Staging a home that is for sale is one of the most important and observable actions a seller can make. Home staging can turn a dull and lifeless property into a warm and inviting home in the potential buyer's mind.
Some sellers hesitate to spend any money on home staging, but that is usually ill-considered. So many studies has found that the increase in the purchase price of staged homes far more than covers the cost of staging. Not only does the home sell for more, staged homes usually sell much faster, and with happier buyers.
So here are some simple tips, great for someone planning to sell, also great for agents to hand out to thier clients!
Home Staging Tips for the Outside of Your Home
1) Git rid of any and all clutter. Trim back overgrown bushes, and just do a thorough clean-up.
2) Some people don't realize how much a good fresh coat of paint makes a difference. Be careful not to pick too strong of a color. The idea is to appeal to the greatest number of buyers as possible, so you want to keep it nuetral.
3) Fresh sod or landscaping can really make your home stand out, while your homes on the markwt make sure your landscape stays maintained.
4) Rid of any other weak points that stand out like oil stains on the driveway, an old T.V. antennae on the roof, etc.
5) Putting out some some simple flowers in a pot on the front porch, and a new doormat can create an inviting feeling to buyers.
Home staging tips to improve the inside of the home:
1) Remove all clutter. Homes look bigger and more stylish without it.. Many stagers have the clients move out entirely, and the stagers bring in their own items. Take all of the pictures off of the refrigerator, remove any stacks of paper on your desk, etc. Also, having a professional house cleaning service come in and do a thorough once-over is almost always well worth the cost. You want potential buyers to be able to picture thier own things in the home.
2) Fresh paint can make a real difference. It can completely switch around the appearance of your home. Use colors that will appeal to the greatest number of people-again nuetral. You may prefer something bolder or outrageous for yourself, but when selling a house, neutral-colored interior paints work best. Also, replace any worn carpets or other flooring. If you have hardwood floors that are in rough shape, having them refinished can often return many times the cost of the refinishing, and sell the home much faster.
3) In many parts of the country homes are shown with no window coverings at all. This creates an open and airy feeling.
4) Make sure there are no unpleasant pet or cooking odors. A good idea is to bake cookies for the open house, creating a warm feeling in they buyer's mind.
5) Use size-appropriate furniture. If you have a small bedroom, don't put a king-sized bed in there. Conversely, if you have a huge master suite, putting a single bed in there would look unbalanced.
6) Leave the lights on even during the day to make the home as bright as possible.
All of these home staging tips are really geared towards making the whole package seem as pleasant and comfortable as possible. One would think that buyers buy with their heads, but it's often their hearts that make the decision!
Comments(4)