From Sale to Sold: Steps to Stage Your Home

When you are ready to sell your home, then, it’s important to stage it properly.  You want to evoke a feeling of warmth.  Staging a home doesn’t have to be expensive, you can use the items you already have in your possession.   I tell my sellers it’s important to “invite” the buyer in…you want buyers to feel as if they are “at home”.  Think about that new model home and how it’s staged…that is what you want.  Here are some simple steps to help your home sell faster:

• De-clutter all rooms!   Get rid of all  the knick-knacks.  You are  planning on moving anyway, so just start packing your home.  But make sure you store the boxes in the attic or a storage facility.  

• Hang artwork, but limit the family photos.  A few family photos are fine, but not entire walls or shelves worth.  Make sure artwork or wall art is hung at, or slightly below, eye level.

• Use neutral paint colors; it really makes the areas look larger.  Nothing is wrong with doing a splash of color or doing one accent wall in a bold color.  You just don’t want buyers to feel they have to put in a lot of energy to make it their home.  If I list a home and the seller isn’t willing to change the bold colors, then I suggest the sellers offer to repaint the walls in a neutral color before they leave and then, market it that way.

• Don’t allow the kitchen to be the “catch-all”.  Buyers are looking for that “designer kitchen”.  Take down all the kids’ fridge drawings and pizza magnets (we all have them).  Put away small appliances that you don’t use every day…especially if it’s a small kitchen.  The more items on a counter give an impression of the space being small and cramped.

  

• Use fresh flower and real fruit and plants whenever possible.  In lieu of fresh flowers , do a centerpiece like this one: 

• Remove extra furniture…you want the space to look  large and inviting.  Too many furniture pieces can make the room look messy and small. 

• Use baskets for your remotes or magazines (or, for all your hubbies stuff that he pulls out of his pockets).

• Don’t forget the garage!  Don’t use it for storage...it’s for the car.  Clean and organize the garage.  Use shelving and plastic bins.  Get a tool box and hang items on the walls. 

• Remember the curb appeal…try to spruce up the lawn and make it greener.  If you can afford to, sod the yard.  Remove debris.  Add flowers for a pop of color.  Power wash the home…you can do-it-yourself, easily.  And, paint trim work. 
  

• Finally, keep the house clean.  There is nothing worse than taking a potential buyer into a home that is filthy.

It’s important to do these steps before you actually market the home.  As a listing agent, don’t be afraid to tell the seller what needs to be done before you market the home.  Let them know that it will take time and effort on their part, but they will be rewarded with selling their home, faster, and possibly at a better price. 

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