Getting ready to put your house on the market? It goes without saying; you hope to sell your home fast for the best possible price. Successfully staging your home is the key to making a great first impression. Check out these easy, low cost tips on how to set the stage for success.
Good-Bye Clutter
Decluttering your home is one of the most important ways to prepare your home for sale. Pack away personal items so buyers can imagine the home with their stuff. Clean and clear surfaces, floors, cupboards, and closets, freeing up space and making the home appear larger. If you have a “collect all” room, pack it up and transform the space into something that will add value to your home. Consider renting a storage unit to store extra furnishings. Professional stagers recommend removing as much as 50% of the owner’s furnishings but ridding your home of clutter helps the buyer focus on the bones of the house.
Sparkle & Shine
Take the time to make your home sparkle from top to bottom. Dust down the cobwebs, wash the walls and shine those windows. Clean the wood cabinets, trim and floors. Old English or Howard’s Restore-A-Finish can bring back the natural wood glow and cover some of those scratches, wear and tear. Spend extra time cleaning tile grout so it’s free of stains and odors. Scrub the bathroom and put out some fresh towels. A little bit of time and elbow grease goes a long way for little cost.
Rearrange & Accessorize
When you stage a space, don’t be afraid to move furniture and accessories from one area to another. Create cozy conversational groups and float the furniture away from the walls and windows. Place pieces so that the traffic flow in the room is obvious. If the space is missing something repurpose accessories or ask to borrow a piece of furniture from a friend. Creatively display art in varying patterns, group colors, textures, shapes, etc and place object in numbers of 3 with varying heights. You want the home to look lived in but remember less is more.
Fresh Paint
It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can make a room feel clean and new. Fresh neutrals go great in large spaces and can help turn an eye from dated finishes. Today neutrals reach far beyond cream and beige to soft grays, blues and greens. Painting smaller spaces the same color of the adjacent room will make the space feel larger. If you don’t plan on painting the whole house, consider taking a paintbrush to the areas that need it most.
Curb Appeal
Be sure to clean and stage the exterior of your home too. It’s the first photo buyers see online and many people drive by to see the home and neighborhood. Power- wash the siding, drive-way and sidewalks if needed. Paint the porch and trim around doors for a fresh clean look. Make sure the house numbers are nice and easily readable. Mow the lawn and add a pop of color with fresh mulch, flowers and foliage. Remove any clutter from the driveway and sidewalks. Stage your porch, deck or balcony to be inviting and functional.
These 5 easy steps will help you make a great first impression for home buyers. Your home will stand out and hopefully have an offer in no time.
