7 Ways to Stage Your Home to Sell Part 1 of 2
Staging your home in today's market gives your home an edge over the competition. Quite simply stated ' the way you live in your home and the way I market and sell your home are two different things.' Almost every home can benefit from staging. With current inventories at record highs and the market still showing signs of declining you can't afford not to stage your home. Does this mean you have to spend thousands of dollars and buy new furnishings? No, there are ways to stage a home without a lot of out of pocket expense. It will require however time, energy and commitment. There are 7 C's of Staging that I learned from my Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) class from renowned stager Barb Schwarz. In this two part series I will share with you all 7.
1. Clean - Seems obvious, but if you've been house hunting you've experienced first hand that some folks don't get this point. Sellers, this is a clean you may have never seen before. If time is short call a cleaning service- the investment will pay for itself 10 fold or more. As a side note, if you cannot continue to keep your home as clean as it should be, keep the cleaning service until the close of escrow. Your home should be extremely clean inside & out. Double check your kitchens & baths!
2. Clutter-Free - 'Clutter Eats Equity' we all have a lot of things/collections/stuff. These belongings get in the way of getting top dollar and a quicker sale. They interfere with the buyer’s ability to see your home. Cluttered counter space, too much furniture, too many houseplants and personal collections and photos. Declutter your space. Rent PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) or get in touch with a moving company with storage facilities. I have programs to help my clients save money using these services.
3. Color - Keep it neutral: Beiges, Tans & Creams. Use color in accessories. If you have bold and brightly colored walls ask your Realtor their professional opinion. You want to minimize the itemized list a buyer adds up while in your home. Don't let paint color be one of them. Darker colors tend to make a room feel smaller than it is while lighter colors make the space feel larger, lighter & brighter.
4. Compromise - You can't always change everything, time & money won't always permit it. Finding and improving the areas that will make the greatest impact is the wisest investment. If you aren't certain on your own where these areas are contact an ASP Realtor or professional Stager for guidance.
Come back soon for the last 3 C's of home staging. Also please visit http://www.StagedHomes.com you can find me there as well as homes I have assisted sellers in staging, it's also a great place for inspiration.
Please call me at (916) 365-3697 or email me andrea.duane@cbnorcal.com if I can be of service or if you have any real estate questions.
Andrea Duane ASP