Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager

New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.

The biggest bang for your buck, by far, is using paint to improve your home's appearance. Paint will make a room cleaner, fresher, brighter, and more stylish. It gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for. It makes your home more competitive with new construction.

Paint can be used to help minimize negative features and to help showcase positive features. It can be used to create a flow throughout the house and to create a lasting positive impression.

Many people have trouble choosing paint colors or are afraid of making the wrong choice. Many times sellers choose colors that they personally like, without taking into consideration the need to be appealing to all potential buyers. It is very important that the colors you choose are neutral, but not bland. Most professional home stagers offer Color Consultations as one of their services, and it is a smart idea to seek the advice of a professional before purchasing your paint.

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

Previous Tips:

Tip #1 Update Lighting Fixtures

Tip #2 Identify Red Flags

Tip #3 Pre-Pack Your Stuff

Tip #4 Define Space & Function

Tip #5 Maintenance Means Money

Tip #6 Don't Underestimate The Bathroom

Tip #7 Transform With Paint

In addition to the traditional use for paint, improving the general appearance of a room, I would like to share some other ways paint can be used to help make your home more appealing to buyers.

Prior to staging, this library lacked impact. The built-in bookcases and fireplace were great features, but they were not being showcased. Painting the walls with a rich, warm color made these features POP.

The opposite of the previous example...this den was dark and needed to be lightened. A brighter room was achieved by painting the dark woodwork a lighter color. Painting the shelves and the wall behind them the same color created a more custom "built-in" look.

This laundry room is one of my favorite transformations and is featured on my website. This was valuable real estate space that was not being properly marketed. By painting the cabinets white like the appliances, a cleaner and more pleasant room to do household chores was created.

Walls and cabinets aren't the only places to use paint...

these worn steps were given new life by painting them a rich black.

Other cost effective ways to use paint to prepare your house for sale:

Paint old furniture to give it new life

Update brass light fixtures and brass fireplace screens with black or bronze spray paint

Improve the appearance of mirrors

Update artwork by painting the frame

Use spray paint to revive patio furniture and flower pots

This concludes my seven-part series on The Secrets of Selling. I hope you have found it useful and informative. For more information on preparing your home for sale, visit my website ... or search online for a professional home stager in your area.

Consulting with a professional home stager before you list your home

is the most important "secret to selling" there is!

New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.

One big mistake many sellers make is underestimating the importance of preparing their bathrooms for sale. I recently did a staging consult for a seller who responded "it's the bathroom, it's supposed to have toothbrushes in it" when I told him to remove his toothbrush from the counter.

There is no room in the house more personal than the bathroom, and it is the last place buyers want to be reminded that you live there.

As buyers, we know other people are living in the house and obviously use the bathrooms, but emotionally, we don't want to think about it. It's like staying in a nice hotel...when we arrive the bathroom has been made to appear as though we are the first person to ever use it. We know hundreds of people have been there before us, but right now...there are clean towels, brand new soaps, and a fresh roll of paper. How would you feel if you found evidence of the past guests in the bathroom when you checked in?

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

Previous Tips:

Tip #1 Update Lighting Fixtures

Tip #2 Identify Red Flags

Tip #3 Pre-Pack Your Stuff

Tip #4 Define Space & Function

Tip #5 Maintenance Means Money

Tip #6 Don't Underestimate The Bathroom

When preparing your house for sale, the bathroom must be spotless.

Clean every inch, including inside the drawers, cabinets, and closet.

Organize and clean under the sink/vanity.

Remove all toiletries and personal grooming products, including those in the tub/shower area.

Replace your faded and worn towels with new ones.

Create a spa-like atmosphere by grouping soaps, sponges and hand towels in an attractive container.

This bath was updated by adding accessories to compliment the dated torquoise sink and toilet. New hardware and a fresh coat of paint for the vanity completed the transformation.

Even a very small, very dated bath can have an impressive transformation at very little expense...A few new accessories, a new light fixture, and fresh paint were added after removing the wallpaper.

New light fixtures and paint were not in the budget, but it didn't matter because the new towels, rug, and accessories were all it took to help get this home sold.

Sometimes, it is just a matter of a little tweaking...replacing the hand towel with a longer one, lowering the picture, removing the candle from the wall, adding new bath towels and a plant, and removing the window scarf made this bath more impressive to buyers.

A naked bathroom is never as appealing to buyers as a nicely dressed one.

Stay tuned for Tip #7

New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.

The visual appearance of a home prompts potential buyers more than any other factor. Once they step inside, buyers decide within the first ten seconds whether they want to buy your home. They should be greeted with a spotless, move-in ready home, which gives the appearance of being well maintained and cared for.

Clean or freshly painted walls, spotless or new carpeting are a must. Hardwood floors must be in excellent condition. Floor tile should be a light neutral color, with clean grout lines.

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

Previous Tips:

Tip #1 Update Lighting Fixtures

Tip #2 Identify Red Flags

Tip #3 Pre-Pack Your Stuff

Tip #4 Define Space & Function

Tip #5 Maintenance Means Money

Your house is only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it. The more a buyer believes the house has been well maintained, the more valuable they perceive it to be. If you want buyers to believe the house has been well maintained, then you have to go above and beyond basic cleaning. You have to create the impression that the most meticulous of clean freaks is living in the house. Clean areas most sellers don't clean, like the inside of the refrigerator and oven. Organize all the cabinets, closets, and vanities and clean under the kitchen sink. Organize all the kitchen drawers. If you really want to blow them away, organize and clean the basement and garage.

Contrary to popular belief...allowances are a bad idea. Buyers don't want an allowance to have the carpet replaced or the roof fixed. They want to move in, they don't want to make improvements. A worn carpet or old roof just tells buyers that you haven't maintained the house. It makes them then wonder what else hasn't been properly cared for.

I've used this picture as an example many times before...it really speaks for itself:

This kitchen floor was in poor shape and the radiator was rusty and missing parts. Fresh paint on the walls, a new floor, and a new radiator cover made from wood transformed this kitchen from neglected to impressive and added tremendous value to the home.

Removal of the clock and shelf left large holes in this bedroom wall. The seller didn't have the matching paint to make the repairs. They did have paint that matched the hall, so we used that and created an accent wall. This saved the sellers the cost, time, and labor of having to repaint the whole room, while giving the room a fresh, clean look.

Stay tuned for Tip #6

New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.

Did you know that only 10% of buyers can actually visualize a room any other way than how you show it to them. It is very important, when preparing a house for sale, to clearly define the space and function of each room.

Don't expect potential buyers to try and figure out how to better arrange the furniture because your furniture is not working in the room.

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

Previous Tips:

Tip #1 Update Lighting Fixtures

Tip #2 Identify Red Flags

Tip #3 Pre-Pack Your Stuff

Tip #4 Define Space & Function

Buyers looking at this room on the MLS have no idea what room it is. It seems to be a home office for a clock collector. The dated window treatments and carpet aren't making it any more appealing.

The solution: The desk was closed, the clocks were removed, and furniture was rearranged. The only items purchased were the new window treatments.

The sellers of this house were using the dining room as a playroom, and they expected buyers to see past the toys. Buyers don't "see past" clutter...they walk past clutter, right out the door to the next house on their list.

The solution: The toys were removed and the dining set was brought up from the basement where it was being stored. Fresh paint and a new light fixture were the final touches.

This condo was listed vacant, with only one photo of the kitchen posted on the MLS. It was impossible to see the size of the room from the photo. In person, the room appeared very small and it was very difficult for buyers to visualize making use of the space. A big issue was that there are no cabinets in this kitchen.

The solution: A table and chairs was brought in with a few basic accessories. Appliances were upgraded to stainless.

To address the "no cabinets" issue, small appliances, dishes, and cookware were placed in one closet and food items (cereal, canned goods) were placed in the other. (Closets on either side of mantel)

Two pictures replaced the original picture on the MLS to better represent the room.

Stay tuned for Tip #5

New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.

I understand that dealing with years of accumulation can be overwhelming for you. But, think about how overwhelming it is for potential buyers to have to look past all your stuff. You at least have a sentimental attachment to the stuff. If you want buyers to consider making your house their new home, you need to remove all evidence of you and your family.

If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.

Previous Tips:

Tip #1 Update Lighting Fixtures

Tip #2 Identify Red Flags

Tip #3 Pre-Pack Your Stuff

It is more commonly known as decluttering. Supposedly, sellers know they have to "declutter" and yet, the evidence says otherwise. The mistake most sellers make is in determining what constitutes clutter. They either don't remove enough or they remove too much, leaving the house cold and vacant.

For best results, hire a professional home stager to tell you what needs to go.

If you intend to prepare your house for sale without professional help, here are some suggestions on reducing some of your clutter. Remember...you have to deal with this stuff when you move anyways, and if you deal with it sooner instead of later...it can help you sell the house.

CLOSETS Pre-packing all off-season clothing, shoes, and accessories will make the closets appear larger.

KITCHEN Pre-packing all dishes, cookware, and glassware that isn't used daily will make the cabinets appear more spacious.

COLLECTIONS Having your collections on display is distracting. Pre-pack them so buyers are looking at the house, not your memorabilia.

PHOTOGRAPHS Your goal is to make the house warm, inviting and appealing without any evidence of who actually lives there.

RELIGIOUS & POLITICAL ITEMS We want all buyers to feel welcome and at home here.

This study was so cluttered with the sellers photographs and collectables, buyers couldn't appreciate the details of the room.

This living room obviously belongs to someone...a family is living here and their "stuff" is everywhere. Once the evidence of the family is removed, you can appreciate the room and it's features.

This dining hutch was cluttered with too much glassware. The glassware was prepacked and plates were used for a cleaner and more dramatic look.

Stay tuned for Tip #4