Check out the rest of our “Staging Secrets” that will help make YOUR HOME the ONE that BUYERS WILL LOVE! Skillful staging can make ALL the difference in the world between a quick sale and one that languishes on the market for months…
4. Light Things Up
The right kind and amount of illumination can work wonders on how a home is perceived by prospective buyers. When preparing a home for a showing, open the blinds and turn on a few lamps. By brightening things up a bit, it’ll make the home feel immediately more inviting. If you work during the day, do yourself, and the buyers a favor, and leave a few well-placed light fixtures on and have the blinds already open in preparation for prospective buyers during your workday. Chalk up the few cents it’ll cost you to have the lights on during your daily absence as a basic cost of marketing your home for sale. Regarding window treatments, remember that “less is more”! Remove heavy and dark fabrics and opt for white sheers. Consider removing outdated curtains, cornices and blinds altogether. Make sure your handyman patches and paints the holes from the removed hardware. Of course, don’t forget to clean the windows inside and out – cobwebs, grime/dirt, your little one’s handprints and Fido’s nose marks will detract from the home’s overall appeal.
5. Neutralize the Space
Let’s face it, there is nothing like a new coat of paint! Professional stagers report that “a coat of neutral paint, other than white, is probably going to be a seller’s best return-on-investment.” If your home has been painted recently, consider yourself ahead of the game. Sellers who paint the interior of their home will see a large ROI as fresh, neutral paint on walls, trim and doors is worth its weight in gold. It makes everything appear clean and new. Now, that the interior space is neutralized, it is time to consider a home’s optimal traffic flow and the placement of furniture. Professional home stagers recommend that each room has a distinct and single useful purpose. Another strategy is to setup the master bedroom to appeal to both sexes. Get rid of features that seem too gender-specific like floral overload or work-out central. Stick to neutral colors and choose solid bedding that matches. Then accessorize with items that complement the overall theme.
6. Enhance Curb Appeal
Keeping in mind that you only have one chance at making a good impression on a prospective buyer, the home’s exterior curb appeal is just as important as cleaning the home’s interior. BEFORE you hit the market, pressure-wash the sidewalk, driveway, lanai and home exterior. Don’t neglect the front door! A fresh coat of paint in an accent color on the front door goes a long way as does a brand-new front door welcome mat. Mow the lawn, trim the shrubs/trees and pull weeds on a regular basis. Another low-cost solution to enhancing curb appeal is mulch. It is cheap, covers a multitude of sins and helps make everything look neat and trim. Take a long hard look at your roof and, if necessary, have it professionally cleaned to remove any dirt, mold or mildew.
7. Keep it Simple
Finally, don’t try to make your home too fancy. You want your home to look like the “best version of itself”, so don’t try to make it something it’s not. Focusing on cleanliness, good lighting and clutter-free surfaces will allow your home’s personality and character to speak for itself.
We hope you found our series on 7 Secrets to Staging a Home That BUYERS WILL LOVE to be informative and interesting.
Thinking of BUYING OR SELLING a home in the Spring Hill, Brooksville, Weeki Wachee or the Hernando Beach areas of Hernando County, Florida? If you’re new to the area, be sure to see what Hernando County has to offer you and your family! In the meantime, visit www.GailSellsFloridaHomes.com to explore our state-of-the-art MLS Map Search Feature where BUYERS can SEARCH MLS listings and SELLERS can SEE what their competition is doing!
Until then… it’s all about YOU!