Staging Your Home  

An agent we once worked with told the story of a $700,000 listing that sat on the market for months.  It was a beautiful home, but it was vacant and showed poorly.  The first listing agent was fired after six months and our associate took over.  There had been no offers, and little traffic.  Our associates convinced the sellers to invest$50,000 to have a professional staging company come in and clean, decorate and fill it with furniture.  He also convinced them to increase the purchase price.  Their home sold after two weeks for $925,000. 

You don't need to invest a lot of money in staging, but every home needs to be prepared for sale.  There are basics that every home needs, though each home is unique and may need special attention.

Cleaning - It isn't as obvious as it seems.  Many people don't realize their homes need to be spotless to get maximum value.  This can be difficult for working families with children and pets.

Declutter - Everything needs to be removed from counters and other surfaces.  Excess wall hangings need to come down. 

Medicines - All pharmaceuticals need to be stored out of the medicine cabinets.

Deodorizing - Pets, tobacco, cooking and other odors linger.  There are products for each odor and they need to be used.  Many showings end at the front door because buyers with allergies or acute senses of smell don't get a good first impression.

Light - Lights need to be left on.  For a few dollars extra on your electric bill, your home will seem warm and friendly when buyers walk in. 

Repairs - If you know of repairs will need to be done before someone will buy your home, do them before your home goes on the market.  We know contractors and handymen for almost every aspect of home repair and maintenance.

Yardwork - Before buyers even enter your home, they will get an impression of the yard.  If you are selling a condo, it's out of your hands.  If not, keep the grass mowed and the hedges trimmed. 

Cathy has an industry designation as a staging professional.  (Accredited Staging Professional, or ASP.)  She can guide you in cost effective ways to make your home more attractive.  Whether it's simple cleaning or professional staging, preparing your home for sale means you will receive maximum value.