Staging a home can be something like peeling an onion layer by layer.
If the sellers have been in the home for a number of years the decor and features of the home may be out of date. It may need a fair amount of work to get it sale ready.
Some sellers are eager to do the work to reap the rewards but some are not.
If a client is elderly or one of them is unfit and they have no help it is my job to work within their restrictions.
I explain to them that their home will be aimed at the buyer who will be happy to make changes after they move in. However this buyer also spends all their cash getting into the house and wants the essentials like kitchen and bathrooms to be functional while they save to make changes.
While the paint, wallpaper and flooring layers of the onion may have to stay in place, other things can be addressed.
Paint - can be touched up so that is in good shape for the buyer.
Carpeting - should be shampooed and stretched if necessary. If there is hardwood underneath the old carpeting can be removed. Recently a home had stained carpeting in the upper hall but the owners were not willing to take out the carpeting in the bedrooms as well.
Wallpaper - is not really popular with the younger buyer. It is used as an accent on one wall at times but not on all the walls in a space.
You can help the buyer see themselves living in your home by:
- removing heavy layered window treatments
- taking down your collection of ,for example, collector plates
- removing the nick knack shelves holding small collectibles
- updating light fixtures
- removing extra pieces of furniture
- creating good traffic flow through each space
- packing family photos
- updating cabinet knobs
- clearing out the tub area and making sure the grout is clean
- taking care of any small repairs that haven't bothered you but may raise red flags for a buyer
- tidying your storage spaces
- maintaining the garden/curb appeal
Show the buyer that once they peel away the layers of the onion, there will be a solid base to work from.
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