In any real estate market, the showing condition of the house and property is crucial to success. More than 80 percent of the buyers are previewing homes online before deciding whether to see them inside. They eliminate a substantial number of homes previewed online because they appear cluttered, too small and unattractive in their photos.
“Staging” can turn houses into model homes to showcase. Excess furniture and clutter are removed. Repairs and renovations may be completed. Eccentric decorating can be turned back to neutral backdrops. And thorough cleaning makes the entire house shine –including closets, fireplaces, driveways and decks.
That’s one reason why so much effort goes into decorating and furnishing new-home models – staging results in more buyers saying, “I want this house.”
Professional “staging” can be done for most homes at a cost ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the size of the home and how thoroughly the job is done. However, my marketing director and I can usually provide tips and recommendations an owner can do at little cost. Here is a room-by-room tour to illustrate the power of staging.
Living/Family Room
Remove family photos and knickknacks. People’s curiosity takes the focus off the house, which is what you are trying to sell.
Remove too much or too large furniture. Nothing makes a room look smaller than furniture that is too large or bulky. If the couch is angled, it may be too big. Buyers want and prefer the feeling of space.
Fireplace: A wood-burning fireplace may need to be cleaned, including the chimney and any soot on the front.
Kitchen
Counters and cupboards: Too many appliances and dishes eat up work and storage space.
Pantry: If the food hasn’t been eaten in several months, maybe it would help to toss some of it out. The less stuff stored, the larger the pantry appears.
Built-in desks: Clean surfaces and bulletin boards to rid of unnecessary clutter.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are the telltale room of cleaning habits.
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, cosmetics and brushes should be stored neatly in drawers or cabinets.
Toss soap scraps and neatly hang towels.
Bedrooms
The bed is a focal point, so it looks a lot better when made, with smooth covers and folded corners.
Walls. Neon green walls are great for a teenager’s self-expression but unacceptable for a well-staged home. Walls need to be a neutral color, preferably off-white.
Closets: Out-of-season clothes should be packed. Buyers usually think they need twice as much space as there is, so appeal to them.
Exterior
First impressions are everything. Paint and landscape sprucing up can do wonders.
Driveway: Home-improvement stores sell products to remove oil stains.
Decks and porches: Consider them like any other room in the home: grills should be in good shape; fertilizers, charcoal and other items should be stored neatly in the garage; and patio furniture should be in good condition.
Michael Edlen has sold $1.5 billion of real estate and was ranked #52 in the nation for 2013. He also maintains a database of local professionals, including professional home stagers. Please contact his office if you would like to request a referral. He can be reached at 310.230.7373 or Michael@michaeledlen.com. More tips and information are available at MichaelEdlen.com.
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