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