How To Stage Your Home For Sale

When someone walks into your home and they gasp with awe, you know you have created a "Kodak moment" in their mind. Staging a home that epitomizes a Better Homes and Garden snapshot will most certainly remove a listing from the MLS in a matter of weeks as long as the price is just as attractive.

With the multitude of homes on the market today, competition is fierce and first impressions can kill a deal in the blink of an eye. Not every one has the panache of an artist, some may think that clutter makes a room look homey and striped wall paper adds character to a room. Are you willing to take that chance? Tis better to have 3 interested parties bidding on your home at once instead of turning off every one who walks through the door.

Believe it or not, there actually are staging companies who will come in and give your entire home a once over. Even interior decorators are providing the service as well for less than $200 (minimum 5 room house). They will view your home with not only a critical eye but through the eyes of prospective buyers.

Perhaps You Don't Have The Money

Remove anything not in its rightful place including old clothes, bathroom towels that are frayed and discolored, old chairs, piles of photographs, knick knacks, just plain garbage, toys all over the floor and old newspapers, mail etc. That means the back yard as well. If there is junk back there, get rid of it.

Can you see the table in the dining room? If not, clear it off and put a fresh table cloth on top that fits, and compliments the room. Set the table with your finest place setting to let the buyer envision what entertaining guests would look like. Set the mood.

If your rooms are carpeted, dirty or stained, shampoo them. Most major grocery and hardware chains have machines to rent if you can not afford a professional service. If you have hardwood floors underneath, you may want to consider ripping up the carpeting because wood floors add value and extreme appeal. Generally wood floors in older homes that were covered with carpeting stay in great condition and don not need to be refinished.

PAINT:

Do your rooms need a fresh coat of paint? If they are marred or faded ... repaint them. You may love a burgundy wall in your dining room but neutral colors lighten the room, will make it look airy, and roomy and match almost anything a buyer has to bring in. Better to leave them not needing to paint rather than, "Oh god, I hate that color!"

FURNITURE: If it's old, torn or stained either get rid of it or, cover it up. If the piece does not fit or match the room, move it to the cellar.

KITCHEN: Do you have too many small appliances or containers out on your kitchen counter? If so, remove them, and store them away. You want to create as much counter space as possible. If you have wood cabinets, scrub them down with Old English to bring back the luster and shine. Make sure your major appliances are as clean. Dirty spillovers and crusty grime is disgusting and will leave buyers not wanting to use them. The kitchen is the heartbeat of every home. If it's not inviting, you' will lose the sale. Before your perspective buyers arrive, have a cinnamon candle burning or better yet pour some into a tea pot and bring it to boil. The smell will wow them.

First impressions can never be reversed once the vision is captured and the damage is done. Taking the time to simply unclutter an area, slightly change the color, texture, style or arrangement of a given area will truly create an attractive portrait of your home in the buyers mind. You don't want to take that chance and lose them at hello.  Check in on Friday for our post on how to WOW potential buyers with curbside appeal.