Staged for Success

A Guide to Staging Your Home for Top Dollar

Want to get top dollar for your home? STAGE IT! A well-staged home can increase your sales price by up to 17%. A mere $500 spent on staging can net over 300% profit, making it money very well spent. (Statistics from http://blog.homegain.com/home-improvement-surveys/homegain-2012-national-home-improvement-survey-results/)

So how do you ‘stage’ your home? By making it the most buyer friendly home in a crowded market of homes.

First things first: CLEAN and DEPERSONALIZE! And I mean EVERY room in the house. Pack and store every item you do not absolutely need and remove the packed items from the premises, giving the house a ‘model home’ appearance.

Keep the kitchen and bathroom counters and cupboards clean of all unnecessary clutter including shampoos and appliances. Keepsakes and family memorabilia have no place in a home on the market. Keep all appliances, counters, sinks, tubs and cupboards clean and shining. (P.S. Buyers WILL look in your cupboards, drawers, oven and fridge.) If kitchen appliances and/or bathroom fixtures are very outdated, consider replacing them—they don’t have to be top of the line but should be in keeping with current trends.

The same holds for all the other rooms—strip them down to just a few decorative items. Keep yourselves out of your home. The buyers want to imagine themselves in the home—not you and your family. In addition, closets, whether clothing, linen or other storage, should be sparse. This gives the buyer the impression of ‘room’ for their own items.

And while we’re on the interior—PAINT IF NECESSARY! This is a very inexpensive way to give your home a bright, fresh look. (Tip: keep the paint colors neutral.) And scrub the floors– whether tile, concrete or carpeting, floors need to have a fresh appearance.

Don’t forget your garage! Garages should be clean and uncluttered including the floors and walls. Give the impression of plenty of space for the buyer’s tools, cars and recreational items. I realize removing large tools or ‘toys’ is not generally feasible, so don’t. But do keep them and their surrounding areas clean. Keep your items neatly placed, out of the line of garage traffic.

The outside of your home is every bit as important as the inside. It should present an amazing and inviting first impression. Do not ignore the balance of your property but most important is the entrance. Clean everything. Replace that outside light if needed. Paint where necessary. Power wash and scrub everything from the exterior walls and windows to the driveways, walkways and patios. Add well placed seasonal plants for color. Make your entrance inviting- hundreds of inexpensive do-it-yourself ideas specifically designed for upgrading exterior appearances can be found online.

And finally, make your home sparkle by keeping windows clean and drapes or blinds open to let in light. In addition, place inviting smells throughout your home.

While it may take a couple of dedicated weeks to accomplish the above, it is proven well worth the effort. And if time simply is not on your side, check your local listings or ask your agent for a referral—professional stagers are a growing business.