Do you want your home to sell as quickly and for the most money as possible? Of course you do! We all want to make top dollar and be over the stress of selling a house as fast as we can, and one of the best ways to do that is to stage your home to sell.
Here are some key tips to get your house ready so that you can pack up and move on at lightning speed.
De-clutter - this is the first and probably most important rule of home staging.
Clutter looks messy and makes the rooms look smaller.
Buyers may think that the house doesn't offer enough storage space to meet their needs.
Pack up non-essentials such as extra toys, small kitchen appliances used twice a year, books, clothes, anything that is taking up valuable space and won't be needed for the next couple months.
Attack the kitchen counter with a critical eye and clear the counters as much as possible to show off space and pack junior's artwork and colorful magnets that take up the refrigerator door.
Aim for the clean, sleek look that most buyers are looking for.
De-personalize - personal items are clutter's first cousins but much harder to part with.
Family photos should be wrapped carefully and put away.
It's hard for a new family to see themselves living in the house if your face is staring at them from every tabletop and wall.
Similarly, pack any 'stuff' that has an overwhelming theme.
Your thirty cat statues or pug memorabilia may be adorable to you, but it can be hard to see the architectural detail of a home if the decor is too distracting.
Keep in mind that you want to sell it, and that the goal is to make buyers comfortable enough that they can visualize themselves and their belongings in the house.
Clean (Closets included!) - Maintaining a clean home when it's for sale is critical.
You never know when someone will want to do a walk through.
Keep the floors swept, tables clear and dust free, and make the beds every morning.
Closets should also be well organized and only 75% full.
Closets and storage areas are part of the house and potential buyers do have a right to open them.
Keeping closets only partially full shows that your home has more than enough storage space.
Remember that a house shouldn't just look clean, it should also smell clean.
For at least the time being, don't allow smoking in the home and do your very best to eliminate any pet odours.
Open your eyes - You know how if we keep looking at something we don't really see it anymore? Our vision can 'get used' to things we see all the time, so enter each room and take a good hard look at it.
Buyers are going to notice the crayon on the walls, chipped paint, faded carpet stains, scratched doors and nail pops.
It is well worth it to invest a little time and money into doing paint touch ups, washing the walls, shampooing carpets or anything else necessary to stop unsightly small problems from getting in the way of a great offer.
Decorate - This is really the heart of staging a house.
The problem is that most of us actually live in our homes, and it shows.
However, especially when your home is for sale, you want the rooms to all be as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
During a showing or open house, keep some lamps on and open the curtains to keep the rooms bright.
If you've already de-cluttered, it should already be pretty tidy, but adding a few finishing touches can really make a room stand out.
Some lit candles add ambiance, moving furniture to better accent the room, and adding bursts of colour adds appeal because it is visually stimulating.
A vase of fresh flowers in the entry way or a bowl of bright green granny smith apples on the kitchen table will work wonders for only a few dollars.
Remember curb appeal - the outside of your home is the first thing potential buyer's see and having a good curb appeal will increase the volume of showings or success at an open house Depending on the season, keep the lawn mowed and driveway clear of snow.
If you have a bit of a green thumb, some simple plants and basic landscaping is always a plus.
Keep the kid's toys put away and consider repainting railings or window frames if they are chipped or rusted.
Staging a home is an important part of getting it sold quickly and for the best price.
Take the time to organize, pack, clean and stage so that your house looks great and is ready for buyers.
Before you know it, you'll be signing an offer and ready to move onto your next dream home.
Here are some key tips to get your house ready so that you can pack up and move on at lightning speed.
De-clutter - this is the first and probably most important rule of home staging.
Clutter looks messy and makes the rooms look smaller.
Buyers may think that the house doesn't offer enough storage space to meet their needs.
Pack up non-essentials such as extra toys, small kitchen appliances used twice a year, books, clothes, anything that is taking up valuable space and won't be needed for the next couple months.
Attack the kitchen counter with a critical eye and clear the counters as much as possible to show off space and pack junior's artwork and colorful magnets that take up the refrigerator door.
Aim for the clean, sleek look that most buyers are looking for.
De-personalize - personal items are clutter's first cousins but much harder to part with.
Family photos should be wrapped carefully and put away.
It's hard for a new family to see themselves living in the house if your face is staring at them from every tabletop and wall.
Similarly, pack any 'stuff' that has an overwhelming theme.
Your thirty cat statues or pug memorabilia may be adorable to you, but it can be hard to see the architectural detail of a home if the decor is too distracting.
Keep in mind that you want to sell it, and that the goal is to make buyers comfortable enough that they can visualize themselves and their belongings in the house.
Clean (Closets included!) - Maintaining a clean home when it's for sale is critical.
You never know when someone will want to do a walk through.
Keep the floors swept, tables clear and dust free, and make the beds every morning.
Closets should also be well organized and only 75% full.
Closets and storage areas are part of the house and potential buyers do have a right to open them.
Keeping closets only partially full shows that your home has more than enough storage space.
Remember that a house shouldn't just look clean, it should also smell clean.
For at least the time being, don't allow smoking in the home and do your very best to eliminate any pet odours.
Open your eyes - You know how if we keep looking at something we don't really see it anymore? Our vision can 'get used' to things we see all the time, so enter each room and take a good hard look at it.
Buyers are going to notice the crayon on the walls, chipped paint, faded carpet stains, scratched doors and nail pops.
It is well worth it to invest a little time and money into doing paint touch ups, washing the walls, shampooing carpets or anything else necessary to stop unsightly small problems from getting in the way of a great offer.
Decorate - This is really the heart of staging a house.
The problem is that most of us actually live in our homes, and it shows.
However, especially when your home is for sale, you want the rooms to all be as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
During a showing or open house, keep some lamps on and open the curtains to keep the rooms bright.
If you've already de-cluttered, it should already be pretty tidy, but adding a few finishing touches can really make a room stand out.
Some lit candles add ambiance, moving furniture to better accent the room, and adding bursts of colour adds appeal because it is visually stimulating.
A vase of fresh flowers in the entry way or a bowl of bright green granny smith apples on the kitchen table will work wonders for only a few dollars.
Remember curb appeal - the outside of your home is the first thing potential buyer's see and having a good curb appeal will increase the volume of showings or success at an open house Depending on the season, keep the lawn mowed and driveway clear of snow.
If you have a bit of a green thumb, some simple plants and basic landscaping is always a plus.
Keep the kid's toys put away and consider repainting railings or window frames if they are chipped or rusted.
Staging a home is an important part of getting it sold quickly and for the best price.
Take the time to organize, pack, clean and stage so that your house looks great and is ready for buyers.
Before you know it, you'll be signing an offer and ready to move onto your next dream home.