Staging your home

How do I clear the clutter when staging my home?

When it comes to home staging, less is more. Few things are less attractive than clutter and one of the first lessons of proper home staging is to clear out the clutter. Clutter is not only visually unappealing, but it makes the house feel smaller and less spacious. Additionally, clutter makes it difficult for prospective buyers to visualize their own furniture and belonging in the home -- a critical step to making a sale.

Experienced real estate agents often have a list of professional home staging companies available in your area. Visit homesandland.com.com to use their free search tool and request information about selling your home as well as staging but keep in mind, cleaning up the household clutter should begin with you. Clearing out the clutter will give the real estate agent and appraiser a better look at your home.

Use these tips to make sure your home is completely free from clutter:

1. Begin at the front of the house. Make sure the lawn, driveway and sidewalk are free of toys or other obstacles.

2. Inside the home make sure toys, pets objects, dishes and other common eye-sores are stored away in their proper places.

3. Organize closets, pantry and the laundry room. Many home sellers pick up the clutter around the house only to try to hide it away in closets. Remember, prospective buyers almost always look inside the closet, pantry or other storage-related areas to determine if there is enough space for their own belongings. Keep storage space organized and clutter-free to demonstrate the amount of available storage.

4. Clean out the shed, garage or other utility buildings. These areas can be a tremendous selling advantage, but only if prospective buyers can actually see them. If your garden shed or garage is packed full, take time to have a yard sale or rent storage until the house is sold. Allow people to see what they are buying and visualize a space for their own belongings.

5. Don't forget the small spaces like medicine cabinets, under the bathroom sink and the refrigerator. These are common areas of clutter that should be clean and appealing.

6. If you have outgrown your home, contemplate putting some of your furniture and belongings in storage when showing the home.

7. Trim the hedges and keep the yard ornaments to a minimum. Make sure your yard, pool and garden areas are appealing, but not cluttered. Trim low hanging branches or unruly hedges and make sure the area surrounding the house is easy to navigate and free of clutter.

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What do I ask my agent about staging my home to sell?

Once you have made the decision to sell your home, the next question to ask your real estate agent is "How do I stage my home?" Real estate staging is an often overlooked aspect of getting top price for your house and one of the benefits of using an experienced real estate professional is their insight into what works - and what doesn't.

Use these quick tips when speaking with your real estate agent about staging your home to sell:

1. Ask the real estate agent for an honest assessment about your property from both the inside and outside of the home.

2. Remain open to constructive criticism; remember, the agent wants to sell your home for the best possible price as well so don't take it personally if they suggest making small changes or enhancements to something you think is perfectly wonderful.

3. Establish a budget for staging. Don't spend more than necessary, but don't be afraid to set aside money toward home staging. It's an investment that can increase the selling price of your home or provide a faster sale. Let your agent know how much you are willing to spend and evaluate anything above and beyond that amount for the potential rate of return.

4. Visit homesandland.com to find a real estate agent or broker than can help you stage your home to sell. Ask about staging homes when you interview prospective listing agents and remember to remain objective. They are there to help you get top dollar for your home by making sure it looks its very best.

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Real Estate Staging Quick Fixes

Real estate staging doesn't have to be costly or time consuming. Sometimes a few quick easy steps can spruce up a property and make it look more appealing, up-to-date and desirable. Use these quick fixes when staging your home to sell:

1. Clean and Clear. Before showing the home, make sure it is clean and spacious both inside and out.

2. Fresh paint or touch-up. A few gallons of paint can create a fresh appearance in just hours. Select neutral, but appealing colors.

3. Make those small repairs. Every house has a few small repairs that have been ignored, but take time to attend to them before allowing the home to be shown.

4. Create a mood in each room. This is where real estate staging gets serious. The ability to transform a room into a living space allows the prospective buyer to desire the lifestyle you are selling. Use these common accessories to create the right mood for each room:

• Lighting
• Candles
• Mirrors
• Flowers
• Pillows and Small Rugs
• Baskets or Potted Plants
  

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Do I need to stage my home?

If you are one of the millions of home sellers who don't believe in staging your home, then chances are you are leaving money on the table. Just take a few minutes to consider how building contractors stage model homes; the latest styles, interior design and professional coordination creates an ambiance that makes even an ordinary home look extraodinary.

Not sure if you should invest in a staging company or professional? Use this list to determine if home staging is a good investment when selling your home:

1. Are you trying to sell a luxury home or condominium? Big ticket items - especially real estate - should look their very best at all times.

2. Are you trying to sell a home or condo with builder models still available? It's natural that buyers will take time to look at the new models which are almost certain to be staged by a professional. Put your property on equal footing by staging to sell.

3. Are other homes in your area using home staging? Spend a few minutes searching listings by zip code at homesandland.com to determine how most homes are currently staged then meet or exceed the same expectations to assure your home looks its best.

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What common errors do homeowners make when staging their homes?

Home staging requires objectivity to show the house as the buyer wants to see it - not as you want to show it. That is an important consideration that few sellers keep in mind when staging homes.

Use this checklist to eliminate the most common staging errors:

1. Don't use heavy air fresheners, candles or other fragrances. Asthma, allergy and other sensitivities can leave the wrong type of impression on a potential buyer - or their children. Use a light fragrance and whenever possible, check to make sure it is hypo-allergenic even if it costs a little bit more.

2. Chemical cleaners like bleach, disinfectants and deodorizers should be used well in advance before showing the house so they have time to dissipate prior to showing the house.

3. Pets, diaper pails, trash bins and other common household hazards are easily overlooked culprits. Expect potential buyers to walk around the house, peek into the pantry and at the laundry. Be prepared to make every space look its best.

4. Appliances are often part of the sale so expect potential buyers to inspect them carefully. Make sure they are clean and easily visible.

5. Do not showcase your personal items. It might be tempting to make the house more appealing by placing a special item in a strategic area, but it actually detracts from the home itself. Remember, properly staging a home allows the buyer to envision their life in the home. Don't draw attention to those items that detract from the living space and lifestyle of the buyers.

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What should I ask my real estate agent about staging homes for online viewers?

According to research, more than 80 percent of potential home buyers begin their search for a new home online via popular real estate listings sites like homesandland.com. The proliferation of the Internet as a search tool is a convenient way for many home buyers to find and review properties in the comfort of their home - so does that eliminate the need for home staging?

Quite the contrary! Staging homes is more important than ever especially when it comes to online photographs or a virtual tour. First impressions make a tremendous difference and the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words has never been more true than for the online real estate search.

This is where the experience and expertise of a real estate professional can make a tremendous difference. They know what buyers are searching for and can help you stage your home to sell for the best possible price and attract more attention by communicating buyer desires to you. Perhaps even more importantly, they can also help you decide what features should be emphasized in online photographs or virtual tours of of the property.

Use this handy checklist when speaking to your real estate agent about how to "stage my home":

1. Lighting. Is the house too light or dark to show nicely online?

2. Color scheme. Are your custom colors hurting the selling price of your home? A small investment in paint may pay off generously in a higher selling price if your home is painted in hard to match colors. Remember, even if a color looks great with your furniture the same color may clash with a potential buyer's scheme.

3. Clutter and cleanliness. Does the roof need cleaning? How does the garage look in the photos? Is a large tree limb blocking the view of the entrance to the home? Ask your agent to take a walking tour with you and point out what needs attention both inside and outside of the home before the pictures are taken for the listing.

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How do I stage my home to smell the best?

Staging homes has become big business, but you don't have to spend a fortune. Making a few small enhancements can translate into big profit when selling your home.

The concept of staging your home is simple. Buying a home is a big investment of time and money, but it's also an emotional decision. Properly staging a home entails forming an association in their minds between the house and the lifestyle they envision for themselves living while in the home.

One of the most powerful methods of forming an association is through the sense of smell. The sense of smell is able to convey a meaning that is unique, subtle and memorable. Just consider for a moment that "new car smell" or the smell of your favorite food growing up as a child.

Take advantage of the sense of smell to make your home the most memorable by using these olfactory tips when staging your home:

1. Family Home: Consider fresh baked cookies or bread when staging your home for sale.

2. Vacation Home: If you are selling a vacation home or condo, then copy the tactics of hotels and spas by using a fragrance like lavender with citrus.

3. Luxury Home: Fresh flowers and leather top the list of indoor fragrances associated with luxury.

4. Recreational: If you are staging a home for sale located near the ocean, forest or other natural attraction, then the fresh air might be your biggest selling point!

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