy to answer your questions about how staging can help you get your home SOLD. If your ready to move on instead of sitting month after month on the market, give Stage a Star a call. We'd be happy to create a staging plan for your home to help get it SOLD. Call Teresa directly at 513-379-5488 or visit our website at www.stageastar.com
Stage a Star had the privledge of staging a beautiful home this week for one of our top clients. The house itself has wonderful selling features and is located in a fantastic area for empty nesters and retirees. The staging challenge was working with grandma's furnishings as much as possible while bringing in some key accessories to blend with the furniture as well as highlight the selling features.
Take a look yourself and see how STAGING can make a remarkable difference in the marketability of a home.
Which set of photos do you think will convince potential buyers to come and take a look and make an offer?
Or This?
Big difference, right?
An experienced Home Stager knows exactly what to take out and add, rearrange and strategically place to best highlight the selling features of a room. This house doesn't feel dated and worn out anymore. It feels refreshed and new...ready for its new owners!
Selling your house can be challenging when you have pets and I'm going to focus today on your CAT. Your furry friend and family member. I've got three myself so I understand and can empathize with my selling clients when it comes to this subject. I got plenty of inspiration to share some kitty tips when selling from my own experience over the weekend. I decided to move my cat's litter box from the basement to our first floor mudroom. See, my cats are senior citizens now and since I'm not planning to move into a ranch style home with no stairs for THEIR sake, I had to make some adjustments for them.
The dreaded 'litter box" can pose some challenges when you put your house up for sale. I've seen litter boxes in just about every room now in working with sellers over a number of years. I still remember when we were looking for a house to buy, we toured two houses with cats. The one house had about 7 litter boxes throughout the house including bedrooms. Hmmmm....do you think they had a problem? The other house had only one litter box and it was located in their family room right by the sofa. It reeked. Needless to say, we didn't buy either of those houses. Downplaying the presence as well as the location of the litter box really is critical when selling.
Location...Location...Location
I've found the best locations for a litter box is out of the way places like the basement and laundry/mudroom. I've seen them in bathrooms too but I've found that buyers really want to see the bathroom and not get distracted by a litter box. One way to help my kitties better transition when I moved their box was to put their food in close range of it. This worked perfectly.
What's That Smell? If you have cats then you know that if you don't keep their throne pristine, it's going to smell. When selling, this is a no brainer. You may have to scoop 3-4 times a day but this is a MUST. Do you have a COVER for your box? If you do, great! Now make sure you turn the box to make sure the hole is facing a wall. If you don't have a "cover", think about getting one. If the box has to be present during showings, at least the box is covered up and the hole is against the wall. Buyers really do not want to see inside of the box even if it is pristine. They just don't. I also recommend buying those "stick ups" they sell in the pet aisle or pet stores that help neutralize odor. Stick that baby on the side of the covered litter box. They really do work. And a quick spritz of Febreeze in the area before a showing is a good idea too. Remember I said "quick spritz"........NOT half the bottle.
Take It Outside The BEST solution I give my clients is to place the litter box in the garage during a showing if at all possible. I know this doesn't work for some kitties that can't be trusted but I've found that it works for the majority. My own cats freak and run under a bed and hide when visitors come to our house so having a missing litter box for an hour is not a problem.
Creative Solutions I came across an amazing idea on a forum while doing some research for this article. Someone was building a house and decided to incorporate the litter box into their laundry room cabinetry so it was out of the way and they could keep the room....ummm.....more "visually appealing" you might say. I jumped all over this idea and told my husband to break out the power tools and cut a side door into our sink cabinet that is in our mud room. The cats go through the door and all I have to do is open up the front doors to scoop and be done. It's hidden and better than a covered litter box.
Talk About "Staging" Your Litter Box
Who knew there were such a wide variety of creative litter box options out there? (I'd just suggest turning that hole around to face the wall.)
What about these cool styles?
Okay...if you were freaking out like I was when I first saw this, you can relax when I tell you that I think they are trying to show another option here. I don't think most people would actually put a litter box beside their bed (but you never know!). A cozy hideaway bed for your cat is another way to use this piece of furniture. Feel better? I know I did.
For the modern cat:
Entry Table AND Litter box in one...Who Knew?
Need a Litter box in the Office? Just be careful that you get the right box when looking for that file....
I'm having too much fun with this...can you tell?
Here's some other Staging Tips For Kitty When Selling:
Princess Perspective: This might be harsh, but when you are selling, kitty is NOT the princess (or prince) anymore. The castle is for sale and things cannot stay the way they are. That means that the cat jungle/scratching post tower has to put away, the million mouse and feather toys must be rounded up and the sunning window perch for cats has to be disassembled and stored away. Yes, I realize that it's your cat's favorite place but your potential buyers needs to see how pretty the window is, not looking at the pile of cat hair left on the cushion attached to the window.
Meow Mix Mayhem: Did you know that kitty's dishes shouldn't be out during a showing? It's so much a part of our everyday lives that we don't think about it, right? But when selling, they need to be gone. This also goes for those cool plug in water fountains. The cat may love them but with their messy cord and location near a plug (which is usually in the kitchen) it's not a great thing to keep around when you're trying to impress buyers.
Not Everyone Loves Your Cat
I know, it's your baby. I understand. I have three furry children myself and I love them dearly. Not everyone is a cat person. Or likes pets at all. Many are allergic to cats as well. When you are selling, it is really important to see it from the perspective buyer's point of view.
Fur Ball Fiasco: If you've got a cat, you've definitely got this: Cat Hair. Getting rid of as much cat hair as possible and staying on top of it by cleaning frequently is critical. Are you trying to use a lint brush to get rid of hair on the furniture or curtains? Forget it. The best thing to use is a rubber glove. A damp cloth works really well too. The Swiffer is another great product to use on the floors. I'm constantly amazed at all the invisible hair you can't see until you look at the bottom of the swiffer pad when you're done. Whoa.
Stay Or Go?
Have you been waiting for me to answer the obvious question: What the heck should I do with my cat during a showing? Don't worry, your cat will probably be fine staying at home. More than likely the cat will either go hide (like mine) or lay on a bed and look slightly annoyed at the interruption from strangers. If your cat is never to be outside, you may want to consider putting him in a cat carrier or taking him with you. Better safe than sorry.
Even though your pet is a huge part of your family, downplaying their presence while selling your house is a smart move. Remember it's all about the house and getting it sold. Follow these tips and ideas I've shared with you today so that it can help you better deal with your kitty when selling so that it doesn't cost you a sale.
You've heard the saying "You never have a second chance to make a great first impression" right? If you are selling your home or will be shortly, you need to take that little saying to heart. I'm going to share with you my top staging mistakes to avoid and hope that you'll apply what you've read today and be on your way to a successful sale.
Staging Mistake #1: BAD MLS Photos
Did you know that over 85% of buyers are looking on the Internet first to find a house to buy? First Impressions start here folks! How do your photos look? I am amazed a lot of times when working with sellers that currently have their house on the market that they have not even bothered to take a look at their pictures online. I think it didn't even occur to them that this is a critical marketing tool that pulls those buyers in. GREAT PHOTOS are a must! Professional Photography makes all the difference in capturing buyers attention and getting them in the door. Great photos capture ALL of the room, have good color and clarity and show interesting angles of each room. I see bad photos all the time. Blurry. Dark. Boring. And the worst is when you can only see a small portion of the room. I don't know about you but I could care less what the sellers BED looks like...what about the room? Potential buyers want to see everything in the room in one shot. Do make sure you have at least 15 pictures advertising your house on the Internet/MLS. Buyer's really want to see as much of the house as possible.
Staging Mistake #2: Disappointing Curb Appeal
Ever get fixed up on a blind date? Remember the anxiousness you felt as you anticipated meeting this person for the first time? If your date went anything like mine, I was REALLY disappointed with my first impression of him and wasn't even sure I wanted to proceed with the date. When selling your home, don't disappoint your buyer! When they pull up to the front of your house, they carry with them their hopes and dreams that this home could be the one! Shouldn't you do whatever you can to impress those buyers so they will want to come in for a closer look? It's amazing how a green, freshly cut lawn, new mulch, shiny new fixtures and a fresh paint job on the front door can sing "Welcome Home" to your potential buyers. Doing these basic items make all the difference! And don't forget a new welcome mat and doorbell too. Believe it or not, these are the 2 items that get overlooked all the time.
Staging Mistake #3: A Dirty, Cluttered House
Have you heard this one before? "The way you live in your house and the way you sell your house are two completelydifferent things." Sellers can throw up their hands and say, "But I have to still live here!" so remember...you're house is not YOUR home anymore. When you put it up for sale, it became a PRODUCT. In order to sell a product, it has to be packaged beautifully so it sells! Your buyers expect to see an immaculate house with no visible signs of dirt, dust and hair. It's no different when you go on vacation and you've decided to stay at a very nice hotel. You expect that when you walk into your room that the bed is made to perfection, everything is sparkling clean and they've even left you a little something that says "Welcome", right? What if you walked into the bathroom and you spotted hair in the sink and you couldn't tell if the towels were used or not? If that were me, I'd be calling the front desk and demanding a new room! Your buyers are really no different either. Dazzle them with a sparkling clean and clutter free house to buy! Clear away all your clutter so that the selling features in each room are highlighted and your house becomes the STAR, not the people that currently live there.
Staging Mistake #4: Making Your Buyers Feel Like A Guest Ever walk into someone else's home and as you look around at their family photos and decor, it is apparent that this is "their" home. Their personality is in every room and even if you squeezed your eyes shut and tried really hard to imagine living there, you just couldn't do it. Trying to imagine your stuff over top of all of their stuff is just impossible to do. This is how potential buyers feel when they walk into a home that is full of family photos and taste specfic decor. Those buyers immediately feel like a GUEST in your house and this is one mistake you don't want to make! That is why it is so important to pack away your family photos and neutralize each room to appeal to a broad range of buyers. That also includes your collections, religious items, personal awards and trophies, your family calendar and those fifty million magnets, invitations and "TO DO" lists from the refrigerator. Don't forget your taste specfic decor as well. You may LOVE your kitchen bright yellow because it goes so well with your sunflower collection but its got to be neutralized so buyers can SEE your kitchen with its 42" cabinets and corian countertops. They need to be able to visualize themselves cooking and entertaining in there! See what I mean?
Staging Mistake #5: Decor That Fails To Connect With Your Buyers
I see this one a lot. A homeowner has lived in their home for the past 15 years and the last time it was decorated was when they first moved in 1994. Lots of oak furniture and dried flower arrangements. Dated decor, empty rooms and random furniture pieces scattered throughout can make any house no matter how nice the selling features feel TIRED, DATED and OLD. Think about it this way. You know how it feels when you get your hair done? Not just a trim but when you go all out and get a new hair color and a trendy haircut? When your hair designer is done, YOU look and feel like a million bucks, right? You look YOUNGER and FRESH and everyone you see that day smiles and their eyes light up as they take in the NEW YOU!
You know, you're house is really no different. It is amazing what a few key decorative items can do for a room too. You want your buyers to have that same reaction...their eyes lighting up as they view the room becoming more impressed as they tour your house.
One of the biggest misconceptions about staging your house is that you need tons of new furniture and decorative items to make your house look like a model home. You can relax now when I tell you that it isn't true.
If you are living in your home while it is for sale, working with what you have plus maybe a few new items with a minimum investment is all you need. Consider working with a professional Stager that are experts at working with what you have using their creativity to re-purpose it and sometimes blending it with a few newer items. This gives older furniture and decor a fresh new look and feel. I am always amazed at how a few key accessories can make all the difference in highlighting a selling feature and breathing new life into a room! Slipcovers, new pillows that pop color, updated lamps, a rug or some inexpensive window panels might be all that is needed to turn unimpressive decor into a fabulous new room that your buyers will love and connect to!
Of course, I will say that if your house is vacant or you have empty rooms because you never got around to buying that dining or living room set, you will want to consider options like renting furniture. Most professional Stagers carry beautiful furnishings you can rent and will work with your budget.
Stage For A Successful Sale
Selling your home and getting it ready can be a pretty overwhelming task that is stressful to say the least. Did you know that working with a professional Home Stager can take that stress away and let you focus on the other important things about your move like finding YOUR dream home? They can create a staging plan for you that is unique to your property. You can have complete confidence in knowing that you will not be making any major staging mistakeswith a Stager on your team while you sell your home!
Set your DVR's this week! Peter Walsh will be on Oprah decluttering his way through those messy homes. I am a HUGE fan! I'm completely inspired every time I watch him work his magic to simplify my life even more!
Peter also has a new book coming out on March 3rd: "Enough Already!: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You"
Cincinnati ASP's: Please join us this Wednesday, February 18th as we learn about forming an IAHSP chapter here in Cincinnati. Our Columbus Chapter has organized a special meeting for the Cincinnati ASP's. I'm planning to attend and would love to see all the other local ASP's there as well. It should be a great meeting and I'm looking forward to networking with you all and meeting many of our Columbus ASP's.
Learn how forming a Int'l Assoc. Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) chapter in your area will:
-Increase your market exposure -Help you obtain more job opportunities -Help you reduce your inventory expenses -Develop your business skills and opportunities
Havelunch on us!! Enjoy a "Meet and Greet" with all the ASP Stagers in your are and learn how a Cinci IAHSP chapter can benefit you!
I have a confession to make...I've got a thing about staging Laundry Rooms. The Kitchen may be the "heart of the home" but many hours are spent each week in the laundry room. And THAT makes this room a very important space to feature when selling your home.
Many times when I am consulting with homeowners and we get close to the laundry area, they'll ask if I want to see it because after all, it's only the laundry room. In their minds, it's that space that's a catch-all for dirty clothes, shoes, coats, 5 cases of water bottles, dog food and old paint cans. Oh yes! I tell my clients, I DEFINETLY want to see what's behind that door.
The Laundry Room needs some attention and staging too. This is one space you don't want to forget about! The biggest issue is getting rid of everything that is not needed so the room can breathe and look spacious. Yes...that means you have to get rid of the 20 pairs of shoes on the shoe rack behind the door, the dog food has to find a new home and you're going to have to store all that water neatly in the garage.
(Image: Hampton Designs)
Here's a few Staging Tips that can help you transform your laundry room into a fabulous space that buyer's will love:
DECLUTTER: Get everything out that you don't need. The only thing that should be in there is the stuff you need to do laundry...(detergent, softener, etc.) Now is not the time to buy the HUGE 50 gallon jug of detergent. I'll tell you why in a minute.
CLEAN LIKE CRAZY: Wipe down that washer and dryer from top to bottom. Push it back against the wall if needed. I've seen a lot of washer and dryers pushed out with all those hoses showing. Tuck the hoses in while you're at it. Think NEAT and ORGANIZED.
PAINT. Most laundry rooms need a fresh coat of paint and a different color. For some reason, I see alot of sponge painting in these spaces. Probably because it was a "safe" room to try your hand at the technique years ago. I'm speaking from personal experience here and mine looked just dreadful! Trust me, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way.
STAGE: Canvas Bins and Baskets make a HUGE DIFFERENCE visually when used to store all those detergents. Buyers do not want to see all those bottles that look like clutter anyways. It looks so much more organized and fresh staged with these pretty bins or baskets. This is why you don't want to hit Cosco for the jumbo size detergents. I want you to hide it in the bins.
KEEP UP THE LAUNDRY: Not letting the laundry get out of hand during selling can be a challenge. We lead busy lives. Doing a load a day keeps you on top of the process. Buyers should NEVER see dirty clothes in piles, in a basket, anywhere. Ever. The same goes for clean laundry. It should not be sitting out on the counter or top of the dryer waiting to be put away or hanging around. Buyers don't want to see your laundry. They want to see the space. Show them an organized room they can emotionally connect to. Not how much work laundry can be.
HANGERS & CLOTHES BASKETS: Yes...we need them to do laundry but during showings, they should not be anywhere in sight. Storing all those extra hangers on the clothes rack is not an option either. Throw them in one of the bins/baskets or if you are lucky to have a closet in your laundry room, store them there.
HIDE IT: And one last mention here. If you have a last minute showing or you are just REALLY behind on laundry because you didn't listen to my "one load a day" advice, make sure you get it out of sight and HIDE those baskets. When I sold our house a few years back, I would actually take those baskets of dirty laundry and hide them on the garage shelves during a last minute showing. (They were concealed well and no one ever knew!) I have also been known to take it with me in the car. Hiding it in the actual washer or dryer is good too. For those that have always kept your laundry up, stop laughing. The rest of you know what I'm talking about and it's a great strategy to use.
Here's a few examples of past clients that followed my advice and created FABULOUS Laundry Rooms:
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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