How to stage your home for a sale
If you are trying to sell your home it is critical to know that potential buyers make their decision to purchase your home in the first 30 seconds upon entering. A great first impression is the key to selling your home fast and for top dollar. While the real estate market is still in a state of flux studies show that well staged homes sell for 30-50% faster than their counterparts. So if you are putting your home up for sale here is what you need to know about how to stage your home for a sale-
- De-Clutter, clean, and/or organize all rooms in the house-Start by addressing any and all repairs that need attention. Be sure to inspect your house inside and out to search for cracks, etc. This small investment of time and money will mean a bigger return when it comes to the sale price.
- Remember that any improvement in landscapes will add curb appeal to attract a buyer. Be sure to use plenty of color in and around the front walkway and porch areas. If you need to update exterior lighting.
- Paint the exterior and interior of your home. Keep in mind that interior paint should be in neutral tones.
- Spruce up furniture with slip covers.
- Work to keep the bathroom as bare as possible, never leave your personals in view when showing your home. Buyers will be more attracted to your house when they can imagine themselves living there.
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You may want to consider packing the following items into storage:
- All family photos
- Holiday souvenirs
- Trophies & certificates
- Collectible items
- Children's artwork
- Home Gyms that haven't been used in months
Whether you are selling professionally or by yourself, make sure you have some fliers made up with details and photos of your house for prospective buyers to take away with them. When you have open houses keep in mind that you want to appeal to all the five senses of your prospective buyer-
- Sight: Open the blinds and drapes to let in natural light. Keep clutter away and consider keeping your pet out of the home for that day.
- Smell: Put out flowers in the main rooms of your home, as well as scented candles. Baking bread in the oven is another good idea.
- Taste: Make some cookies or something else for your guests. This will also help improve the aroma of your home.
- Hearing: Turn off the sound on all television sets and computers, and have some easy listening or jazz music playing in the background softly.
- Touch: Have your guests sit on the softest couch, and make sure everything is clean and dust-free. Also when showing guests around your property let them enter the room first. In smaller rooms like the bathrooms, stay at the door. Too many bodies in too small a space can make your home feel smaller than it really is.
Real Estate professionals offer the following advice-
- If you don't think you have an eye for presentation, ask one of your friends or family to prepare your house for you. If you really can not see a problem with clothes lying around and sticky floors, get someone else to present your house for you! Pay them if necessary as presentation is so important in presenting your house.
- It is important to remember that you are decorating your home for someone else so keeping that in mind will help you to make purchases that will appeal to the masses.
- Do not over-price your home! Have your real estate agent compare your home to others in your area of the same size for sale (get what is referred to in the industry as a Comparative Market Analysis). This will determine the right price to list your home at. If your home has been on the market more than 3 months, doing this should help you sell your home along with staging it.
- You may need to make a few purchases in order to stage your home well. But it is important to understand that the small cash outlay for slip covers, flowers and maybe new flooring can bring a much bigger return on your investment.
