Like a four star resort

Staging Your Home

First impressions make a significant impact on a buyer's decision-making process!

Once your home goes on the market, it becomes a product. Home Styling or Staging simply allows you to highlight the best of your home and de-emphasize its flaws. It's not about decorating, but actually turning your home into a model, to appeal to the broadest range of prospective buyers. The goal is to make people feel like they could live there, and the best way to do this is to "neutralize" the surroundings. Start at the curb and work in from there. Minimalize what is in every room and on the wall and shelves and clean everything.

Implement these staging tips taken from me and Setting the Stage - REALTOR® Magazine Online. Here are the best tips you can do for little or no expense to put your home in prime showing shape.

• Clear out closets and clutter—sellers can give away or pack up toys, linens, and small kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly tucked away in a garage or basement.
• The lawn, trees and any shrubery should be perfectly trimmed and all walkways clear with no trip hazards.
• Focus on the most visible areas—the foyer, kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and family room.
• De-personalize the home by removing photos, mementos, and dated items.
• Clean everything and everywhere - your house should show like a four star resort; you want buyers to want to live there.
• Put away large collections— porcelains, plates, and so on.
• Remove valuables, prescription medicine, collectibles, and breakables.
• In summer, turn on the sprinklers for five minutes, 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
• Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.
• Arrange fresh or silk flowers throughout the home.