So, you want to sell your house. Congratulations on reaching this decision! Now, before you have your next meeting with an F.C. Tucker Emge REALTOR®, sign a listing contract, take photos or have your first in-person showing, you need to adopt the following mind-set: This house–the one you have been living in for the past however-many-years: is no longer yours. It already belongs to the new owners, whoever they may be. However, in order to find them, you must neutralize the space and capitalize on the strengths of the house itself by creating an inviting canvas of possibilities. You may have heard this called “staging.” The objective in staging any home, regardless of the circumstances of the sale, is to help prospective buyers visualize themselves and their belongings in that space. You want the house to invite them in and welcome them to the lifestyle they are getting ready to buy.
The statistics do not lie: According to the National Association of REALTORS®, staged homes can bring in bids up to 5% higher than homes that are not staged. Staging can also shorten the number of days on market. Now that almost all homes are being marketed online with a full album of listing photos, it is imperative that your home is staged from the get-go so that you can leverage the market in your favor when your listing goes live online.
When buyers walk into your house, they need to be able to see scale. They are wondering “Will my couch fit in this space? Is this bedroom big enough for my king size bed? Where will we put our piano? Our desk? Our ping-pong table?” Chances are, the new owners are going to have different tastes and preferences than you when it comes to decor. You want to be able to show the scale of the rooms, without distracting them with too much of your personal belongings. You want to highlight potential.
There are professional stagers out there who you can hire to get your house in tip-top shape for the market, but depending on the size of your property, professional staging can cost between $1,000 and $5,000. Understandably, a lot of homeowners look for ways to handle the job themselves. Fortunately, there are plenty of no-cost and low-cost steps you can take to stage your place before it goes on the market. Some sweat equity and elbow grease will likely guarantee good ROI (return on investment). Investing anything into staging your home correctly, will be cheaper than adjusting the price low enough to attract buyers. Let that sink in.
In other situations, like if have to move out before you can get the photos taken, you might need to invest in a professional stager who can bring in some temporary furniture and accessories while the home is on the market. Another option for a vacant home, is virtual staging, which FC Tucker Emge REALTORS® has access to if your listing requires it.
Here are some low-cost strategies for getting your home staged and ready for its close-up:
Declutter:
- Remove all excess paraphernalia from all surfaces including kitchen counters, bathroom counters, coffee table, nightstands, dressers, occasional tables, etc.
- Clean out all cabinets, drawers and closets to maximize available space and highlight storage potential
- Store any excessive furniture that you can live without during the listing period. We know you love that rocking chair in your bedroom, but how often do you sit in it? And how much bigger will the room look without it?
- Additionally, if there are items, especially furniture, that you anticipate getting rid of, go ahead and get it out: sell it, consign it, donate, etc.
Room-by-Room: go through each room in your home with a fine tooth comb…
- Touch up paint and trim
- Replace burnt out or dim light bulbs; you might even make a switch to LED bulbs as they are more efficient and a provide better light
- Clean with a vengeance like you’ve never cleaned before: dust every little nook and cranny; shine glass, wipe down baseboards, dust fans and light fixtures, wash windows, wipe smudges from doors and walls
- Fix or replace broken fixtures, window treatments, etc.
- Clean carpets (or even replace if they are really old and worn)
Specifics
Bathrooms: dust light fixtures; hang new, neutral-colored fluffy towels for photos and showings; shine faucets; scrub all soap scum/film from bath and shower
Bedrooms: crisp up bed coverings and invest in some new throw pillows; clean out closets to make them look as spacious as possible. Go ahead and pack-up those out-of-season clothes and shoes and put them in storage.
Living Spaces: remove family photos and excessive art; be selective about pillows and throws…maybe even invest in some updated ones; put away excess books and knick-knacks. Specifically remember to dust light fixtures in living areas and entry ways.
Dining Room: dress your table in a fresh clean and pressed tablecloth or placemats; place a bowl of fruit in the center or maintain a vase of real flowers
Kitchen: put away small appliances (including toasters, blenders, cookers); remove papers, pictures, magnets from fridge; shine sink and all appliances; make sure all cabinet hinges work properly; clean drain; pack-up any kitchen utensils/accessories that you don’t normally use; organize pantry. Update cabinet hardware.
Paint colors: we know you loved that purple powder room you painted when you moved in, but purple isn’t for everyone. If you have time, go ahead neutralize some of those brighter paint colors that are owner-specific.
Pare Down Pet Accessories: Remember you are selling a house, not a pet store. We know that pets are an important part of the family, but no one wants to see nose juice on windows. Especially when you have a showing, it is good to remove pet beds, crates and food bowls, and clean-up excess hair and drool.
Smells: This is an oft neglected but terribly important part of staging. A neutral smelling house is the ultimate goal, which is usually accomplished by regular and thorough cleaning. Pet smells, cigarette smoke, and strong cooking odors can usually linger and have been known to turn-off buyers. Be careful of what you cook when your house is on the market and always use the exhaust fans and clean up thoroughly. Clean your pets and their bedding to erase as much scent as possible. Refrain from overuse of air fresheners and candles…some people have allergies to them and they can smell overly strong. Keep your windows open to air out the house as much as possible, and rely on natural products if absolutely necessary.
Outside: clean up all pet excrement; paint front door and garage door if they are showing wear; clear cobwebs and dirt from front entry; invest in some plants/flowers for the entrance; weed garden and freshen-up mulch; prune shrubbery and remove dead foliage; keep lawn mowed and trimmed; put away excess toys, furniture, and accoutrements. Have you noticed the green mold on the north side of your house? Power-wash it off. While you’re at it, power-washing sidewalks and driveways isn’t a bad idea either
Additional strategies:
- Have an honest friend come in and do a walk through and ask them if they think your home is up to par. Also, all of us get used to the smell of our own house, so ask for their opinion of the smell of the home. Have you heard the phrase “nose blind?”
- Go ahead and start packing…this is a great way to pare down what is in your house; neatly store packed boxes on one side of your garage along the wall. If you really have a lot of stuff, go ahead and rent a storage unit.
- Have a yard sale for things you don’t want or sell things on an online marketplace
- Donate books to your local libraries
- Donate other clothes and household items to local charities of your choice. There are both charities and consignment shops that will pick up those items for you. If you need ideas of where to donate, ask your favorite FC Tucker Emge agent!
- Get a handy-man/woman to assist you with some of these tasks if you don’t have the right tools in your belt. Your FC Tucker Emge REALTOR® probably has someone they trust who they can recommend.
Of course, every home is different, so you can always count on your FC Tucker Emge REALTOR® to offer additional real-life solutions to your unique staging questions. Our agents see the insides of LOTS of houses and hear comments from lots of buyers, so they are a source of legitimate insight when it comes to setting the stage. Lets Talk.
If you are interested in learning more about staging on your own, the internet has a wealth of information and inspiration. Go to your favorite social media site and type-in #homestaging and see what pulls up. Alternatively, you might start here, at one of our favorite sites for real estate wisdom and smiles.
Special thanks to agents Gretchen Ballard and Katie Waldroup for their consultation on this blog.
