How to Stage an Estate Home before Listing it for Sale

When an estate home passes to an heir, whether the home is in Sun City Grand or elsewhere, the beneficiary typically exercises one of three options: making it into their primary residence, cleaning it up and renting it out, or, selling it outright. The answer to which is the right choice, of course, depends on the situation of the beneficiary, and, the condition of the home. In some instances, it makes sense to move-in, while in others, renting is a viable option. However, most heirs opt to sell their estate homes.

How to Stage an Estate Home before Listing it for Sale

If you won't move into the home, the two remaining choices are to rent it out, or, to sell it. If you're unsure as to which is the best option, it's advisable to consider what being a landlord really means. You'll be responsible for all the maintenance and any repairs (which can be very costly). In addition, you'll have to pay the property taxes, and, won't have the benefit of homestead exemption. What's more, if you don't have any experience in property management, you'll inevitably discover how valuable paying for that particular service is, but, it will eat into your margin.

Most homeowners know it is important to keep a home clean, bright and free from clutter while it is on the market for sale. But sometimes, Realtors say, taking the extra step to stage a home can make a difference in how a buyer values it and the price a seller might get for it, according to the National Association of Realtors 2015 Profile of Home Staging. --Realtor.com

Selling, on the other hand, is usually a savvy strategy simply because it's a much shorter process and generally brings a nice return-on-investment. To get an estate home sold, you've got to start the process well before it's placed on the multiple listing service. A huge part of selling a home is marketing it properly, which requires staging. In fact, staged homes sell for about 6 percent above asking price, and, sell much faster. It's best to hire a professional, but, if you'd like to save a bit of money, do the following:

1. Declutter every space in the home. Notice the word "space" instead of "room." For instance, pantries, closets, and the garage are all spaces, not rooms. The point is not to miss any part of the home. While it doesn't necessarily have to be completely empty, it should exude nice traffic flow and visual appeal. There shouldn't be a single personal item left in the home, precisely because it's an estate home.
2. No matter the size, make any and all repairs. However trivial it might seem, little things will have a huge, negative impact. Buyers are often adept at spotting every detail, and, will certainly notice anything and everything that's broken.
3. Give every interior space a deep clean. Here again, detail is critical -- so, go room by room and clean and sanitize all surfaces. Leave nothing untouched and create a spotless environment that's ultra-clean.
4. Clean the exterior and spruce-up the curb appeal. Start with power washing the roof, exterior walls, and driveway, then, take care of the landscaping. If needed, spread some colorful mulch around trees and place flowering plants near the entryway.
5. Rearrange or rent furniture. In some homes, it's okay to leave the existing furniture for listing photos. For estate homes, this generally is not the case. While it's okay to remove all the furniture, arranging some rented furniture can really make a property feel more welcoming.

If you have any additional questions regarding the selling of an estate home or a particular scenario, reach out to your local real estate agent.