Staging Secrets that Sell

by David Sobel

Preparing a home for sale requires a lot more than simply hiring a real estate professional. Staged homes sell faster and for a higher price than non-staged homes, translating to more money in commissions for you, happier clients and more business.

To sell your client's home fastest and for the highest price, sellers must be prepared to de-clutter, re-light, scrub and neutralize their home. Here are some considerations you can offer to your client:

1. Clutter Control

A cluttered home appears smaller and gives the buyer the sense that there is not enough room in the house for all of his or her belongings. A good place to begin is to count every item in a particular room and eliminate 50% of them. Also get rid of any house plants and depersonalize the rooms by removing pictures, dolls and toys. Less appliances and accessories on the countertops allows potential buyers to visually expand the kitchen, making the countertops appear large and clean.

2. Lights, camera, action

Many homeowners forget to consider that a lot of the showings are going to be at night around the buyer's work schedule. An inexpensive way to give an updated look to an older home is to replace older light fixtures with nickel and chrome. Add small lamps and plug-in nightlights to show warm pools of light that will make the home feel comfortable. Forum on the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms.

3. Scrub until it sparkles

The house may be old, but it can still sparkle. Clean the house from top to bottom. Wash the windows inside and out, have the carpet cleaned and remove any sign of pets. Scrub the kitchen and bathrooms until they shine. Clean the stovetop with a degreaser and remove any stains or discoloration on the countertops. Keep the floors immaculate throughout the listing period

4. Neutralize the home

If the walls, ceilings or trim of the house are painted in contrasting bold colors, consider repainting with crisp neutral colors to appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette to make the homes appear larger.

Make sure that when you're staging a home, you look at its features as objectively as possible. The buyer is looking for a home he or she can imagine living their lifestyle in, so highlight the positive selling features of the home to advertise what the house has to offer.

The article is taken from the September 2007 RIS Media's Real Estate Magazine.

 

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