Tips for Staging Your Home

Did you know that staged homes sell for more and in less time than homes that are not staged?

Decorating Is Not Staging. DECORATING is bringing items into your home to personalize to a taste and/or lifestyle. Condition Is Not Staging. CONDITION is maintaining a home, no amount of staging will overcome overpricing or poor condition.. STAGING is removing and rearranging items to showcase space, features and views of a home.

Did you know that there are 3 basic things that a buyer is purchasing that is unique to each home?

Each home offers it’s own unique views, space that can only be visualized within that home and features only your home may offer. When staging a home to sell a homeowner needs to make sure that a buyer can readily see the space, features and views of each room within seconds upon entry. When a buyer arrives at a home they will take about 15 seconds to determine if they like the home or not. With each room they enter they will determine within 5 seconds if that room meets their needs.

Staging begins at the doorway.

Look as though you are looking through the lens of a camera. What is the feature and/or the view of this room. Make sure nothing is moving into the line of vision reducing the visual size of the room. Buyers only know what they see, not the way it’s going to be.

There are 3 basic Levels of Staging:

1) Using Your Own Things 2) Vignetting Vacant Homes 3) Renting To Stage

Most of the time “Using Your Own Things” is the category that is used. Here are some simple rules of thumb to follow:
1) Clutter eats equity – so… de-clutter!
2) Remove all personal items. The buyers can not mentally move in if they feel you are not
ready to move out.
3) Pack up collections.
4) Remove Rugs – Covering hardwood or tile floors
5) Let the light in…open the shades or blinds, turn on lamp lights, check all lights bulbs and up
wattage in dark hallways.
6) Clean – Detail your home like you detail your car.
7) Eye is drawn to color – use color for the wow factor or to make an area pop in small
amounts – example: throw pillows, walls color in a bath or dining room. Paint is the lowest
cost investment with the highest rate of return. Wallpaper is dated after two years well
worth removing!
8) Most carpets need to be cleaned
9) Limit number of pillows on couch to two & remove blankets & throws
10) Be sensitive to odors
11) Keep music soft
12) If it is BROKEN – FIX IT ! !

For more information about staging or to review before and after photos go to http://www.trianglestagedhomes.com/ . It can mean the difference in $$$ in your pocket and extra time your home may be on the market!

For your personal consultation call Lora at 877-8832!