Staging a Successful Sale
Try looking at your house “THROUGH THE BUYER’S EYES” as though you’ve never seen it or been there before. Any time or money invested on the following will bring back more money in return, and hopefully a faster sale. 
INSIDE:
- Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items.
- Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn’t been used for three months... put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.)
- In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops. Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes, perfumes etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels to one or two colors only.
- Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary. As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room. This is wonderful for our own personal enjoyment, but when it comes to selling we need to thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger.
- Take down or rearrange certain pictures or objects on walls. Patch and paint if necessary.
- Review the inside of the house room by room, and
- Paint any room needing paint.
- Clean carpets or drapes that need it.
- Clean windows.
- If you need room to store extra possessions use the garage or rent a storage unit.
OUTSIDE:
- Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage.
- Check gutters for roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.
- Look at all plants... prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. “YOU CAN’T SELL A HOUSE IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT.” Plants are like children — they grow so fast!!
- Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove and dead head plants or shrubs.
- Clear patios or decks of all small items. such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys. etc. (Put them in the garage or a storage unit.)
- Check paint condition of the house — especially the front door and trim. “CURB APPEAL REALLY WORKS!”
Beyond keeping your home spic and span during the selling process, there are things you can do to further enhance its attractiveness to prospective buyers.
Think light and lots of it! Prior to showings turn on the lights in every room - even during the day- and consider upgrading the wattage so as to present a bright & welcoming feel. Open curtains & lift blinds to maximize natural light & take advantage of any beautiful views you may have. For evening showings, light the fireplace and a couple of candles for a romantic ambience.
Next, create little vignettes suggesting the relaxed & pleasant activities that go on inside your home. Turn the stereo on low volume tuned to an adult contempory station. How about two brandy snifters beside the bed or on the edge of your jacuzzi or hot tub, an open book and a pair of glasses atop your most comfortable chair, fresh flowers on the dining room table , a bowl of colorful fruit or a gourmet cookbook open to a scrumptious page in your kitchen!
Having established a positive visual, cater to the prospective buyer's sense of smell. The smell of cinnamon, vanilla or even fresh baked bread leaves a terrific lasting impression. Frozen bread loaves are easy to find at your grocery store, inexpensive and can be popped in the oven just before a showing! The smell of fresh baked bread will certainly make your home stick out in the mind of a prospective buyer!
These are just a few ideas to help you stage your home for a spectacular showing everytime. When you list your home with me, I provide free of charge, the services of a professional staging company that will review your home and provide a written report specific to your needs. Simply contact me for more details. I would be happy to discuss my unique real estate marketing programs with you!
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