Staging your home for a quick sale

As more people consider bailing to greener pastures elsewhere, there are more homes for rent, lease, or sale. However, selling a home is not as simple as it used to be. A nice Dandan home we lived in several years ago was put on the market because the owners moved to the U.S. It took over a year to sell and for 40 percent less than the asking price. Buyers have the upper hand right now, so if you’re leasing or selling you’ll need to employ some tactics that can help you grab their attention and make your home stand out from the rest of the listings.
Home staging is one method that can help you not only sell your home faster, but for the price you’re asking. According to a 2005 Coldwell Banker study, the average home was then on the market for 31 days; however, the average staged home sold in only two weeks. In addition, the price of the staged home went for 6.3 percent above the asking price. Even though this study was done at the height of the real estate market, the results are just as relevant today. A more recent study by the Real Estate Staging Association states that staged homes sell 85 percent faster than un-staged homes.
Home staging is the act of preparing your home for a quick sale at the highest possible price. Its aim is to help buyers envision what your home would be like if they were to buy it. Preparing your home for sale means you might make small repairs or functional improvements; however, staging a home for sale involves improving the overall aesthetic appearance so the buyer has a “wow” experience. Here are some useful tips you can do before the first prospective buyer visits:
First impressions count. Look at your home as if you were going to buy the house. What kind of curb appeal does your house make on a potential buyer when they first see it? Make sure trash is picked up, get rid of those rusting cars sitting on the lot, and pull some weeds or replace any dead plants. Examine the exterior of your home and see if any repairs are needed on the walls, windows or roof.
Give your house a fresh coat of paint. Painting is a relatively inexpensive way to make your home look new and clean. Be sure to patch up any dents or holes before you paint, and make sure areas are masked so there is a nice clean edge.
Clean and brighten your kitchen. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the most resale value so you want to make sure those two areas get some attention. “Clean and bright” should be your motto for kitchen staging. Turn the lights on, open the curtains and make sure everything is clean. Replace any damaged or outdated kitchen accessories. You should also create as much open space on the kitchen counters as possible. Remove the storage containers and appliances, such as bowls, grills, and coffee grinders. Having open counter tops gives the appearance of a bigger, brighter kitchen.
Clean and update your bathrooms. The motto for bathroom staging can be summed up in two words: “Clean and update.” The bathrooms should be sparkling clean and well-lit. Upgrade any outdated bathroom fixtures, such as handles, spigots, shower curtains, towel racks, etc. Put some color-coordinated, high-quality towels on the towel racks. Add a fresh flower arrangement to both make the bathroom look and smell better. Fabric shower curtains look nicer than vinyl ones and have a more elegant look. Anything that is worn, broken, or old-looking should be replaced.
De-clutter your house. Prospective buyers don’t want to see your child’s latest drawing, bills, or post-it notes on the refrigerator. Laundry, toys, and unfinished projects should be placed in out-of-site places. Clearing shelves, closets, and cabinets gives a more clutter-free appearance, and it also gives you a head start when you sell your home and have to pack up things to move.
Look at your furniture from a buyer’s point of view. Your furniture should match or look like it belongs together. Remove any pieces that are not necessary or distract from the décor of the home. One home owner I talked to listed her home for a year before she decided to buy some nice furniture and sell it as part of the deal. It sold within a month. If your home has nice furniture, you may consider selling it furnished to entice a sale.
Get green. You can add warmth to a room by adding plants that are appropriate in size and décor. Plants not only add life to a room, but they can also make it smell nicer. Plants are also a less expensive alternative to buying furniture.
So if you’re planning to move and put your house up for sale, it only makes sense to stage your home before inviting prospective buyers to visit. It can make the difference between selling your home in a few weeks at your asking price, or taking several months to sell your home for a percentage of the initial price.