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The process of staging your home for sale is very much like preparing the set of
what will be an Award winning movie. You must set the scene and atmosphere with
the props and lighting before you begin filming. When you have attended to the behind
the scene details you can then call for Lights, Camera and Action!
A properly staged home can maximize your selling price and minimize time on the
market by standing apart from the competition. Potential home buyers need to see
your home as a place where they could live. Home staging facilitates this by creating
a mood in which the buyer can envision living in your space by removing clutter,
dirt and over-personalization. Professional home stagers live by the motto of de-clutter,
de-personalize and clean, clean, clean!
Home staging taps into the proven psychology of selling. Car dealers allow you to
test drive a car so that you can experience what it would be like to own and drive
the car daily. Clothing manufacturers allow you try on clothes so that you can see
yourself in the garments. These experiences create an emotional connection with
the product and set the stage for a sale. While potential home buyers cannot take
your house for a test drive, or try it on (move in for a day), you can engage their
emotions by properly staging your home so that they can visualize what it would
be like to call your house “home”.
Step 1: De-clutter
We never seem to realize how much we have accumulated until it is time to move.
The good news about de-cluttering your home is that you can begin to sort through
what you truly need and want to move to your new location. The bad news is that
you have to be the one to sort through it! People that are buying a home are typically
looking for more space. Clutter eats space and can make rooms feel cramped and small.
Remove excess furniture, knick knacks and items that are not being used. Remember
to ensure that the cupboards and closets only house the essentials. Sort everything
into three piles, garbage, good will or garage sale, and those items to be packed
and stored ready for the move into your new home. If you’re not sure what to pack,
ask yourself this simple question. Am I going to use this in the next 1 –2 months?
If no, package it up for the move. Not only does this actively get your house in
tip top shape for the market, but you can use the money from the garage sale to
buy things for your new home.
De-cluttering can pose special issues for children. Children may find it difficult
to part with toys or clothing. Everything is special even if they have not used
or worn it in a long time.
Step 2: De-Personalize
This part of prepping your home for sale can turn into a special trip down memory
lane. All those pictures and memorabilia are always in view, but people seldom take
time to reconnect with their meaning. This is one of life’s opportunities to smell
the roses, so go ahead, and take a few moments to enjoy! But make sure in the end
that you do pack your personal mementos, family pictures and miscellaneous memorabilia.
Generally, it’s an excellent rule of thumb to pack religious items, knick knacks,
and small to medium pictures and items. Larger accessories and art work should be
placed to one side for consideration when the home is later staged. Remember that
you are showcasing your home as a canvas to which the buyer can insert their own
style.
Step 3: Clean, Clean, Clean
Unfortunately for most home sellers, cleanliness is a major factor for buyers since
other people’s dirt registers much higher on their ick radar. There’s really no
way around it, to sell your home quicker and for the best possible price, it needs
to sparkle. Buyers will pay special attention to the kitchen, bathrooms and windows.
The following guidelines are recommended to get your home thoroughly clean.
- Start at the top of your home and work down
- Clean bedrooms, studies, and seldom used rooms first, the bathrooms, kitchen and
utility rooms next. Save the porch, garage, shed, and attic for last.
- Pull all furniture and appliances into the middle of the rooms that you can clean
behind and underneath
- Clean each room starting at the top and working down (ceiling, walls, trim and floor)
- Do the wet work first – Washing paintwork, windows, laundering and shampooing
- Do the dry work next – dusting, polishing, waxing
- Save the vacuuming until last – this step removes all traces of dust and debris
Once your home has been thoroughly cleaned, set a cleaning schedule that will allow
you to maintain the look on an ongoing basis.
Larry Hann is a St. John's, Newfoundland based realtor who believes professionally
staged homes sell quicker and for more money. Home staging is one of the many marketing
tools he uses when
selling St. John's real estate.
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