Are you about to put your house on the market for sale? Top dollar and a quick sell is every homeowners dream. You can make that dream a reality by following these guidelines for staging your home from the real estate professionals.
The first step is to thoroughly clean your home. Windows, baseboards, bathrooms and kitchen should all be spotless. Buyers will appreciate the sparkle and are more likely to assume the home has been well maintained. Designate an area in your home for donations. Go through every closet and drawer and either discard items or place in the donation pile. Over filled closets send a signal to buyers that there is insufficient storage space in the home. Take all donations to your local donation center. While you don’t want to remove all personal items from your home, do remove personal items from the refrigerator and limit the number of photos around the home. Clutter should be addressed. Remove all piles of paper, newspaper and magazines.
When staging the different spaces in your home, don’t feel the need to keep every piece of furniture. If necessary, rent a temporary storage unit. If there are two living spaces, a main living room and a den, consider taking advantage of the great deals offered by Groupon and invest in several children’s video games from Origin. Run the videos, with the sound off, in the den. This will bring some life to the room and showcase it as a children’s space. Fresh flowers on dining tables will be a welcome addition. Include freshly folded towels in the bathrooms. Leave windows open during the staging process to allow fresh air to circulate and dissipate any odors. The goal is to have buyers imagine themselves living in the space.
Finally, don’t neglect the curb appeal of your home. Address any deferred maintenance issues with storm doors, gutters and shutters. Trim all the shrubbery away from walkways and windows. Update the light fixtures, mailbox and house numbers as needed. A planter of colorful seasonal flowers on the front porch will be a welcome addition. Best of luck!