Sell My Home FAST - Staging Secrets
Step 3. Stage it Right
Fact: In a recent review of 2,800 properties in eight cities, it was found that staged homes, on average, sold in HALF the time than non-stagged homes did.
Fact: Sellers with staged homes ended up with 6.3% more than their asking price, on average.
Fact: Previously unstaged homes that not had sold after 120 days on market - once staged - only took 26 days to sell.
Fact: The price to stage your home is always less than the first price reduction on a house that won't sell.
Fact: 90% of buyers cannot visualize the potential of an empty space.
Fix dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs and squeking hinges. They detract from the home's appeal and raise questions in buyer's mind. Perception is everything.
Selling Fast Staging Secret #8: Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of the closets then neatly organize what's left in there. Store the other half in the garagae or, even better, off-site. Keep all closets and cabinets clean and tidy.
Selling Fast Staging Secret #7: Light it up
Maximize the light in the home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of the light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. A bright and cheery house is more sellable.
Selling Secret #6: Conceal the critters
Buyers don't want to walk in a home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that the house is not clean. If you're planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day or take the pets with you when you leave. Make sure the house ALWAYS looks fresh and smells neutral.
Selling Fast Staging Secret #5: Quick fixes over big improvements
Quick fixes before selling always pay off, mammoth makeovers, not so much. Here are some of the top quick fixes. A new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.
Selling Fast Staging Secret #4: Take the home out of the house
The more personal stuff in the house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff - put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes, even furniture. Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you've turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs. A professional stager can arrange the furniture and accessories to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.
Selling Fast Staging Secret #3: The kitchen comes first
You're not actually selling a house, you're selling a kitchen - that's how important it is. The benefits of remodeling the kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you will probably get 85% of your money back. It may cost a few thousand dollars to replace countertops but a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if the kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Next, one fancy stainless steel appliance because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.
Selling Fast Staging Secret #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at ALL times. You never know when the right buyer is going to walk through the door. The house must be available whenever buyers want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape; no dirty dishes, no unmade beds, no damp bathrooms, and no dust bunnies. It's a little inconvenient, but it will get the house sold.
- Put out a new bath mat and towels. Put old items in the linen closet before leaving.
- Wipe bathroom counters and sink. Put away personal toiletry items.
- Clear personal items from nightstands and dressers, make the bed.
- Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious. Wipe counters and sink.
No matter how good the interior of the home looks, buyers have already judged the home before they walk through the door. There is never a second chance to make a first impression. It's important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up the home's exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways
