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THE ART OF
PREPARING A HOME FOR SALE
By: Julie Martelo
Real Estate Staging is the process of preparing a home for sale.
Staging is really about un-decorating and removing years of living,
collecting and decorating so a buyer can visualize themselves living
in the home. When a seller “lets go” of some of their own things, it
then gives permission for the buyer to buy! As a REALTOR®, the
preparation of a home for sale can be a difficult subject to
approach with a seller. Some things are obvious such as worn, dirty
carpeting that needs to be replaced. Or maybe there are minor
repairs needed throughout the home. But sometimes a home is in good
condition but needs a little “TLC” before that first showing.
Here are the top 5 things to tell your
sellers.
1. YOU DON’T LIVE IN YOUR HOME THE SAME
WAY YOU SELL YOUR HOME
- Many of the items that you showcase for the home you live in may
need to be eliminated when your home is being shown to potential
buyers. This does not mean that those items are not beautiful or
important. It just means that they may be a deterrent to a buyer.
2. SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE
– While you may need places for 6 family members to sit and watch
television, having several extra chairs in a room may make it appear
smaller. Therefore you may need to remove some of the extra
furniture in a room.
3. YOUR HOME MUST BE CLEAN
- It is important for your home to be clean when you begin to bring
in buyers. If you cannot do a thorough cleaning yourself, you may
want to hire a professional cleaning company. Everything should be
as clean as possible, including windows, ceiling fans, exhaust fans,
floors, carpets, grout, etc.
4. YOU ARE SETTING A “STAGE”
- You want your home to be cozy, colorful & inviting. It’s the
little things you do like adding decorative soaps in the bathroom,
setting the dining room for a romantic dinner, or lighting candles.
(only if someone will be there to blow them out!) These are some of
the things that will make your house feel like a HOME.
5. MOVING DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE
CORNER… START PACKING NOW!
Many closets and cupboards are full of extra items. Start packing up
those items now and put them in storage, or in your garage. You want
each closet, cupboard and countertop to appear spacious and
uncluttered.
In addition to these 5 areas, there are some other very simple
things a homeowner can do to add appeal to their home. Paint the
front door and buy a new welcome mat. Pack away those worn tattered
towels in the bath and replace them with new ones. Remove all
personal photos from the home, especially from the refrigerator.
Remove everything from the closet floors. Be sure the windows are
sparkling clean.
Lastly, on the day of a showing open all curtains and blinds so the
home is bright. Play some soft music. Turn on at least 1 light every
room, including the closets, so there is a soft, warm glow
throughout the home. If you must place air fresheners in every room
be sure they are the same fragrance. Vacuum and dust before the
showing if possible, so everything feels clean. If homeowners will
just spend a little time preparing their homes for sale they will be
amazed at the positive feedback they will receive. Hopefully, their
extra time and effort will be reflected in a quicker sale and a
large profit.
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