Friday, June 18, 2010

Staging tips to sell your home

Staging sells houses. If you can't hire a stager, there are several ways you can stay ahead of the curve and catch potential buyers the moment they step in your house.
Below are some top tips:

Using bookshelves to display family photos is generally a decorating "do." When it's time to sell your house, it's time to take them down. 

1.Remove the Photos:
People can be very photogenic, but many clients are distracted by portraits of the sellers, and miss out on key selling points of the home. Photos show the best parts of your life, but they just don't fit in when selling. Replace them with inexpensive art prints. 

2. Accentuate the Positive:

My clients usually know what they like best about their home. It's usually what they saw that made them want to buy, or it's something that they added to make the home particularly special. Whether it is a staircase, a great view from the kitchen sink, a cozy garden area or a grand stone fireplace, do something to make the buyers linger in that magical space.


3. Smells Like Home:
I've know  many real estate agents bringing in a their own "homey" smells. There is a reason why the big new home developers bake cookies in their models. They really don't care about feeding you!  I usually opt for a few plug-in air fresheners. I like using vanilla in the kitchen, fresh scents in the laundry, apple cinnamon in the living room and such. Specific aromas add a theme to the tour, even when it's not an open house.


4. Ditch the Kitsch and Hide Your Opinions:
My favorite example of unnecessary and unwelcome kitsch is the children's art work on the refrigerator door. Save this display for a desk or homework area.  This and other personal collections are great  when you're living in your home, not when you're trying to sell it. Especially avoid politically-charged o overly religious material that expresses strong opinions. You don't want a potential buyer to dislike you for your beliefs, so remove all questionable material out of sight.



This is a perfect example of a perfectly staged room.  Not too much, nothing too personal.




 Check back for more Staging Do's. Have a question about how a room looks? Send it to me at heather@parkcityhousehunters.com I will give you my always honest and professional opinion.
http://www.parkcityhousehunters.com/

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