STAGING TIPS: Readying Your Home for Showing
"Staging" — or redecorating your home prior to showing it to potential buyers — can not only help sell your house quickly but also net you top dollar for it.
It's been shown that in a slow real estate market, a home will sell for between 2% and 10% more by staging it for sale. In a tight market where bidding wars are common, these numbers can increase to between 20% and 40%.
Though you may have been living in your house for a while — adding many personal touches to the space over the years — getting it ready for sale requires putting your emotions on hold, looking at your home objectively and taking steps towards making your house as appealing to buyers as possible.
Here are a few tips for staging your home:
Create Curb Appeal
Remove anything from your yard that could turn off potential buyers. Pick up leaves, branches and grass clippings and remove toys, rusted outdoor furniture or rubbish. Trim shrubs or trees, especially if they are concealing the front of your home. Tend to items in need of repair like crooked shutters or hanging eaves troughs.
Freshen up your front door with a new coat of paint. Wash windows and sills. Consider renting a power washer to uncover years of dust and grime and to make the exterior of your house really sparkle. Brighten up your front walk by planting colourful flowers and some greenery for a fresh, inviting look. Consider adding mulch around your plants for a clean, newly manicured appearance.
Go with the Flow
Hire a professional interior decorator to spend a couple of hours with you determining the best way to improve the traffic circulation in your home. Moving, replacing or editing out some of your furniture can create a more welcoming space with a less cluttered feeling and a better sense of flow. If your furniture looks tired or outdated, consider renting “staging” pieces.
Sweet Smelling
Bring in a friend or relative to have a walk around your home for a sniff test. You may not be noticing pet odors or basement mustiness. Make sure that bathrooms and bedrooms smell fresh.
Bake bread or cookies just before showing your house – it may be a cliche, but the scent of baked goods will add a warmth to your house unattainable by room sprays alone.
See the Light
Buyers like homes that feel bright and airy so pull shades and curtains open, especially if you want to bring attention to a fantastic view.
Clean Sweep
Give your house a top-to-bottom scrub. Wax your floors and shampoo the rugs. Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners and dust from fans. If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of undertaking a thorough cleaning of your house, hire a cleaning service to do it for you — it will be money well-spent.
Fixer Upper
Inspect all faucets and shower heads for leaks and repair if necessary. Replace burnt out lightbulbs and fix anything visibly damaged or disfunctions in the house that you may have been putting off.
A Designer’s Touch
For showings, put out bowls of shiny green apples or luscious lemons for a splash of fresh, juicy color. Display cut flowers in simple glass vases in the foyer and several rooms for that extra touch of elegance.
For Recommended Professional Stagers Please Contact Us.
Bob and Peggie Smolko
RE/MAX Allegiance