Keep Your Home “Staged to Sell”

In this week’s blog, I continue to talk about having your home in its best condition as possible…in case you have to sell your house.  Many of us have been living here several years (getting up there in age… lol)  and we never know when we may be forced to put our home up for sale.   Having the home ready is important.  This week’s advice is  from two articles: Bob Villa and one from  realtor.com.  (full articles at the end)

Staging your home… do you want your house to stand out from the rest of the pack?  Staging your home is hugely important… the tiniest detail could be the difference between a for sale and sold. 

Make a good first impression. Make sure that your house number is clear to see and matches the design of the house. Make sure that your lawn and flowerbeds are in good shape, including good mulch, and weeds gone.

In the house…Get rid of personal pictures. You want your potential buyer to disconnect from your furnishings,  and personal pictures draw their attention away from the house.  Swap out personal pictures for scenic landscapes, print landmarks.  You might want to switch some furniture around in the rooms.  Your home should have neutral colors in it, unless you have an accent wall.

Some house hunters aren’t looking for your furniture, but that old living room sofa isn’t worth making your house stand out unfavorably.  Try giving worn out pieces a pick me up with new pillows or slip covers.

Spruce up the kitchen.  Kitchens can make or break a buyer’s overall opinion of your home.  You don’t have to invest in a full renovation, but a few simple and affordable changes can improve the space… like swapping out the hardware, or covering old floors with a runner.  You want the kitchen to feel bright and spacious.   Get rid of gadgets on the countertops and magnets on the refrigerator.  Make sure that the counter,  floor grout lines and appliances are sparkling clean.  When home is on the market and being shown,  try to avoid cooking meals that have strong smells.   When you have home showings,  a fresh bowl of fruit or fresh cut flowers is a nice touch.

The bathroom is another area you want to pay attention to.  Buyers don’t typically spend too much time exploring the spot,  but they’ll notice if it is clean.   This is a most important factor: get rid of mildew, mold, and soap scum,  and don’t forget to clean the toilet.  Replace shower curtains, and bath mats if they have seen better days. Arrange toiletries in neat baskets or jars to keep the counters uncluttered.  Inexpensive updates: paint existing cabinets, add new hardware and/or finish with a newer  cloth shower curtain if appropriate. 

It is never too soon to clean out and organize “things.”  Declutter!  Store or get rid of things are not essential for your life.  Clear away clutter even in closets, (keep in mind, the buyers visiting your home will most likely look in every corner of every room and closets.)  So stashing stuff all in one closet may give the wrong impression that there’s not enough storage space.

Wash the concrete floor in your garage… and it’s best if it’s painted and sealed. Make sure the backyard is in good shape too.   On the lanai, the view out the back is where  people spend a lot of their time.   

Older homes with low ceilings may want to check out the trick that they include in the  realtor.com article.   By the use of wild foliage, (6 foot branches)  and maybe some select draperies…you can change the feel and look.

If if a bedroom needs freshening look:  “snag a bed in a bag.” Purchase an inexpensive “Bed in the Bag” from a discount store prices starting as low as eight dollars. The linens could also be use as a window treatment. 

Vilà says pay attention to lighting.   Good quality bulbs are important with the right wattage to properly illuminate the home.  

Never hurts to be ready,  and so it’s never too soon to declutter and have your house staged for sale…

links to the articles: Staging a House on a Budget- 11 Ideas That’ll Wow Bu yers | Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®

Home Staging Tips – 12 Things Every Home Seller Should Know for a Quick Sale – Bob Vila