|
First
impressions make a significant impact on a buyer's
decision-making process!
Once your home goes
on the market, it becomes a product. Home Styling or Staging
simply allows you to highlight the best of your home and
de-emphasize its flaws. It's not about decorating, but turning
your home into a model, to appeal to the broadest range of
prospective buyers. The goal is to make people feel like they
could live there, and the best way to do this is to "neutralize"
the surroundings.
Try out these
helpful styling tips taken from Setting the Stage - REALTOR®
Magazine Online. They've compiled the best tips from stagers and
real estate pros—things you can do for little or no expense—to
put a home in prime showing shape.
§
Clear
out closets and clutter—sellers can give away or pack up toys,
linens, and small kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers
are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly tucked away in a
garage or basement.
§
Focus
on the most visible areas—the foyer, kitchen, living room,
master bedroom, and family room.
§
De-personalize the home by removing photos, mementos, and dated
items.
§
Use
plants in colorful pots or inexpensive wicker baskets to fill in
empty spaces.
§
Look in
home catalogs for little details on beautifying the home. For
instance, group books, pictures, and objects that are
appealingly on bookcases.
§
Try
angling one or two pieces of furniture slightly and move
furniture 4 inches to 6 inches from the wall to create more
interesting room spaces.
§
Put
away large collections— porcelains, plates, and so on.
§
Remove
valuables, prescription medicine, collectibles, and breakables.
§
Trim
trees, prune shrubs, and make sure the lawn is mowed and watered
regularly.
§
In
summer, turn on the sprinklers for five minutes, 30 minutes
before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
§
Refrain
from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor, such as
fish, garlic, or cabbage.
§
Hire a
professional service to clean the home, including the carpets
and the windows.
§
Set the
dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.
§
Arrange
fresh or silk flowers throughout the home.
§
Light a
fire in the fireplace in fall and winter.
§
A
mirror in a pretty frame can make a small room feel more open.
§
Use as
much natural light as possible. Add extra lamps in dark rooms or
corners.
§
Make
functional repairs—fix dripping faucets, sticking doors, and
broken fences.
§
Bring
in another pair of eyes—even if it’s not a professional stylist.
The person may see problems you may have missed.
|
