SELL THAT HOUSE
In this installment of Sell That House, we're going to look at one of the importance but often-overlooked aspects of the home-selling process, the staging. For those who haven't heard of the practice, home staging is the art of making a home look... well... buyable, for lack of a better term to those you are showing it for.
Some people will hire a professional stager to come in and take care of their home before having an open house, and many real estate agents recommend going this route. It especially makes sense to do this if you've already moved out and the house is empty; a stager can and does usually provide his or her own furniture to make the rooms look luxurious and comfortable.
But if you don't have the budget to hire a pro, or just feel like tackling the challenge yourself, we're here to help. Here are our top 5 ways to start staging your home like a trained professional. Follow these guidelines, and you'll have your home off your hands in no time!
The Hit List:
1) Just Because It's Called a Fixture...
One of the biggest mistakes made by DIY home stagers is to skimp out on replacing outdated fixtures before showing the home. In the grand scheme of things, spending a few dollars to replace your door hardware, faucets and 70s-era light fixtures will be well worth it. Skipping this step altogether will leave prospective buyers thinking you and your place are dowdy and out of touch with current trends.
2) Clean Means Cared For
When prospective buyers enter your home, you better believe that they are going to notice every dust bunny on the floor and scuff mark on the wall... and worse, they'll extrapolate from every imperfection and assume your home is in much worse condition than it is if it isn't spic-and-span.
Bottom line: When your home is on the market, it must be spotless at all times and ready for a showing. If you have to pay a cleaner for that period to keep it that way, do so - it will be worth it when your home sells that much faster!
3) Less is More
A common mistake made by homeowners, when they are trying to make their home look good, is to clutter every room with oversized furniture, knickknacks and decorative pieces. When you're trying to sell, try to remember the popular adage: K.I.S.S, Keep It Simple Stupid!
The more things you stack into every room, the smaller and less homey the room, and the house as a whole, will look.
4) Fur Better or Worse
You might think that your little Muffy or Fido is God's gift to humanity, and that all prospective homebuyers will share your love of pets. They won't.
If you have pets, make sure to vacuum up fur ardently and erase all evidence of pets living in the home before showing it, so as not to defer potential buyers who aren't fond of animals, have allergies, etc.
5) Taste is Personal
By far the most common and largest error made by homeowners when trying to ready their home to be shown is to allow themselves to be blinded by personal taste.
When it comes to staging your home, neutral is the word of the day. You may think that your 4-green motif in the dining room is the cat's meow. Others might not be so enthused.
You might think that the faux Picasso prints on the hallway wall bring the space to life. Browsers with a realist penchant will be turned off. (Now if you've a genuine Picasso print, then you can probably leave that hanging...)
As much as it pains you, the less personal you make the space before showing it, the better. This allows each new visitor to better imagine how they could and would make each room their own.
After all, the sooner you sell this house, the sooner you can buy a new home and start decorating the rooms in that one any way you like!
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