Staged to Sell - How to get your house show ready

This is a question I got asked and answered for my Down Home DIY April Column in Forsyth Family Magazine. I wanted to share these helpful staging tips for those getting ready to put their house on the market.

Dear Down Home DIY,
We are getting ready to sell our home this Spring. Do you have any tips on getting it ready?
Sincerely,
Joy, aka Spring Seller

This is a photo of the room before we got our client's S.O.S. call to help stage their house.

Dear Spring Seller,
I commend you on being so proactive. Many people wait until their home is vacant before they start thinking about staging, which can be a very costly mistake. Staging a home is a great return on your investment. According to Staging Report on Home Gain, you can get at 343% return on your investment (ROI). Do a Google search for "Home Staging Return on Investment" and you will consistently find a very high ROI.

Where to begin? The first step is to get in the right frame of mind. You need to start looking at your house as a product, not your prized possession. You need to market and showcase that product in the best way possible. You need an S.O.S. action plan; which is to Simplify, Organize and Spruce It Up. Here are some quick tips on how to get it sold.

This is a photo of the room after we rearranged and streamlined the furniture to create a warm and inviting vignette to help stage the home to sell.

Simplify

• Determine and showcase the house's assets and highlight these areas, whether it is a bonus room, golf course view, etc. On the flip side, downplay the negatives like a bad view or small spaces.


• Remove excess furniture--you want the space to feel as expansive as possible.


• Reduce clutter by half. Have a garage sale or rent a storage unit to help purge. Buyers are distracted if you have too much stuff and can't look past it and visualize themselves in the house.


• Kitchens and baths are big selling points, so showcase that counter space by removing all personal items, appliances, etc. Visit a model home and take note of how these rooms are decorated. Minimal and clean are key!


• Depersonalize. You are selling the building, not your belongings and beliefs. You should remove family photos and personalized items, as well as any political or religious artifacts.

Organize

• Organize your cupboards, food pantry, linen closets, refrigerator, etc. Purge anything outdated or not needed. Boxes should face the same directions and labels out on cans, products, etc. OCD tendencies work well here.


• Put non-seasonal clothes in storage. Closets should look neat and spacious. Hang clothes facing in the same direction, with like hangers. No wire ones, please. Recycle them at a local dry cleaner.


• On the Go Organizing Tip - If you get a last minute call for a showing, have a laundry basket and storage bin on hand to quickly stash and go. (A must for those with young children)


• Got kids? Keep a ready-made bag filled with snacks, drinks and activities to keep them entertained while you have to vacate the home for a showing or Open House.

Spruce It Up

• A home that is dirty or in need of repair sends a message that the house was not cared for properly. Avoid this by taking care of all maintenance projects like a leaky faucet, repairing any cracks in walls, floors, etc.


• Make floors, windows, walls, showers etc. shine. Hire a cleaning service or crank up your favorite tunes and clean like there is no tomorrow.


• Hire a professional carpet cleaner or replace worn and outdated carpets. It gives the impression of that new home feel.


• Eliminate any strong odors - pets, smoke, dirty shoes are big culprits. And, please don't cook fish inside; use the outdoor grill instead. You don't want your house smelling like an aquarium.
• Set out new, plush towels in the bathrooms for an Open House and individual showings.


• Let there be light! Make sure you have adequate lighting and working light bulbs. Open up all window treatments and blinds to let the sunshine in!


• Don't forget to spruce up the exterior too! Add seasonal flowers, fresh pine straw, etc. Get a new welcome mat to make a good first impression.

Hire a Professional Stager
Addressing Spaces can provide a professional analysis of your home and help you sell it for the most amount of money in the shortest period of time. Our pricing starts at just $75. Interesting fact: the cost to stage a home is typically a lot less than the first price reduction! We come in with an unbiased eye and can help you determine and prioritize what needs to be done. Addressing Spaces can implement and activate your S.O.S. plan to help you outshine your competition and get your house sold ASAP! Yes, I am totally biased, but we are good at what we do.

Happy Staging,

~Marybeth
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more.