Staged Homes Sell Faster

Staging your home for sale makes a huge difference, especially in this difficult market where inventory is high and buyers are a hot commodity.  It is absolutely worth your while as a seller to stage your home.  Staging is the fairly recent real estate term that is a marketing tool.  It is the art of displaying your home in it’s best form by neutralizing, de-personalizing, cleaning, adding street appeal, and enhancing with minimal yet stylish furnishings. 

As a home stager, I have learned first hand that staged homes sell faster and for a better price than un-staged homes.  Recent studies show that a staged home will sell your house in half the amount of time and for 15% more than an unstaged home!  It can give an ordinary house the extra edge as we know that you only have one chance to make a great first impression.

So, whether you go with a professional company such as my very own company,  Staged Home Design, or do it yourself, here are a few very helpful hints that will maximize profits at a minimal investment. 

1.  Street Appeal.  Look at your home from the street,  because if you don’t grab attention from that vantage point, your buyer may not even make it in the door.  Trim trees, weed, mow the lawn, check paint condition, plant flowers or put potted color splashes in entry way, sweep, blow, and de-clutter so that your home shines with wonderful appeal at the street.

2.  De-clutter.  Take out all unnecessary furnishings, clothes, books, pictures, anything that will take away from making your home shine.  Most people have way more furniture and clutter than is needed.  Strip down to the bear basics, a bed and side tables in the bedroom, loveseat, lamp, and artwork in the living room, dining set, bathroom towels, minimize accessories.

3.  De-personalize.  Take away any personal photos,  posters, hobby items, anything that will hinder a buyer to imagine themselves actually living in the home.  Rent a storage unit (don’t push it in the garage, that would be counter productive) until you complete the sale, and keep it simple.

4.  Clean, clean, clean.  Old fashioned, thorough cleaning is your very best friend.  Clean the windows, counter tops, cabinets, appliances, bathrooms, patios,  everything should sparkle and shine.

5.  Make the home warm and inviting.  Warm and neutral colors, on the walls, in the furniture and accessories go a long way to add to the visual and emotional insticts of a buyer.  Bring nature in, plants an flowers are always a welcome addition.  Some people go as far as to make fragrant homemade cookies and spiced cider to fill the house with warm aromatics. 

With these helpful and basic tips, and almost no monetary investment, you will be amazed as to what a difference they will make.  As always, I am happy to assist and advice my clients to all the secrets of a great stage to sell their home.   Happy Open House!

Realtor

Helen@SeattlePowerSearch.com

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