Staging Your Home For Sale - Is It Worth The Investment?

A survey of owners by StagedHomes.com found that staged homes sold for 6.9 percent more than homes that weren't staged. The difference should pay your Realtor fees and the staging costs.


Here are the QUICK Tips for Staging Your Home:

• Freshen up the home Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Kepp decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1,3, or 5 items. In general, a sparsely decorated home helps the buyer mentally 'move in' with their own things.
  
  
• Take a close look Rearrange or remove some of the furniture in your home, if necessary. Many times howmowners have too much furniture in a room. When it comes to selling your home, thin out overcrowded roooms to make the rooms appear larger.
  
  
• Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn't been used for three months, put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, magnets, pictures, etc.
  
  
• In the Bathroom, remove any unncessary items from the countertops, tub, shower stall and commode top. Keep only the most necessary cosmetics, brushes, perfumes, etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels in one or two colors only.
  
  
• Take down, reduce or rearrange pictures and objects on walls. Patch and paint all walls, if necessary.
  
  
• Review the house interior, room by room. Paint any room necessary, clean carpet and drapes and clean windows.
  
  
• Store posessions in the garade or rent a storage unit. Besides, the goal is to have all your boxes packed asap, right?
  
  
• Leave lights on during the day (I can show you which ones). During showings turn on ALL lights and lamps.
  
  
• Play Music every day in the house, for all viewings.
  
  
• Go around perimeter of the house and remove all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., to the garage or better yet, to the dump!
  
  
• Check gutters and roof for dryrot and moss. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.
  
  
• Look at all plants. Plants are like children... they grow so fast. Prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows: "You can't sell a house if you can't see it!"
  
  
• Remove any dead plants, weed all planting areas and put down fresh mulchin material.
  
  
• Keep your lawn freshly cut, edged and fertilized during the growing season.
  
  
• Clear patios or decks of small items, such as little planters, flower pots, charcoal, barneques, toys, etc.
  
  
• Check the condition of the paint on your home, especially the trim and the front door. The first impression, or 'curb appeal', is very important.
  
  IN GENERAL
  
  Try to look at your house "through a buyer's eyes," as though you've never it before. This exercise will help you see what needs to be done. Any time and money invested on these itmes will usually bring you the return of more money and a quicker sale.
  
  Working together, you and I as your
  Accredited Staging Professional,™
  make a WINNING TEAM!