staging your home

Homes that are staged for sell usually sell for more, and faster, than homes that have not been staged. Why is called "staging?" Think of the real estate transaction as theater, with your home as the stage. You want to ensure your home is the one that brings people back for a second look.

Don't even think of putting your house on the market until you've taken a close look at its condition. You usually only have one shot at impressing potential home buyers, so take some time now to prepare the house for showings and you might be rewarded with a faster sale and a higher offer.

Home Prep Basics

Clean it Up: Everything from floors to windows must be spotless, including the oven and other major appliances. Skylights should be crystal-clear, too. Do not forget to make bathrooms shine! Kill the offensive odors. They're the first thing buyers notice, and often a permanent turnoff.

Eliminate Clutter: Put away small kitchen appliances and other items that are sitting on countertops and tables. Remove photographs and other small items from table-tops. People don't like to be reminded of who's currently living there -- they want to be able to picture themselves there.

Organize closets and cabinets: This is especially important if you don't have a lot of closet or cabinet space (but still important even if you do.) If necessary, rent a storage locker and move all the junk there. You'll be surprised by how liberating this is.

If the Home Is Vacant: Vacant homes often home buyers with a blast of stale or mildew-laden air, and once buyers smell mildew, they are out the door. During cold months, the interior of a house without heat always feels colder than it is outside. Leaving the heat or air conditioning running while a home is on the market reduces odors and makes the house more inviting.

Staging 101

Okay, you have the basics behind you. The house and common areas are spotless and decluttered. Now it's time to enhance the home's features so that you can nab those potential buyers.

Home selling rule #1: Let go of the personal feelings you have about the house--it's not your home now, it's a commodity you intend to market. Trust your instincts. Try to evaluate the house as if you are seeing it for the first time. Ask yourself the following questions:

• If you were a home buyer, what would you think about the house?
• What changes would make immediate improvements?
• What are the house's best features and how can you show them off?

Pack It Up: Pack away even more of your family photos. Buyers should be allowed to imagine their personal possessions in the home, not look at yours. Put away your personal collections so that buyers don't get so interested in looking at them that they forget to look at the house.

Make the House More Spacious: Remove excess furniture to make rooms less cluttered. Clean and organize the closets. Move even more stuff to that storage locker you rented.

Expose Desirable Features: Remove rugs if they hide nice hardwood floors. Remove heavy drapes that keep out natural light, especially if there's a great view out the windows.

As a real esate professional, I can help you stage your home to sell or refer you to some excellent staging consultants I've worked with in the past. An investment of a few dollars in improving your "curb appeal" can have a great return. Contact me at laurel@laurelacker.com or 617.796.6126 for more information on how to stage your property for success.