When you make the decision to sell your residence, it is extremely important to immediately begin the process of emotionally detaching from it. Depending on the circumstances of why this decision was made, the emotions surrounding detaching can range from excitement & joy in some people to downright pain in others. However, only in detaching from it are you then able to properly assess its current strengths & weaknesses & make the appropriate changes to transform it from “your home” to a “buyer ready” property. If you take the correct steps, you will significantly reduce its days on the market & reap the ultimate reward ~ the best price possible.
So, essentially, what you must say to yourself is “It’s not my house anymore!”
Every room, nook, cupboard, drawer & closet in your home has your imprint on it. Neat, sparkling clean, uncluttered, neutral spaces will allow buyers to see your home’s best features. Messy, cluttered, very taste specific colors, decor & family photos will leave potential buyers unable to picture themselves living there. And, will also leave them with the impression that the place has not been well taken care of.
Staging starts at the curb & literally ends with every shelf & cubby. It is all about directing the buyer’s eye to your amazing house & property; showcasing its best features & minimizing its not-so-great ones. Realtors & buyers both use the term “shows well”. A house that shows well is one is clean & organized ~ cannot stress that one enough ~ has a furniture arrangement that shows off the square footage & design & color selections that are updated & appeal to the broadest possible number of buyers. Buyers will not pay a premium for a home that has a big to-do list facing them on the day the move in.
Staging should be done before your house is listed & pictures are taken. Most buyers begin their search on the internet & how your home looks in those pictures can either spark their interest, placing your home on their must-see-this-one-in-person list, or they will just click on to the next listing.
From the MLS trashcan tab on the Orlando Real Estate Photography site:
Wow!
A balanced real estate housing market should have 6 – 8 months of inventory. In my local area there is currently over 20 months of inventory. So, it stands to reason that in a buyers market your property must stand out ~ & in a good way!
Some homeowners have both the objectivity & expertise to stage their own home. Others need some help. Working with a Stager is not expensive &, with their guidance, you will reap a $343- return on every staging dollar you spend.
I have a goal with this blog & it is very simple ~ to provide good, original content on staging & to share my love of design. On the staging side, I will demystify the process & provide tangible ideas on how you can do all or most of the work yourself if that is what you want or need to do. I also offer hands-on staging services in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina & e-staging elsewhere. On the pure design side, again I will share what I know, what I find & all the amazing resources out there.
So, the first step in staging is to detach, let go and begin to view your home from the eyes & perspective of its next owner.
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