....STAGE It!
We all know that the LEAST number of strangers (buyers) that come through our homes before getting asking price, the better. Right??
Let's be honest, no one is dying with excitement at the idea of having people you don't know going through our home! Unfortunately, unless we can move out prior to selling, that's something we have to go through if we want to sell.
However, the time it takes to sell a house can be dramatically reduced in any market, by making sure we PREPARE the home for that ONE golden unknown buyer we need! This is KEY! We never know when this one buyer will walk in, so the home must show at its best at all times. It's like selling a car....you wash it, you detail it, and at times even have the mechanic check it out.
Well, you should do NO LESS for your home! In fact, our home unlike a car, is in most cases is our greatest investment, so we must make the extra effort to make it shine. You'd be surprised at how many homes go on the market being a mess inside & out but sellers still expect to get top dollar for them! When you see a model home you imagine that that's how it will be once you move in. right? Well, if a house is a mess buyers image that that's how it's going to be when they move in, too!
So, how do you PREPARE a house for sale? Well, it really depends on the house's current condition. As a Staging Realtor, I make it my goal to stage the homes I sell, when ever possible. There are homes that need very little and others that need much more. Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest impact by keeping buyers from walking away with that "blah feeling" about a home where the minute they walk out they forget it the house. Each home is unique and special with qualities that can speak to a buyer. Your does too I'm sure, after all you bought it! When you're selling you need to bring out these qualities as much as possible. Here are a just a few things that will make a difference.
DE-PERSONALIZE: What does "depersonalize" mean? Well, its sort of like the opposite of decorating! When we decorate our homes we do so to match our taste and our personality. But when we are selling, we need to take our personally out and make the space neutral. Using neutral colors & neutral accessories to warm up the space. We're also trying make the space perhaps not too gender-specific by not having the décor be too feminine or too masculine. This applies to walls as well as items like bedding, drapes, rugs, and bathroom curtains and towels. 
DE-CLUTTER: Start by taking a good look at what you have in your house. Both in storage (closets, kitchen cabinets, garage, storage sheds.) Does your house seem to be bursting at the seems with stuff? If so, the chances are good that the buyer will have just as much stuff as you and may feel that this house is too small to hold it all. You'll be moving, so start packing some stuff early. Anything you will not be taking with you give it away, throw it away, recycle it, or donate it.
Pack all your personal photos (or almost all) and decorative items you have displayed for sentimental reasons. In other words, de-personalize the space by making less YOUR personal décor and more NEUTRAL.
Keep out maybe one personal photo per room if it goes well with the overall décor of that room. Include other items that are neutral, like beautiful print, a large mirror, a plant, a lamp, or something that fits the purpose or theme of the room.
Pack your off-season items and put them in storage if possible or just in the garage. This will dramatically increase the space in your closets and make them feel roomy and look organized. Buyers will think "this is how my things will look here!"
Pack extra kitchen items you will not be needing before you move. Get rid of worn out or broken dishes and leave only the pretty matching ones. Most people have too many post & pans and never enough storage. Keep only the minimum her too, make your kitchen feel like a functional kitchen by showing it can hold all the basics. 
CLEAR THE COUNTERS: Few things can make a house seem smaller than clutter counters. Display only a couple of functional items, such as coffee pot (keep very clean!) it it's something you use daily. If you don't use items often put them away. Once you get rid of clutter you'll be glad you did! De-clutter bathrooms counters also, leaving only beautiful items on it. Keep your toiletries out of site during the sale.
CLEAN: Make sure every surface is as clean as possible. Detail all the corners and small spaces, especially in the kitchen, bathrooms and windows. Carpets should be shampooed and all stains removed.
MAKE THE BED(S) EVERYDAY: Keep extra items like books/magazines you're reading under the bed or in a drawer during showing times. And if possible & safe have candles burning a soft music playing. No TVs on.
REPAIRS: Repair anything that will distract buyers from concentrating on looking at the space, or even worse, making them feel that the home is neglected. Not only will they start mentally adding up every that's wrong with it, they start to subtract from the asking price. They will also feel that there could be could other things wrong with it that they can't see. Make a list of the little things you've been meaning to fix because they've been bugging you and fix them. Make sure all the lights work.
CURB APPEAL: This is very important! Ever driven by a house for sale just to see if you liked the are or the outside of the house? Well, when you're selling your house you want to make it so that the buyer wants to get out of the car and come inside! Cut the grass, remove dead plants, trim bushes, prune trees, fix broken fences or gate doors, add a few colorful flowers, put a new welcome mat by the front door. Keep nothing by the front door that is not pretty like a plant or cozy bench.
In today's market depending on what are you're in, your house will have competiton due to the high number of homes on the market. So, make it stand out and shine!!
Hire a Realtor that has Staging creditatials to make sure your home has an advantage! When you hire me as your Realtor, my staging services are free!
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