When a prospective buyer walks through the door of your home for sale, you need to entice every one of their senses... in a positive way! Give them something to see, hear, smell, feel, and speak about your home. Don't let a prospective buyer walk away from your home without saying, "You had me at hello."
Successful Home Marketing begins with Staging!
1. 1st Impressions Count! Start with great pics on the Internet. Give them a reason to call and want to see your home. Once you get them there for a showing, make sure the front yard is righty tidy! A properly staged exterior will entice them to want to see the inside. Cut the grass, trim the hedges, rake the leaves, sweep the sidewalks and power-wash the driveway, if necessary. Hide the trash can and put away the extra "stuff" laying around the yard. Plant "real" flowers or hang some flowering baskets near the front door.
2. Divide and Conquer! Next, tackle the interior. Divide and conquer each room of your home by creating two piles: "keep" and "go away." Items in the "keep" pile will be used to stage the room, while items in the "go away" pile should be eliminated from the home (garage sale, Goodwill, homeless shelter or stored elsewhere). De-cluttered rooms feel more spacious and allow Buyers to envision their own furnishings in the room. De-personalize the space by removing family photos, trophies, plaques, etc. You want Buyers to focus on the space, not on your personal belongings.
3. The Balancing Act! Stage your home by utilizing a good balance between hard surfaces (coffee-table, hardwood floors) and soft surfaces (couch, area rug) to create atmosphere in a room. Soft surfaces such as large sofas and recliners can over-power a room and look too heavy. Consider removing one or two large pieces of furniture and replacing them with two wing-back chairs. Balance the room by combining an area rug with hardwood or tile floors.
4. Work in Odd Numbers! Arrange your decor items on hard surfaces in odd numbers. Example; place three items on an end table, such as a lamp, a plant and a book. The three items should be closely grouped together to form a triangle, with varying heights. For smaller surfaces, a single item will do.
5. Deliver from the Doorway! Get a birds-eye view of each room by standing in the doorway and seeing what a Buyer will see. Stage the room from that perspective and create a warm and inviting "view" that will captivate the Buyer. Don't be afraid to introduce color to the walls or furnishings. Angling the furniture (i.e. bed in the corner at an angle, instead of against the wall) can make a room look larger.
6. Q-Tip Clean! Make sure every inch of your home is immaculate and Q-Tip clean. Smoke and pet odors are a big no-no. Have a neighbor or friend do a smell test of your home for you. If there are stale odors, consider having the carpets cleaned or replaced. Walls and windows should be squeaky clean. Let some fresh air in by slightly cracking a window. Utilize soft smelling candles (vanilla or cinnamon) in certain rooms. Don't try to mask a bad smell with another smell. Eliminate the cause of the odor all together and create a fresh clean smell. Remember the saying, "If I can smell it, I can't sell it."
Happy Selling!
For more staging tips, contact Melinda Peterson at Real Estate Cafe' (888)955-8483
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