Staging your home to sell in Metro Charlotte, NC, guidelines for selling your home in today's market. I am sure you have all heard by now that we are experiencing a buyer's market. I have met with many prospective sellers that are still in denial about this and think their home is in a bubble and the laws of economics don't apply to them. For the rest of you that are serious about getting your home sold and understand that the condition of your home is just as important as the price, I have put together some guidelines for selling your home in today's market.
Many prospective clients that are interested in home staging think it is too expensive and that they cannot afford it. In this market you can't afford not to do it. Many sellers don't realize that whatever
investment they make in staging their home to sell in Metro Charlotte, NC, is far less than the price reduction it will take to sell their home in its current condition*. Prices can vary for home staging, obviously the more you are able to do yourself the more you save by not paying someone else to do it.
Curb Appeal, this is the first thing buyer's will notice when they visit your home. It is estimated that over half of all buyers choose a home based on the neighborhood and they way the home looked as they walked up to the front door! You definitely do not get a second chance to make a first impression so you have to put your best foot forward. Freshly cut grass, new mulch, trimmed bushes and fresh plants and flowers are a no brainer but many sellers overlook small projects such as a new mailbox, new house numbers, new hardware on the front door, fresh paint on the front door, new lights and my favorite a brand new Welcome Mat. These are all low cost do it yourself items that give you a huge return on investment
The number 2 item on the list of things you must do to stage your home to sell in Charlotte, NC is clean it. Yes, I said clean it and I don't mean run the vacuum in the middle of the floor and spritz the air with air freshener. In staging school they have a term that homes must be Q-tip clean*. That means every nook and cranny needs to be wiped and disinfected, blinds, windows, ceiling fans, doors, baseboards, sinks, toilets, tubs, ovens and the like. Shampoo carpets and upholstery, move furniture and clean underneath as well. Buyers look at everything and they are oh so critical these days. A super clean home can mean the difference of a home sitting on the market or having a sold sign in the yard.
Clutter eats equity. We are not selling your stuff, we are selling your house, buyers only know what they see, not the way it could be*. Don't make buyers have to work at figuring out how to use your space or even what it looks like because it is so full of your stuff they can't even see the room. Once the house is sold you are going to have to pack up your belongings and move anyway. Be proactive and pack it up and move it out before it's sold, it will reduce stress and save time on the back end. If you are wondering where to put the stuff in your home here are some suggestions:
- Have a garage sale
- Donate to charity
- Rent a storage unit
Color, neutral fresh colors create a blank canvas for buyers. If your walls have wallpaper remove it or if the seams are in tact there is a primer made specifically to paint over wallpaper to prime it for paint. I can't tell you how many buyer's I have worked with that ran from a house with wallpaper because of the perceived work involved to remove it. If you have strong colors or bold paint schemes paint over them to neutralize the room. If you are fortunate enough to have neutral walls that are in good shape, clean them up with a magic eraser to remove scuffs and marks.
The bottom line is buyers are looking for the best home at the best price. What buyer's want the most in their next home is for it to be in move in condition, have light and bright rooms and to have clean and uncluttered rooms*. All these conditions can be easily done and are budget friendly, all they need is a strong commitment from the seller to get it done!
If you would like to know more about staging your home to sell in the Metro Charlotte, NC area and guidelines for selling your home in today's market contact Jennifer Manchester at www.JenniferManchester.com for more information.
*Staging quotes compliments of Barb's Staging Sayings, Barb Schwarz, The creator of Home Staging and StagedHomes.com
Comments(2)