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05/11/2006: "Staging a Home"

Submitted by Michele Merritt of Designs with Merritt

A Guide for a Quick, Top Dollar sale

When selling your home, there are things that need to be done in preparation for your sale. Our Goal is to:

*Get top dollar for your home
*Sell your home as quickly as possible
*Set your home apart from other homes in both perceived and actual quality

There is a lot of psychology and emotion when buying a home. The goal is to have the buyer drive up and look at your home with interest from the curb.

Once inside, the buyers need to feel comfortable, and able to picture themselves in the home. It must appeal to all of their senses, including their sense of aesthetics. It often does not take much time, money, or effort to improve the look and feel of your home, but it can really pay off. Here are some pointers for sellers:

*Make sure your home is very clean. No one wants to buy someone else’s dirt. If you are not good at cleaning, consider hiring someone to clean, especially before your open house.
If you have carpet, get it cleaned, unless it is in great shape. It is much cheaper than having to replace it. People notice carpet condition.

*Make small repairs that you may have put off. If people notice cracks, and chips, or peeling paint, it makes them think you may not have kept up on the bigger more important repairs and maintenance.
Clear out the clutter! You want your place to seem calm, and spacious. People will write your place off if they don’t feel good in it. Don’t make potential buyers have to imagine how good it could look.
Focus on curb appeal. A buyer will make up at least 25% of their opinion about your home before they walk in the door. What does your yard and porch say about your home?

*White is great for hospital, but it is a cold color. Add some neutral color to your walls if possible. It is the cheapest way to add to the aesthetics of your space, as well as making it cozier and more elegant.
Bathrooms and kitchens are selling features. Clear off counter tops. Have a few accessories on the counters to make it lively and lived in, but never cluttered. Consider replacing outdated hardware, lighting and sinks.

*If your home has too much furniture, find somewhere to store it. The home should look lived in, but never cramped. Buyers will think they won’t have enough room for their own belongings in the space.
Accessorize and depersonalize. Having pictures, plants, vases and lamps helps a home feel warmer. Just avoid going overboard. Take some of your family photos down, so the potential buyers can picture their own family and friends in the space.

*On the day of your open house consider putting some slice and bake cookies in your oven, or cinnamon potpourri, fresh bread, or tomato sauce on the stove. The sense of smell is the strongest and most emotional. Scents like pumpkin pie spice appeal to people and will make them want to stay in the space. Your property will stand out.

This may seem lengthy or daunting, but it is worth your effort in dollar signs, and less aggravation in the selling process. according to www.StagedHomes.com, a leader in home staging services, statistics show an average of a 3% minimum increase in final sales price on homes that had been staged, versus those who had not. On a $300,000 home, that's a $9,000 increase-and well worth the home staging fees.

If you would like help getting your home ready to sell, from landscaping ideas, to picking paint colors, Designs with Merritt is available to help. We specialize in helping people get their homes ready for sale and giving them the advantage in the competitive real estate market.

Email Michele Today: michelemerritt@hotmail.com or see her articles at Barton Real Estate