Selling your home can seem like a daunting task. Buyers know what they want for their money. You know how much money you must get for your home. Staging and decorating your home is a great way to make this a win-win situation. Follow these simple steps for staging and decorating your home and both you and the buyer will be much happier. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Stage and Decorate Your Home for a Quick Sale
1. Clean, clean, clean. Clean as if your overly critical mother-in-law will be visiting. De-clutter every inch of your home to make it look as large as possible. Put up the children’s toys and make sure there is no sign a pet has ever lived there. Put away the kitchen appliances. Do not leave them out for potential buyers to see. Don’t forget to clean the closets, inside the cabinets--even the medicine cabinet--and the garage. Unlike the critical mother-in-law, potential buyers won’t stay for an extended visit if the house is not clean; they will leave quickly and without making an offer.
2. Make sure your home is in the best possible condition before putting it on the market. Everything must work. Double check the air conditioning and heating. Make sure the electrical system,including switches and outlets, plumbing and roof are in the best shape possible. Make the repairs that you can afford, but make sure those repairs are done correctly. Buyers prefer quality work to many problems poorly patched up.
3. Don’t forget the curb appeal. Make sure your front and backyards are well maintained. Add flowers or shrubs and make sure the grass is mowed. Clean any stains or spills on the driveway and repair any rough spots and cracks. Paint the exterior if the paint is fading or peeling. A broken mailbox and dead or dying plants can keep a buyer from walking in the door.
4. Make sure all the rooms are painted in neutral colors. Neutral paint colors are the best for everyone. So is neutral flooring. Dark and bold colors should be painted over. This will also help make the house appear larger.
5. Rooms should have a definite purpose. Rooms that are not well-defined may confuse a buyer and make the home appear smaller than it is. A computer in the living room may be convenient for you, but it should be moved when your home is on the market. A guest room/office is an exception to this rule. A buyer may not need a home office, but she does need a guestroom. Showing how this one room is versatile can be an additional benefit when you sell your home.
6. Arrange your furniture so that it does not impede the flow of traffic. This will also help to make your home appear larger to potential buyers. Less is more, so remove your larger pieces. Balance smaller furniture with a few larger pieces. Make sure that all your furniture compliments the décor and is not worn. They do not have to be a matching set or brand new, but they should blend together and not be shabby.
7. Remove all personal items. You want buyers to walk into “their future home,” not “your home.” Children’s artwork should be removed, as well as photographs and homemade crafts. Your grandmother’s portrait over the mantel should also be removed and replaced with something else. A mirror, to make the room look larger, is a great choice for that mantel, as is fresh flowers or a simple painting.
8. Tempt the buyers by using their sense of smell against them. Baking cookies during an open house can work wonders on potential buyers, as can scented candles strategically placed in your home. Smells often bring back the strongest memories. Do not have that “just cleaned” smell. You don’t want it to smell like a hospital, just a buyer’s new home.
Tags: your home, potential buyers, Make sure, also help, also help make, appear larger
