How to Stage Your Home for a Quicker Sale and to Maximize Profits!
You have just one chance to make a first impression. It's important that this is the best possible impression you can make, especially when it comes to selling real estate! Below are some pointers on how to stage your home so that it will sell in the shortest amount of time with the maximum profit potential.
INSIDE YOUR HOME
1.
Clean It Up: Shampoo the carpet, clean the floors (wax, if necessary), clean the walls, wash windows, clean the drapes, blinds and even the lighting fixtures. It would be wise to consider using a professional cleaning service, if possible. You should consider this to be just another aspect of your moving costs.
2.
Bedrooms: Make the beds. Kids' toys should be put away. If possible, store unused toys out of sight. Vacuum the carpet. Hang clothes up nicely in the closet or put them away neatly in the dresser. Shoes should be lined up and organized.
3.
Kitchen and Bathrooms: Clear the countertops of all clutter and debris. Only decorative canisters and the bare minimum essentials should be left in site. This allows you to show off your counter space to its fullest potential. Don't leave dishes in the sink or dishwasher. If necessary, re-caulk the bathtub. Make sure any signs of mineral deposits or grime on the shower walls are removed. New towels are always a good investment. Fixtures, tile and grout should shine! Make sure the stove, refrigerator and microwave are gleaming inside and out.
4.
Storage Spaces in the House: Go through your storage closets and get rid of any unnecessary, broken items or trash that may have found their way there. Not only will this help you sell your house, but it will help lighten the load when it is time to move.
5.
Repairs: Now is the time to make those little repairs you have been putting off. Leaky faucets, drawers and doors that stick, loose doorknobs and creaking floors all make potential buyers wonder what other bigger repairs have not been taken care of.
6.
Closets: Pack up any clothing that isn't appropriate for the season (winter clothes in summer, summer clothes in winter). You should also pack up any extra clutter and nick-nacks you might have been storing in the closet to get them out of sight. Now's a great time to help the community and get a tax break as well as easing your burden when you do move by donating all old clothing to a local shelter, Goodwill or Salvation Army. Make sure to organize whatever clothing and shoes that remain.
7.
Furniture: The less there is in a room, the bigger the room will appear. Consider storing large or extra furniture in a rented storage unit until you move.
8.
Fireplace: A lit fire emits a cozy atmosphere and is the best way to show off a beautiful fireplace. If it is too hot for a fire, neatly stack logs in the fire grate and decorate with a nice screen or a beautiful display of candles. Make sure that there are no ashes, debris or soot inside or outside the fireplace.
9.
Lighten Your Appearance: Do everything possible to lighten the look of your home; open drapes or blinds, use light colors, repaint where necessary. Letting light in and using lighter colors will help make the area look larger and more open. Make sure all light fixtures have lightbulbs and that the lightbulbs all work. Use a higher wattage lightbulb in the basement and any storage areas. This will help brighten the area up and make it appear bigger and cleaner.
OUTSIDE YOUR HOME
1.
Curb Appeal: Pick a spot across the street from your home and take a look at the big picture. How many cars are parked outside? Is the lawn neatly manicured? Are there patchy spots in the grass in need of replacement sod or re-seeding? In the winter, are the driveways and walkways clear? Are the screens and windows clean? Are the flowers in bloom? All these can have a definite impact on the impression your home will make to a potential homebuyer.
2.
Walk the Property: Take a pad and pencil with you so that you can list everything you find that needs to be taken care of, regardless of time or cost. Afterwards, review your list to see what can and cannot be taken care of.
3.
House: Look closely at the exterior of the house. Clean whatever is dirty, replace or repair loose, rusted, broken or dingy items. Fix a broken doorbell, replace a worn-out mailbox, clean the outside light fixtures, wash the exterior of the windows and check for broken/hanging gutters, loose shutters, crooked/broken antennas and loose or broken shingles.
4.
Front and Back Yards: Get rid of all weeds, including flowerbeds and lawn. Turning a flowerbed can give it a nice, fresh appearance as well. Trim the shrubbery, lay ground cover where necessary, fix worn out or loose fencing, make sure the gate latch works properly and pick up all trash. You may want to consider hiring a landscaping or lawn service. They know what to take care of and the cost should be considered another of your moving expenses. This is a great return for a small investment.
5.
Outdoor Furniture: Nothing can ruin the look of a beautiful backyard like old, rusty patio furniture. Touch up the paint where needed and patch up any holes in the upholstery or umbrella. If it is either rusty or beyond repair, you might want to store it somewhere out of sight until after the house is sold.
6.
Front Entry: This is the first thing a potential buyer will see when they wait for you to let them into the house. Take care to make sure any debris or clutter is removed from the front porch. Any furniture should be checked for spot painting or patching. A new doormat always says "Welcome" to a buyer. Make sure all plants are pruned and healthy; discard any dead ones. The effort you put into creating a welcoming entryway will be worth it to your buyers.
7.
Garage: A good rule of thumb in cleaning up the garage is to get rid of anything that hasn't been used in the last year. Get rid of trash. Donate usable items that you have no use for anymore. Wash down the floors, taking care to clean any oil spills or rust stains, if possible. Repaint the walls where needed.
MISCELLANEOUS
1.
Pets: Keep pets away from potential homebuyers. Clean up any areas your pets like to frequent and make sure no odors can be detected.
2.
Valuables: If possible, keep any jewelry, documents, cash, etc., in a safety deposit box for the duration of your home selling process. If not, keep them locked up and out of sight.
3.
Television: Keep it turned off. If you want to have music, keep it low and soft.
4.
Temperature: Keep it toasty in the winter, cool in the summer.
5.
Special Items: You may want to remove any items you intend to keep before showing a house. For instance a special chandelier or ornate mirrors in your bathroom, vanity, etc., that you bought and intend to take with you when you move. A buyer may expect that it is included in the purchase of the house.
6.
Brokers/Realtors®: If someone other than your representative shows your home, make sure to get their business card. If a homebuyer comes to the door and wants to view your property, give them your representative's number so that they can be screened and pre-qualified.
7.
Vacating the Premises: You may want to consider leaving your home for the duration of a showing. This allows the sales associate and homebuyer to speak freely. You must be able to trust your representative to show your property in its best possible light.
The "Z" Team for Real Estate Office: (805) 339-3569