According to the National Association of
Realtors, staging a home prior to listing it can result in a faster and more
profitable sale.1 In fact, the Real Estate Staging Association
estimates that professionally staged properties spend 73 percent less time on
the market, receive more foot traffic, and typically sell for more money.2
Following are 10 tips you can use to get your
home “show ready” prior to hitting the market. These easy and cost-effective
ideas will help your house look its best—and help buyers visualize themselves
living there. Even if you’re not currently in the market to sell, you can use
these tactics to breathe new life into your existing home decor.
To get a plan customized for your particular
property, give us a call to schedule a free consultation. We’d be happy to
share our insider knowledge of the buyer preferences in your neighborhood … so
you’ll know where to focus your time, money and energy to maximize your
results.
1.
REMOVE CLUTTER
Decluttering is typically the first thing we
tell clients to do to prepare their home for sale. And according to the
National Association of Realtors, a whopping 93 percent of agents agree.1
Decluttering is the act of removing excess “stuff” from your home to make it
appear clean and spacious.
Overflowing closets and cluttered countertops
can make your house feel small and cramped. In contrast, sparsely-filled
closets and clear countertops will make your home appear larger and assure
buyers that there will be plenty of room to store their belongings.
Don’t neglect drawers, cupboards and even your
refrigerator in your decluttering efforts. Serious buyers will check out every
nook and cranny of your home, so pack up anything you don’t use on a daily
basis and store it off site. The same goes for jewelry, sensitive documents,
prescription medication, firearms and other items of value. Store them in a
locked safe or storage unit before opening your property to buyers.
Make sure any items that remain are clean,
tidy and well organized. The good news is, when it comes time to move, a large
portion of your packing will be done!
2. DEEP
CLEAN AND DEODORIZE
From carpets to bathrooms to appliances,
having a clean home is a MUST. If you’ve ever checked into a dirty hotel room,
you can imagine how buyers can be turned off by a home that hasn’t been
thoroughly cleaned.
If you have a large home, or are short on time,
you may want to invest in a professional cleaning service. And if you have
carpet, we generally recommend you rent a steam cleaner or hire a company to
clean your carpets for you.
In addition to cleaning, it’s equally
important to neutralize odors in your home that can be off-putting to buyers,
especially pet smells and cigarette smoke. If the weather allows, open your
windows and let in fresh air. Empty the trash frequently, and especially before
a showing. Avoid cooking any strong-smelling food such as fish or heavy spices.
You may need to clean (or remove) drapes and upholstery if odors are
particularly strong.
Try to keep your home in clean, show-ready
condition while it’s on the market. You never know when a potential buyer will
want to drop by for a viewing.
3.
DEPERSONALIZE
Your family photos and personal mementos are
often your most treasured possessions. For many of us, they are what make a
house a home. However, buyers will have a hard time envisioning themselves
living in a place if it feels like YOUR home.
Pack up any items that are personal to you and
your family, such as photos, books, children’s artwork, travel souvenirs and
religious items. Collectibles and excessive knickknacks can be distracting to
buyers. Instead, keep your decor items minimal and generic to appeal to the
largest number of buyers.
4.
NEUTRALIZE YOUR COLOR PALETTE
Along those same lines, bold color choices may
not appeal to all buyers. By incorporating a neutral color palette throughout
your home, buyers can better visualize the addition of their own furniture and
decor, which may contrast with your current color scheme.
But don’t limit yourself to white and beige.
Incorporating earth tones and midtone neutrals—like mocha and “greige”
(grey-beige)—can add a touch of modern sophistication to your decor.3
One of the quickest and most cost-effective
ways to neutralize your home’s decor is with paint. Walls painted in dark, bold
or bright colors can turn off buyers. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral color
like greige (try Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter) or warm white (such as
Kelly-Moore’s Rotunda White) offers a clean palette upon which buyers can
visualize adding their own personal touches.4
If your sofa is worn, stained or has a bold
pattern, consider purchasing a neutral-colored slipcover. Dated or overly busy
window coverings should be taken down or replaced. Instead, bring in tasteful
pops of color with throw pillows and accessories.
5.
INCREASE YOUR CURB APPEAL
You only get one chance to make a first
impression. According to a 2017 report by the National Association of Realtors,
44 percent of home buyers drove by a property after viewing it online but did
NOT go inside for a walkthrough.5 That means if your curb appeal is
lacking, buyers may never make it through the door.
Walk around your home and look for any
neglected areas that might seem like “red flags” to buyers, such as missing
roof shingles or rotted siding. Trim trees and shrubs if needed, and make sure
your lawn and flower beds are well maintained. Add some colorful flowers to
your front beds and/or flower boxes to brighten up your landscaping.
Make sure the exterior of your home is as
clean as the interior. This can often be accomplished with a simple garden
hose. But if your siding, walkway, or driveway are stained or dingy, you may
want to rent a pressure washer.
Thoroughly wash windows and screens, and
remove and store dark solar screens if you have them. Open shutters, curtains
and blinds, which will not only make your house look more inviting from the
outside, it will brighten the inside.
Consider a fresh coat of paint on your front
door, trim and shutters. And small, cosmetic improvements like new house
numbers, a colorful wreath and a clean front doormat can have a big impact.6
6.
FRESHEN KITCHENS AND BATHS
Kitchens and bathrooms will show better and
appear larger if all items are cleared from the countertops, except for one or
two decorative pieces.7 You should have already packed up
non-essentials during your decluttering process, and the remaining items should
be neatly stored in pantries and cupboards.
If your cabinets are dingy or outdated, adding
a fresh coat of paint and new hardware is an easy and inexpensive way to make
them modern and bright. Consider purchasing new shower curtains, bath mats and
towels for the bathrooms and new dish towels for the kitchen.
Before each showing, make sure kitchens and
baths are spotless and trash cans are empty and out of sight. To add a
comforting aroma, try baking cookies, or in the fall, simmer some cinnamon
sticks and cloves in a pot of water before you leave the house. In the spring,
try a vase of fresh cut lilacs.7
7. SET
THE TABLE
Buyers often imagine hosting family gatherings
in their new home, and the dining room plays a large role in that vision. If
your dining room chairs are stained or outdated, you may want to recover them
or use slipcovers. In most cases, an imperfect table can be camouflaged with a
neutral and stylish tablecloth.
Be sure the table is centered underneath the
chandelier and on the area rug if you’re using one. If your dining room is
small, remove all other furniture and leave only four chairs.8
Dress up the table using nice tableware and
cloth napkins or a table runner and centerpiece. For a long table, try lining
up a series of small vessels down the middle.
8.
REARRANGE FURNITURE
Start in your living room and think about what
you want to emphasize (and de-emphasize) about the space. For example, do you
have a beautiful fireplace or a stunning view? If so, arrange the furniture
with that focal point in mind. Use a symmetrical seating arrangement to create
a cozy conversation area adjacent to the focal point.
If the room is small, consider removing some
of the furniture to make it feel larger, especially oversized pieces. That
includes oversized television sets, unless it’s a designated media room.
Pulling furniture away from the wall can make the room feel more spacious, and
placing your largest furniture piece in the far-left corner (as opposed to near
the entry) can create the illusion of a larger space.9
For small bedrooms, remove all the furniture
except the bed, bedside tables and a dresser. If it’s a large room, add one or
two chairs and a table to create a seating area. Place lamps on the bedside
tables and seating area if you have one.10
Make sure each space in your home has a
clearly defined purpose. For example, if you’ve been using an extra bedroom as
a catch-all storage space, stage it as a guest room or office instead. Turn an
awkward alcove into a workstation or a reading corner. Help buyers imagine how
they could use the space themselves.3
9.
LIGHTEN UP
Lighting can have a drastic impact on the look
and feel of a home. Few buyers seek out a dark house; most prefer one that’s
light and bright. Make sure windows are clean, and open curtains and blinds to
let in the maximum amount of daylight.
Each room should have three types of lighting:
ambient (general or overhead), task (such as a reading lamp or under-cabinet
light), and accent (such as a floor or table lamp). Aim for a goal of 100 total
watts per 50 square feet.11 If your mounted light fixtures are
dated, replacing them with something more modern is an easy and inexpensive
upgrade that can have a big impact.
Strategically placed landscape lighting can add a dramatic effect to your home’s exterior. Welcome evening visitors with a lighted walkway, or use a spotlight to accentuate trees or other landscaping features. Solar lights require no wiring; simply place them in a sunny spot and they will turn on automatically at dusk.
10.
HIGHLIGHT YOUR BACKYARD’S BEST FEATURES
While your home’s interior often takes center
stage, don’t forget about staging your home’s outdoor areas to help buyers
imagine how they could utilize the space.
Even a small patio can become a selling
feature with the addition of a cafe table and chairs. Add a tray of plates and
coffee cups to help buyers envision a peaceful breakfast on the back porch.
Place chairs and wine glasses around an outdoor firepit or hang a hammock with
a book in your favorite shady spot.3 These small, simple additions
can help buyers visualize the possibilities your backyard has to offer.
BEFORE
YOU GET STARTED
If you’re in the market to sell your home,
this list provides a great starting point for your preparations. But nothing beats
the trained eye and expertise of a real estate agent. Before you do any work,
I recommend consulting a professional for advice about your particular
property.
I offer free, no-commitment seller
consultations and will walk through your home with you to help you assess which
projects and upgrades are worth your time and money, and which ones you can
skip.
As a local market expert, I am intimately
familiar with buyer preferences in your area. I’ll run a comparative market
analysis to find out how your home compares to others currently on the market,
as well as those that have recently sold. Then I’ll tailor a custom plan to
suit your particular property, budget and needs.
Please
call or email me today with questions or to schedule a free consultation!
Sources:
1. National Association of
Realtors –
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/migration_files/reports/2017/2017-profile-of-home-staging-07-06-2017.pdf
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/migration_files/reports/2017/2017-profile-of-home-staging-07-06-2017.pdf
2. Real Estate Staging
Association –
http://www.realestatestagingassociation.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=304550&module_id=164548
http://www.realestatestagingassociation.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=304550&module_id=164548
5. National Association of
Realtors –
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/reports/2017/2017-home-buyer-and-seller-generational-trends-03-07-2017.pdf
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/reports/2017/2017-home-buyer-and-seller-generational-trends-03-07-2017.pdf
6. The Spruce –
https://www.thespruce.com/must-try-neutral-paint-colors-797983
https://www.thespruce.com/must-try-neutral-paint-colors-797983
8. StageMyOwnHome.com –
http://www.stagemyownhome.com/staging-the-dining-room.html
http://www.stagemyownhome.com/staging-the-dining-room.html
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