Staging Your Home for Sale: 10 Low Cost Things You Can Do
January 5th, 2009 categories: Sellers
This is probably the number one question Realtors get when listing someone’s home. But keep in mind — these great suggestions are better done before that for sale sign goes up.
1. Curb appeal: If you can’t get them in the front door, then the next nine suggestions won’t matter much. Edge, mulch, clean and add some color. Be sure the front door is updated and the focal point. The grass needs to be green, free of clutter and weed free.
2. Light: Nothing improves the interior appeal like light. Make sure all the light bulbs are a higher voltage and working. If the showing is during the daylight hours, open shades and let the sunlight in.
3. Clean, Clean, Clean: This is the stuff that will take a little time, i.e. removing anything that would remind a potential customer that someone has lived here. Shining woodwork, gleaming chrome, spotless windows and polished tile show a buyer that the house doesn’t need a lot of work before moving in.
4. Floor space: One thing buyers like is space, so let them see more of the floor. Start packing things that occupy the floor space. Then stack those boxes in the basement, garage, or better yet a storage bin. Arrange what you have left to look more spacious.
5. Storage: People love closets and shelving. The best way to increase this element is to get rid of half of the things you have in your closets, on your shelves and in your pantries. Then take what you have left and arrange in a organized fashion to give the appearance of more storage space.
6. Personal Items: Remember buyers are looking at your home not your personal items. Especially your very personal items like pictures, medicine bottles and laundry. Some collections are OK if they fit in your decor, but too much may make it hard for them to fit their personal style into your house.
7. Details: Pay attention to small details. If the door knobs are tight, faucets don’t leak and the caulking in the tub is in good repair, that shows a buyer that you take good care of the rest of your home.
8. Smells: Perfumes and candles can be too much for some folks and causes some to wonder what you trying to cover up. Be very conscious of animal smells. If your house is clean, and you are careful about what you cooked the night before, this should not be a issue.
9. Color: Even though paint is cheap and most people are able to get this job done prior to moving in, neutral grays and creams on the walls go over much better with the buying public. Keep the focus on the room not the wall.
10. Bodies: The best thing to do to help sell your home is to arrange to have you, your children, and animals gone during the showing. Allow your buyers to really feel comfortable checking out your house by not being in it.
