HOW TO "STAGE" YOUR HOME YOURSELF

MAKE AN AWESOME FIRST IMPRESSION

Look at your house like you will look at the homes you want to buy next.  Prospective buyers make up their minds about your house even before they get out of the car.  

 This is your chance to WOW them.   Clean up the yard; rake the leaves and sweep driveways and porches.

 Get out the rags and cleanser and spend 30 minutes scouring your front door, porch, railings and steps.

 Make sure all of all your trash cans, recycling cans, other bins, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., are in the garage.

 Check gutters for roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

 Look at all plants.   Prune your bushes and trees.   Keep plants from blocking windows.

 Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove dead plants or shrubs.

Clear patios or decks of all small items such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, and toys. Box them away and store them.

Check the paint condition of the house, especially the front door and trim.

UNCLUTTER YOUR HOUSE

Empty your closets to a minimum, clear out the cupboards, and get rid of the small appliances.  Take books off the shelves, get rid of all of the magazines, the CDs, video games, and DVDs, and lose the kid’s toys.  Minimize it all.

Rent a storage unit or box what you want to keep and toss the rest.

Now is the time to say goodbye to your house and your stuff and transition.  Your life may be a bit uncomfortable during this time but you are now in the business of selling your home. 

 GET RID OF THAT FURNITURE

An easy way to "unclutter" and create a much greater sense of space is to get rid of some furniture. Consider moving your sofa, extra chairs, and end tables into storage so you can make the home feel like it is larger and has much more space. If your furniture is old, you may want to pack it away and rent a few more contemporary pieces. The goal is to sell your home, not display your old furniture.

MAKE YOUR HOME "THEIR" HOME

The goal here is to get the potential buyer to imagine that he is living in your house.  If he feels like an intruder during his tour, your chances of selling the house are less. That means put away anything connected to your family or personal interests.   Like trophies, family vacation photos, and personal mementos.  Box it all away!

Clear refrigerator fronts of all messages, magnets, pictures, reminders, etc.

Stagers say the bathroom is a crucial place to pay close attention too.  Shampoo bottles in the shower and toothbrushes near the sink make it very hard for the buyer to picture himself there.  Box it away during the day and bring it out at night for your use.

Keep the towels to minimum as well.  Think "neat hotel bathroom" on the day you checked in.

MAKE THAT HOUSE AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE

If your house is clean, the buyer tends to believe everything else is great with the house as well.    This means clean everything!   The mirrors, walls, floors, carpets, drapes, bathrooms, kitchen, and even door handles, light fixtures and pantry cupboards.

If you hate cleaning, bring in a professional maid service regularly while your home is listed and get someone in to do the windows, driveway and walkways.  Remember, it costs money to make money.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL HANDYMAN

As I mentioned, I recently sold an investment property of mine that was staged in 11 days.   I staged it myself by following all of the items listed here.    

The day before my agent officially placed my home in MLS and started contacting all of his previous clients, I called a handyman to come out and fix a few things. 

I had a missing face plate for a light switch.  I had some mold around one of the toilets.  One of the sinks had a broken drain valve. The door leading out to the garage was dinged up a bit and needed a coat of paint.  This was less than $100 worth of work.  Many sellers would simply have ignored these items, offered the buyer a blanket repair credit, and said "get it fixed yourself when you move in."  

Because of my research on this topic, I knew better and made an appointment to get the handyman out to fix it.  He was busy so he committed to come in a week.  However, my home went on the market the next day.

Two days later, five days before the handyman came; the eventual buyer of my home toured my house.  He came back a week later, after the handyman had been there, and bought it.  When I finally met the buyer at the final walk-through, I asked him whey he didn’t make the offer the first time through.  

He told me the missing face plate on the light switch and the dinged up garage door really bugged him.  When he came back and it was fixed, he was impressed and knew I cared about the home.   

A $3 item from Home Depot and a simple coat of cheap grade white paint almost cost me the sale of my home.

Don’t wait!  Fix those minor problems today!

COLOR UP THAT HOUSE WITH PAINT AND CARE

A fresh coat of paint in key areas of your home really makes a big difference.   If your home feels "special" like you care, that will translate to buyers.  Experts say flowers in the entry or near the front door make your home feel more special, warm and inviting.

FACE IT, YOUR HOUSE STINKS…MAKE IT SMELL BETTER

Stagers say that people don’t realize it but many of their homes simply stink.  They stink from pets or just everyday family use.   The easiest way to overcome this is to keep your windows open for 10 minutes a day.

This strategy works better than deodorizers, says Barb Schwarz, president of StagedHomes.com, since a lot of people have allergies to artificial room fresheners.

The oldest trick of all? Leave chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.  The smell helps buyers bond with your home.

MAKE YOUR HOME BRIGHTER AND MORE ALIVE

When things are lighter they feel more vibrant and alive.  Dark is depressing.  You don’t want the buyer feeling depressed walking through your home.

Staging experts say clean windows let in as much as 30% more light than dirty ones.   Get them cleaned.

Clean the shades on your light fixtures and add floor lamps if an area seems dim.

Get rid of those energy-saving 60-watt bulbs and go with higher wattage lights for maximum illumination.

When it comes time to show your home, make sure all the lights are on.

GET HOMEY AND CREATIVE

Flowers, plants, candles, expressive art are all items that are not overly personal that give a good vibe to the buyer walking through your home.   Show these off or go buy some to add that touch.

You want your home to feel like a model home you see at a new house tract or, better yet, a comfortable hotel lobby.