The process of staging your home for sale is much like preparing the set for an award-winning movie. You need to set the scene and atmosphere with props and lighting before you start shooting. When you’ve taken care of the behind-the-scenes details, you can call on Lights, Camera and Action.
A properly prepared home can maximize your selling price and minimize your time on the market by setting yourself apart from the competition. Prospective home buyers need to see your house as a place where they could live. Home staging facilitates this by creating a mood in which the buyer can imagine living in their space by eliminating clutter, dirt, and excessive customization. Professional home stagers live by the motto of declutter, declutter and clean, clean, clean!
Home staging taps into the proven psychology of selling. Car dealerships let you test drive a car so you can experience what it would be like to own and drive the car every day. Clothing manufacturers allow you to try on clothes so you can see yourself in the garments. These experiences create an emotional connection to the product and set the stage for a sale. While prospective homebuyers can’t take your home for a test drive or try it out (move in for a day), you can engage their emotions by properly organizing your home so they can visualize what it would be like to call your house “home.”
Step 1: Tidy up the clutter
We never seem to realize how much we’ve accumulated until it’s time to move. The good news about decluttering your home is that you can start decluttering what you really need and want to move to your new location. The bad news is that you have to be the one to fix it! People who buy a house are usually looking for more space. Clutter eats up space and can make rooms feel cramped and small. Remove excess furniture, knickknacks, and items that are not being used. Remember to make sure cabinets and cupboards only contain the essentials. Sort everything into three piles, junk, goodwill, or garage sale, and those items will be packed up and stored ready to move into your new home. If you’re not sure what to pack, ask yourself this simple question. Am I going to use this in the next 1-2 months? If not, pack it up for the move. Not only does this get your house in top condition for the market, but you can also use the money from the garage sale to buy things for your new home.
Tidying up can pose special problems for children. Children may find it difficult to part with toys or clothing. Everything is special even if they haven’t worn or used it in a long time.
Step 2: Depersonalize
This part of preparing your home for sale can be a special trip down memory lane. All those images and memories are always on display, but rarely do people take the time to reconnect with their meaning. This is one of a lifetime’s chances to smell the roses, so go ahead and take a few moments to enjoy! But in the end, be sure to pack your personal keepsakes, family photos, and miscellaneous keepsakes. In general, it is an excellent rule of thumb to pack religious items, trinkets and pictures, and small to medium items. Larger accessories and artwork should be put to the side for consideration when organizing the house later on. Remember that you are showing your house as a canvas in which the buyer can insert his own style.
Step 3: Clean, Clean, Clean
Unfortunately for most home sellers, cleanliness is an important factor for buyers, as other people’s dirt registers much higher on their ick radar. There really is no way around it, in order to sell your house faster and for the best price possible, you need to shine. Buyers will pay special attention to the kitchen, bathrooms and windows. The following guidelines are recommended to thoroughly clean your home.
o Start at the top of your house and work your way down
o Clean bedrooms, dens, and infrequently used rooms first, followed by bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms. Save the porch, garage, shed, and attic for last.
o Pull all furniture and appliances into the center of rooms that you can clean behind and under
o Clean each room from the top down (ceiling, walls, trim, and floor)
o Do the wet work first: Wash the paint, wash the windows, wash and shampoo.
o Do dry work below: dusting, polishing, waxing
o Save vacuuming until last – this step removes all traces of dust and debris
Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned your home, set up a cleaning schedule that allows you to maintain the appearance on an ongoing basis.