| As a certified home stager, people often ask | | | | This is a hot spot for potential buyers. An |
| me how they can best prepare their home to | | | | indicator to them as to how well you have |
| sell in today's sluggish Real Estate market. | | | | paid attention to details when maintaining |
| My answer is simple. Get back to the basic | | | | your home. It may seem unimportant to you |
| principles of good design to create multiple, | | | | but buyer surveys have indicated that it |
| memorable, 'first impressions'! | | | | isn't to them! |
| | | | |
| Today's prospective home buyer is more savvy | | | | . . . balanced. Have you ever been in a room |
| than ever before. Statistics show that 85% | | | | where you felt uncomfortable and weren't sure |
| of people first browse the MLS listings on | | | | exactly why? Chances are the room was |
| the internet to determine which homes they | | | | unbalanced due to furniture which was out of |
| want to personally see. Therefore, | | | | scale and proportion for the room. It could |
| compelling photographs representing a staged | | | | also have been that the colors, textures or |
| home in showcase condition is critically | | | | lighting were not distributed evenly. |
| important. This often can make the difference | | | | Maintaining visual balance with your |
| between a house that sells quickly and a | | | | furnishings is essential in achieving a sense |
| house that will languish on the market for | | | | of comfort, well being, and good home |
| months, unseen. | | | | staging. |
| | | | |
| The art of successfully staging homes to get | | | | . . . cohesive. Your eye carries color from |
| properties sold quickly and at the best | | | | room to room. It is important to determine |
| possible price is a service which has been | | | | an overall color scheme for your home, |
| widely adopted. Homebuilders have been using | | | | usually a combination of 3 to 5 colors, and |
| this marketing technique for many years to | | | | stick with it. This does not mean that every |
| create an emotoinal connection with their | | | | room will look alike. On the contrary, each |
| prospective buyer. They have known that a | | | | room should have it's own personality while |
| well merchandised model is a minimum | | | | maintaining a cohesive flow of color and |
| investment with a maximum return, giving them | | | | style. And remember, your color choices will |
| that all important edge in a competitive | | | | psychologically communicate with your |
| market. What model merchandising has done | | | | potential buyers. For example: Red conveys |
| for the homebuilders, home staging is now | | | | excitement, blue evokes tranquillity, pink |
| doing for individual home sellers and | | | | has a calming effect, yellow sends the |
| Realtors nationally. | | | | message of happiness and light, and green |
| | | | signifies life and growth. And when you use |
| Barbara Corcoran, the dynamic, successful New | | | | black you are communicating the feeling of |
| York real estate mogul was recently quoted as | | | | sophistication and elegance. Know what |
| saying, "Home staging, once considered an | | | | message you want to convey when making your |
| option by real estate professionals, has now | | | | selections. |
| become a necessity." The benefits of home | | | | |
| staging are evident. | | | | . . . descriptive. The home should tell a |
| | | | story, depicting a lifestyle which will |
| The following is a simple guide outlining the | | | | encourage buyers to visualize themselves |
| basics of good home staging for both the | | | | living there, entertaining there, raising |
| professionals and individuals who want to | | | | their family there. Each room in the home |
| prepare their homes for a quicker, more | | | | should be a designated space that is |
| profitable sale . . . | | | | memorable and incorporates the WOW factor! |
| | | | |
| Good home staging is . . . | | | | . . . staged with the potential buyer in |
| | | | mind. Pay attention to demographics. Who is |
| . . . simple. Less is more when staging your | | | | your targetted market? Young professionals |
| home to sell. It's important to remember | | | | with children, empty nesters? Is it a golf |
| that you are selling square footage and | | | | club community or on the water? Your staging |
| therefore need to make the rooms look and | | | | should reflect and incorporate subtle |
| feel as large and open as possible. | | | | furnishings associated with them, again |
| Declutter - declutter - then declutter again. | | | | forming that very important emotional |
| When you have too much furniture, artwork, | | | | connection with your potential buyer, making |
| accessories or just 'fluff' you run the risk | | | | them feel like this is 'home'. |
| of sending your potential buyer into sensory | | | | |
| overload! | | | | Finally, two basic things to remember when |
| | | | preparing a home for sale: #1. The way you |
| . . . organized. Get organized! Downsize | | | | live in a home, and the way you stage a home |
| what's in your closets, garage, pantry etc. | | | | for sale are two different things. A house |
| Clear the countertops in your kitchen and | | | | on the market must be viewed as a product, |
| bath areas. Keep refrigerator surfaces clear | | | | and staged to appeal to a broad range of |
| of magnets and pictures of the kids. Have a | | | | people. Depersonalization of the house is |
| garage sale to get rid of all the excess | | | | necessary in order for buyers to emotionally |
| stuff you haven't used or worn in years. Box | | | | connect with the home and imagine themselves |
| up out of season clothes, childrens toys that | | | | living there. #2. First impressions are |
| won't be missed and stacks of books that | | | | made within seconds of entering each area of |
| you've been meaning to read. And as a | | | | a home. You have only one chance to make |
| special reminder, organize your linen closet. | | | | these 'first impressions' memorable! |