| We're not just decorating to make a house look | | | | REPAIRS - Now is the time. If there are nail holes, |
| pretty. We're decorating to have a house sell | | | | or dents in a wall repair them. A home that is well |
| quickly and for the highest profit. | | | | maintained will deserve a higher price. Time to fix |
| GET RID OF CLUTTER - People subconsciously | | | | leaky faucets, nonfunctional lights and restore |
| judge the size of a room by how much floor and | | | | fences. |
| wall space they can see and how much light is in | | | | NEUTRALIZE - Remove dated wallpaper, |
| a room. The more clutter in a room the less floor | | | | furnishings, linoleum floorings and carpet. Pack up |
| and wall space and light, and the smaller that | | | | family photos, and personal collectibles. You want |
| room appears to the buyer. People will pay more | | | | buyers to imagine themselves in the home. You |
| for extra space. Clutter gives a neglected feel | | | | want them to fall in love with the idea of living |
| that suggests that the property has been poorly | | | | there. People don't buy houses they buy homes. |
| maintained. Don't just shove your clutter away in | | | | We want a potential buyer to say, 'Wow, this |
| a closet to deal with later. Get a head start on | | | | feels like home.' |
| packing, and store it or donate it .Clear off | | | | CURB APPEAL - Pay special attention to the front |
| counter tops, shelves and all flat surfaces. Clean | | | | entrance. Prune trees and shrubs. Put some |
| out and organize storage areas (closets, garage, | | | | planters on your front porch. Plant a few flowers |
| basement, attic). Buyers will look in every closet. | | | | in the garden if weather permits. Perhaps set up |
| And they should. They're buying space, and need | | | | a small sitting area. Paint the front door and |
| to see how much storage there is in this | | | | update the hardware, including the front lights. |
| property. | | | | DECOR - Rearrange existing furniture, lighting, and |
| FILL UP EMPTY ROOMS - It's hard to understand | | | | accessories to highlight the home's best features, |
| how large a room is when there's nothing in it as | | | | such as fireplaces, and high ceilings. If needed add |
| a reference point. The potential buyer can't | | | | rented, or purchased furniture, but don't overdo! |
| visualize how furniture will fit in an empty space | | | | Keep it light. Freshen up the walls by painting |
| and if they're unsure, they don't buy. Instead of | | | | them in either a neutral color, or maybe a bold |
| looking at the flow of one room to another, they | | | | color to create cosy and inviting rooms. |
| ask themselves questions like, "Have they left | | | | Open House day - Add a vase of fresh flowers |
| town? "Why is that wall bumpy?" You want them | | | | on your dining room table, turn on lights, open |
| instead to see how wonderful a space is in front | | | | draperies to let the natural light in, put on soft |
| of them. When a room is empty, potential buyers | | | | music and get ready for your big day! |
| focus on negative details instead of falling in love | | | | Anyone can handle any of the steps themselves, |
| with the overall space. | | | | however a qualified and experienced home stager |
| CLEAN - If you want it to look like it is well cared | | | | can help. There is a lot of work in preparing your |
| for, your home should look and smell wonderfully | | | | house to go for sale. A Home Stager is there to |
| clean. Hire a good cleaning service then spend at | | | | help or take over all the details. Look for a Home |
| least 15 minutes a day maintaining it. Deep clean | | | | Stager who understands the real estate market. |
| kitchens and baths until they shine. Take care of | | | | An experienced Home Stager will downplay the |
| pet or stale cigarette odors that will surely turn | | | | worst features and highlight the best features of |
| buyers away. | | | | your house. |