Staging a Home to Sell

I have had several inquiries regarding staging a house to sell. In this tough market it is really important to have an edge. Remember, you want the home to look as clean, open and bright as possible. Here are a few pointers that might help. I hope this does not sound too "severe", but I know it works. The most important thing to remember is that you are moving on and don't live in this home any more. By this I mean it is extremely important that potential buyers can claim "ownership" from the moment they enter the front door. This will require removing and storing everything and anything that may be personal to you and your family. That cute family photo may be a wonderful addition to the living room or entry wall...but will NOT be a selling point to the buyer. The same goes for Grandma's pink and blue quilt on the master bed. Run to Savers or a good thrift store and buy something that will be more "neutral" in nature. You can find them in any size for about $10 to $12...I know from personal experience. CLUTTER is the biggest offense. I hear comments often from potential buyers about this. Refrigerator magnets and cutsie notes, religious objects, and kids toys in rooms other than their own are a definite NO! NO!

Check wall switches, sliding doors, around door knobs and other obvious places for dirty fingerprints...as I am sure you know, they can appear overnight so stay on top of this if you can. The same goes for just general cleanliness including floors and mirrors in baths and kitchen areas. Kitchen counters should be cleared of everything except the essentials. Clear clutter out of closets and store in a temporary facility. This is critical! We want to give the buyers the impression that the home has ample storage and if every closet and cupboard is chucked full of stuff it is a real turn off for them. Think of it as a great opportunity to begin sorting and packing for your new place:-)

If you have a favorite red accent wall...be very thoughtful about whether to leave it or not. Bold colors are great except when you are trying to sell a home. Remember you want them to feel like this is their home and maybe red is not a favorite color. Also bold colors can cut up the floor plan and make the home feel smaller. The same goes for a mish mash of colors room to room. It prevents the home from having a nice continual "flow". Obviously kids rooms do not apply. If you are going to paint...stick to neutrals such as light warm beiges and soft greens. Pure white walls look harsh and unfriendly and do nothing for wood tones so stick to warmer shades. White woodwork is a great accent however and can really freshen up a room. Many greys and blues tend to soak up light and can make a home feel gloomy. Remember, the whole idea is to make the house seem bright, open and cheerful. This is what most home buyers are looking for. Speaking of which change out any dim lighting as well. I like to use "daylight" type bulbs whenever possible. This little thing may seem insignificant, but believe me, the difference is amazing. Use regular yellow based bulbs only when you want to create a warm glow to a room. Also turn the lights on and window coverings open when you show the home especially in the darker rooms. Again we want the home to look new, bright and open. Bringing in the outdoors through the use of uncovered windows really helps to give a sense of spaciousness.

Also be critical of any odors that my be lurking about. Keep the trash bins cleaned out and spritz the bathrooms often with a clean fresh scent. No heavy cover-up florals. It is a dead give away that you are trying to hide something. This goes for those really heavy scented sweet smelling candles as well. If you need to burn a candle use herbal, fresh scents.

Fresh flowers can freshen up a room nicely, but remove any plants that look sickly, old or dusty. Trees...artificial or otherwise can add a welcoming fresh feel to a room if they look fresh. Soft music and something baking in the oven can also tickle the senses for perspective buyers. They have probably looked at several homes that day and you want to do something that will make yours stand out from the rest. Appealing to their senses will leave a lasting impression on them.

Be sure to vacuum and mop the floors often if you have children. Spills and stains are not something buyers want to be concerned about. They are probably not interested in taking on any "projects" unless your price reflects that. Speaking of projects...be sure to finish any that may still be hanging on. Patch any holes in walls, paint walls that need to be painted and replace carpets that may need replacing. I know some like to add a carpet replacement allowance, but this will not give a good first impression to the buyer if they see a badly stained carpet to begin with. You may also want to touch up any scuffed or chipped woodwork around doorways and floor boards. The whole idea is to make the home look well maintained and loved. If it looks like you have let these things slide they may wonder about the more critical things such as roof, heating and cooling, etc.

Of course the same rules apply to the yard. A fresh coat of paint on the front door and possibly a new brass kick plate is also advisable if it is looking a bit drab. Remember first impressions are lasting impressions and if they have to trip over kids toys to get to a faded front door you have already cost yourself some money price wise and possibly lost out on the sale entirely. It may be a good idea to run to the garden center and plant a few fresh flowers in pots near the front entrance as well. Anything that says "welcome to your new home" will be to your good.

I hope this will help. Please leave me any comments or email me with any other concerns you may have. Good luck with the sale!