Staging Basics: Making Your Home More Marketable

WHAT IS STAGING, ANYWAY?

Staging is the art of dressing your house for a sale; it’s what you do after you cleaned, de-cluttered, painted, and made minor repairs.  They key to staging is simplicity; make your home neutral to buyers and allow them to picture themselves there.  Here are a few quick and easy tips that you can do to better showcase your home:

A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION: A well manicured lawn, a clean and clutter free porch welcome prospects.  So does a freshly painted – or at least scrubbed – front door.  Sweep the walkway; the fewer the obstacles between the prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.

COLOR MATTERS: Dark paint colors or wood paneling make rooms appear smaller and dated.  Light, neutral paint colors give the illusion of a large space to potential buyers.

PICTURE PERFECT: Pack away personal items and photos.  Don’t distract prospective buyers with your beautiful family.  Neutralize artwork and accessories, allow buyers to picture themselves buying your home.

BULGING CLOSETS: The better organized the closet the larget it appears.  Now’s the time to box up thoses unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

CHECK FAUCETS AND BULBS:  Dripping water rattles the nerves and discolors sinks; suggesting faulty/worn our plumbing.  Burned out bulbs leave prospects in the dark.  don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.

LET THE SUN IN: Pull back curtains and drapes, allow prospects to see how bright and cheery your home is.

TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES: Strong odors will deter potential buyers.  Take out the garbage, keep the garbage disposal cleaned out, clean pet stains and odors from carpets and bedding.

WATCH YOUR PETS: Dogs and cats are great, but not when you’re showing your home.  Pets have a talent for getting underfoot.  So do everybody a favor: Keep pets outside, or out of the way.