| Home Staging seems to be one of the new | | | | their stuff in it while it's empty. The space is a dizzying |
| "buzzwords" in Real Estate Sales these days. Since it | | | | array of decorating choices and for many people, too |
| is a buyer's market now, sellers are having to use | | | | overwhelming. |
| every trick in their playbook to get those properties | | | | They will move on to a house that has some furniture |
| sold. When a potential buyer has hundreds of houses | | | | in it to suggest ideas for the spaces. And that is the |
| to choose from, standing out becomes more of a | | | | keyword in this: Suggestion. All you have to do is |
| necessity. The buyers are in charge and they can be | | | | suggest the use of the space. |
| choosy. So staging the home, or presenting it in a more | | | | In the kitchen, I will add a bouquet of silk flowers, and in |
| favorable light, becomes critical. | | | | another spot, 2 wine glasses on a beautiful place mat |
| But if you are in a hurry and don't have a lot of money | | | | with a pretty napkin. All of these items can be found in |
| to buy elaborate decorations and re do everything, | | | | a dollar store or garage sales and kept on hand for |
| what can you do? | | | | later use. |
| Well let's look at it 2 ways. If your family is going to | | | | In baths, add 2 nice towels, and a pretty soap |
| have to live in the house while it is being shown, then | | | | dispenser. If the shower calls for a curtain, I drape a |
| you are still getting ready to move, right? So get a | | | | pretty sheet over the rod at one end to suggest a |
| head start on moving and help your house sell quickly | | | | curtain.. .because you want the curtain open to make |
| at the same time. | | | | the space seem larger and airier. |
| Pack up at least half of the knickknacks, 2/3 would be | | | | For furniture, I keep it to a bare minimum. I have used a |
| better. Most people have way too much clutter around | | | | card table with pretty table cloths that reach the floor |
| and it distracts a potential viewer from imagining their | | | | for the dining room... and to have a place to sign |
| own stuff in the space. Ditto the furniture. Pack up 1/3 | | | | documents. For the bedrooms, I just use tall vases in |
| to half of it. | | | | the corner of each, with tall flowers, and at the base |
| You say it is holding extra stuff? Well that's ok, pack | | | | of the vase, appropriate decorations. For a girl's room, I |
| up the extra stuff while you're at it. See how much | | | | might put a little doll and a dollhouse, or a doll buggy. |
| help that is, you're halfway packed... You might even | | | | For a boy's room, I might have a vase of baseball bats |
| discover you can live with less stuff in this process. | | | | or hockey sticks or a mixture. (You can get these at |
| Even if you have to rent a small room for a couple of | | | | Goodwill) At the base, put a football a baseball glove, a |
| months, or get one of those pods to store some stuff, | | | | soccer ball... you get the idea, I'm sure. In the master |
| just do it. | | | | bedroom I like to place a little round table with floor |
| Oh, and which half of the knickknacks should you | | | | length table cloths over it, and add silk flowers in a |
| keep? Try to go with one or two colors of stuff or | | | | vase, and a candle plus a basket of spa items at the |
| one or two themes for the whole house. Simple is | | | | foot... or in the master bath if there is one. Maybe add |
| best. Now if you have children and each one has a | | | | a couple of books. Just a little hint of a scene. I have |
| theme of their own, that's ok, just make the rest of the | | | | lots of art, so I add a painting in a few of the rooms. |
| house one basic theme, or color of accessories, and | | | | Posters work very well too and can be rolled up for |
| let the kids' rooms be creative. | | | | easy storage. |
| On the day of the house showing, either bake cookies, | | | | Just these simple inexpensive tricks have enabled me |
| or burn a candle that smells like cookies or apple pie. | | | | to sell houses in difficult markets much faster and for |
| Turn on all the lights even if it is daytime. Clean | | | | more money than other houses in the same |
| everything before the showing! Have coffee available. | | | | neighborhood. And when a house sells, packing up the |
| Now let's say you have an empty house. You would | | | | stage props is quick and easy. Staging really works! |
| think this would be easier to sell, but research shows | | | | For a couple of hours of your time, and a few dollars |
| that it takes longer to sell an empty house, and I think | | | | worth of accessories, you can add thousands of |
| it's because most people can't visualize the room with | | | | dollars to your bottom line...faster. |