Staging Your Home To Sell

Clean, Repair, De-clutter and De-personalize. Good advice if you're trying to turn your home into a "model home", prior to selling. Staging a home is used as a marketing tool to attract the highest amount of potential buyers. Many techniques are used from De-cluttering to De-personalizing. The intent both interior (decorating) and exterior (curb appeal), is to objectively appeal to buyer's within the first 8 seconds of seeing the home.

First, make sure the home is CLEAN. A great investment is to hire a cleaning crew to make sure the floors, walls and the windows are sparkling. First impressions are so important particularly in this very competitive market. Secondly, make sure prior to listing your home that everything is in WORKING ORDER. The message that you want to send is that the home is in top condition and literally "wraps itself" around the potential buyer, upon their arrival. Which brings me to my next point, DE-CLUTTER. Eliminate any clutter and start with a "fresh palette". You do not want to send a message of disorganization and buyers want to feel like they can live in the home as they walk through and imagine the idea. Make sure that buyers can identify with your color choices, furnishings and evoke a warm and homey feeling.

Finally, buying a home is so personal and emotional. You want the buyer to connect with your home and walk away with a positive visualization. A great idea again, is to start with a "fresh palette". What does this mean? You want to make sure that you always keep an objective mind. Case and point: That brand new puppy may be so cute and cuddly to you, but your potential buyer may not be an animal person-DE-PERSONALIZE! I love dogs, but if you're trying to sell your home, it might be a good idea to remove the family pet prior to the open house. Also, any traces of Fido to include his (doggy aroma), should be removed. De-personalize personal items like books, photographs, or even family heirlooms, pack them away. Again, remember, the intent is to encourage potential buyers to make an offer, not to display your unique tastes and personality.

Prepare your home to make a good impression and make it emotionally appealing to potential buyers.