Staging to Stay in the Game

Staging is the process of getting the home ready to sell using techniques that put the home in the best light for the potential buyer. Things to ask yourself:

Outside- does the outside paint job look “ok” or does it need a new coat? What is the status of your roof, gutters and other areas? Can the buyers read your house numbers from the street? Does the front porch look inviting? Outdoor spaces like pool areas, sun rooms, and lanai need to also be staged.

Landscaping- cut the grass, pull out the weeds, get the flower beds in order, trim the trees, power wash the sidewalks, and clean the outside windows.

Inside- when you step in make sure the house smells fresh, light a candle, make sure the house is cleaned and has to stay clean for the remainder of time your house is for sale. Start packing as much stuff as you don’t need to live with and put in storage. When I stay storage I mean at a storage center not your garage or some extra room you have. One key thing to home selling success is declutter, declutter, and continue to declutter! Put up the children’s toys, and pet supplies up. Reduce the amount of family photos (buyers need to visualize their family not yours). Try neutral colors for the interior walls. Use mirrors to make the room look larger (but don’t go overboard). If you need new carpet, try to get it professionally cleaned first otherwise you may want to offer a credit to the buyer if you are unable to replace the entire carpet. Put the dishes up, have the kitchen counters and table completely cleared except for possibly housing flyers. Dust and get rid of any glass streaks. Keep baseboards clean and get rid of the cobwebs. Make sure your pantry is in order (buyers are nosy). Are you getting enough lighting in your home? Dark homes turn people off. If there is not enough natural sunlight try lamps to help brighten the home. This is when neutral walls come in handy as well. Do you need new hardware on your cabinets to give it a updated feel?

I’m not asking you to spend a fortune, but I am asking you to invest in your home so that the first impression is not the last impression from a potential buyer. From a buyers perception if you are not willing to keep the house up to par from the outside the same is probably true for the inside. So two things happen they walk away no longer interested or they will low ball you to death. Either way you lost a deal. I am not sure how you see your own home, but just remember the buyer has no obligation to see the home same way. Just because you put lipstick on a pig doesn’t mean it’s beautiful.