Sell That House: Home Staging

SELL THAT HOUSE: HOME STAGING

Home staging is a process whereby one prepares his or her home to sell.  When done correctly, it is comprehensive such that it covers all aspects of the home, including the interior, the exterior, and the functional systems.

By staging a home properly, you may increase its value by 10% to 15% according to some reports.  New home builders have known the importance of this for some time now, but savvy sellers in the resale market are starting to recognize its value.  It is even blossoming into a business of its own with home staging experts sending teams of professionals to work with home sellers.  These teams may consist of interior decorators, painters, landscapers, home inspectors, organizers, and so on, such that the entire house is covered.

A home buyer will have two first impressions.  One will be of the exterior and one will be of the interior.  These impressions are usually formed very quickly, like within ten seconds.

On the exterior, the home may require trimming of trees or bushes, planting of shrubs and flowers, painting, securing of railings, and fixing cracks and rubble in walkways and driveways.  Attention must be given to garages, sheds, pools, gazebos, mail boxes, and basically all buildings and items on the property.

On the interior, the home may require painting, carpet, repairs to railings, cleaning of cabinets and appliances, and removal or reduction of clutter.  Smells and odors from cooking or pets must be eliminated.  The home should have a neutral decor, be depersonalized, and be inviting to visitors.

The functional systems should be in working condition.  Never try to sell a house with the heat, air conditioning, electric, or plumbing in non-working order or even simply turned off.  You may save money on utility bills by turning off your service, but you will lose money in the long term by having your house sit on the market for a longer period of time.  Arranging furniture and decorations should be done so that it makes a room feel large and bright.  You should not block windows or doorways, not even closet doorways.

There may be several houses on the market when you are trying to sell, so you don't want a buyer to pass yours by because you didn't invest in some basic methods of making your home show as best as it possibly could.

Contact Ron Trzcinski of Zenith Realty at 410-935-5844 for more information about preparing your home for the market.