Selling your house? Everyone talks now about staging before going on the market - and that can sound VERY EXPENSIVE!! Don't despair though. You may want to take all your "brown furniture" out of your house and bring in lighter furniture in greys and tans that look like the Crate and Barrel fairy sprinkle new sofas and tables all though your home. Or you may not want to do that - or you can't afford to do that.
Of course you want your property to make a great first impression on potential buyers, but what do you do if all new staged furniture is not in the cards?
Take a breather—it’s actually easier than you think. Here are five staging tips that are so easy they may not have even crossed your mind:
Focus on the best features in each room. Don't hide your fireplace behind a big TV screen. Open the drapes in your dining room to show the garden outside (and wash the windows!) Try to declutter your garage and put things away neatly so a buyer can imagine that their car will fit in your garage! Pack away half the clothes in your closet and organize your linen closet! Don't make buyers imagine how your home would be if......
Use resources. You want your property to be clean and decluttered but you don't need to take on everything all by yourself. For example, hire a cleaning company. You can find some relatively affordable options, and this will help you stay stress-free throughout the process. Once the home’s clean, all you have to worry about is keeping it that way.
Also, consider renting a storage unit so you don’t have to figure out where to hide your must-keeps. This way, these items are already neatly packed and ready for when you move, and unnecessary clutter won’t distract buyers from envisioning themselves living in your home. Packing "stuff" up and moving it out is a great idea because it means you have already started packing! After all - you are selling your home - and then you will be moving soon - so get started on packing!
Decorate with the potential buyer in mind. Think about who your likely buyer is, based on the demographics of your neighborhood. This is not one size fits all! If you’re in a starter-home neighborhood, the buyer will likely be a younger individual or couple looking for more space after cramped apartment living. Pick some trendy paint colors like lilac gray or muted pastels, and keep the decor minimalistic and modern. Forget about creating a kid’s bedroom and opt for an office layout in the second bedroom instead.
If you’re looking to downsize from, say, a four-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac, you’re probably going to attract the family crowd. Emphasize your space by decorating according to their needs. Have a finished basement? Amp up the recreational feel with some movie theater loungers or make it a game room.
Think about your neighborhood, as well. For example, if your home is near a highly rated school, that’s also an indicator that a family will be calling your home theirs very soon. If you are in a one bedroom condo with a walkability index of 99, then your buyer will probably NOT come with children!
Focus on the small accessories. Take a tour of your own home, but with fresh eyes. What do you see that stands out as grungy, old and just a complete turnoff? This can be anything from a sticky, splattered garbage bin that needs a good cleaning to your shower curtain that has a dense layer of soap scum. Replace any small accessories that won’t cost you a fortune and clean anything that can look like new with some TLC. Minimize the surface clutter. Get rid of the stuff on the countertops in the kitchen and the end tables and coffee tables. Add lots of plump fresh pillows to the beds to create a luxurious feeling of restful retreat! Add new towels - and DON"T USE THEM!
Use your nose. Again, take a tour of your home, but this time focus on what you’re smelling. A better option might be to find friends or family members who don’t live with you to volunteer their noses. Identify the sources of odor in your home, and figure out a solution. The last thing you want is for a buyer to come in and quickly be hit by an unpleasant smell. In addition to cleaning, you could open the windows to let the house air out, light some candles to freshen up the rooms, or bake a cake or cookies right before a potential buyer comes over.
Look at your home as a buyer would see it. just moving around furniture and putting away the excess items. Think back to the tour you took yourself before buying this home. What stood out to you—both good and bad? Of course, trends change, but the overall clean and tidy feeling is always the first thing people notice. And customizing your home with some easy staging tricks can make a big difference.
CALL THE LISE HOWE GROUP at 240-401-5577 or email us at lise@lisehowe.com. We can work with you to make your home look like an HGTV Star and lend you some accessories to make your home stand out!
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