Staged to sell

Stage your home for prospective buyers.  Sounds easy enough but what are the best staging tips with the biggest impact and lowest cost?

Well, first you want to understand the driving force behind the idea of staging your home for market.  Studies have shown that buyers respond more favorably to a staged home compared to a non-staged home.  Second, when choosing staging opportunities for your home, have a clear understanding about what the return may be for various staging improvements.

In other words, you want to stage your home to peak the interests of the widest number of potential buyers and you want to choose staging improvements that have a positive financial return.  Here is a short list of common staging techniques and suggestions to get you started:

1.  De-clutter – Create a sense of space whereever possible.  Remove extra pieces of furniture, remove extra ’stuff’ from all closets, clean out the garage.  Remove nearly everything from all countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms.

2.  Neutralize – When possible, the more ‘neutral’ the walls the better.  If needed, paint your walls a neutral color.  It’s a low cost, high impact way to give your home a fresh appearance.

3.  De-personalize – Take down all family photographs and personal items.  Remember, you are creating an environment where your buyer can imagine themselves in the living space.

4.  Clean, clean, clean – As difficult as it is, keeping your home in tip top shape is key.  Clean kitchens, bathrooms, beds made and odor-free is a must.  Keep trash cans empty, toilets cleaned and dishes put away.

5.  Lights and music – When it’s time to show, turning on the lights and turning on low-volume music add to the ambience and experience for buyers.

This is just a short list to get you started, but there are literally hundreds of tips and techniques that can be done to make your home more appealling to more buyers – such as curb appeal, furniture arrangement and mood setting techniques, etc.  Take a closer look at staging and you’re sure to get more for your home in less time.