A great way to increase the odds of selling your home at or near your asking price is to stage it effectively. There are ways to highlight your home’s best features without “breaking the bank”. Over the years, I have incorporated staging in my marketing strategies for many of my listings as it plays a very cost-effective role in the home selling process. Check out the following “Golden Rules” of home staging to help “show off” your home’s best assets:
Sanitize: This golden rule is probably the easiest and the least expensive way to stage your home – JUST CLEAN IT! The buyer’s impression of the home would be negatively impacted if the kitchen sink is overflowing with dirty dishes or the bathrooms needed a deep cleaning. Good old-fashioned “elbow grease” goes a long way with this strategy. Consider hiring a professional cleaning crew if you are unable to tackle this task alone.
Neutralize: This golden rule is one of the most cost-effective ways to change the look, feel and personality of a home. Let’s face it, color CAN MAKE OR BREAK a potential buyer’s interest in your home. You may love your shocking pumpkin-colored focal walls, but not all buyers will feel the same way. Is every room in your home painted a different color? Before hitting the market, choose a color that is neutral enough so that prospective buyers can imagine themselves living there. That doesn’t mean everything should be painted bland and boring white. White can work, sometimes, but a greater concern is making the entire house seem way too “stark and cold”. Choose an elegant, crowd-pleasing neutral paint hue with some warmth and depth to its color. Consider hiring a professional painter if you are unable to tackle this task alone.
Maximize: Have you heard this one, “CLUTTER EATS EQUITY”? This golden rule works to maximize the space in your home allowing potential buyers to really “see the house” and what it has to offer. Your closets that are packed tight with all your “stuff” makes a buyer think that the home is lacking in closet space. How about all those extra pieces of furniture that you’ve accumulated over the years. Consider donating any unwanted pieces or secure a temporary storage unit for the overflow. Remember, “less is better” when it comes to staging your home for sale.
De-Personalize: This golden rule is probably one of the hardest staging strategies for sellers to complete. Buyers can easily become distracted by a home loaded with family photos, your display of prized collectibles or your mounted hunting trophies. Buyers need to picture themselves and “their stuff” in the house – NOT YOURS! Besides, think of the time you’ll save with having all those pictures and collectibles dusted and packed in advance of your move.
Modernize: It is important to realize there are ways to modernize or UPDATE a home in preparation for the “hitting the market” without the expense of a brand-new kitchen or new baths. With this golden rule, consider simple changes like replacing those original gold light fixtures for nickel or chrome ones. How about new hardware on your kitchen drawers and cabinets?
Check out our NEXT BLOG POST as we continue our series on “Golden Rules” to Staging a Home on a Budget and check out our suggestions for every room in the house.
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Until then… it’s all about YOU!