I went to a wonderful class this morning hosted by Sara of Rocky Mountain Home Staging. I’m always looking to hone my skills on preparing homes for photos and presenting them in their best light. Even in this “hot” market a well staged home can increase your buyer pool and as a seller get you more money for your home in the shortest amount of time. Isn’t that what every seller wants? If you want the best price, make sure the property shows its best from the start. Put in the time and energy before you list your home and it will pay off!
Only 10% of people can visualize when they view a home. They can’t see beyond what is there.
It does not matter what you the seller or I as the agent like in a home, it matters what buyers want. Not everyone loves floral drapes or a pottery collection. You have about 8 seconds to make an impression on a buyer when they come into your home. Make sure they feel an emotional connection and want your house. How do you do that?
Here are the tips I took away from the class and thought sellers would find helpful.
Maximize the Positives
- Minimize Distracting Elements (some say get rid of everything smaller than a football
- Lighting – make sure all blinds are opened up and lightblubs are working
- Create Emotional Connection Points
Minimize the Negatives
- Don’t Hide Them, but Eliminate them if Possible (Odors, Broken items, etc.)
Did you know that the kitchen is 30% of the buyer’s decision.
Before Staging you need to pack, clean, repair and do key updates.
When you are staging focus on the first impression spaces. Entry, Living Spaces, Kitchen, Bathrooms.
The things you can do that bring the highest Return on Investment (ROI) are painting, flooring and fixtures.
Occupied Property Preparation Tips
- Pull up Rugs in Hallways
- The fewer large pieces of art and decor the better
- Pack away small items and collections
- Art should be 4-12″ above furniture or a mantel (most of us hang our art too high)
- No Dried Flowers
- Pack anything controversial (for example anything related to politics, religion, college teams, etc.)
I always go through the home with my sellers to talk about how we can present their wonderful home in its best light. It is especially critical before the professional photos are taken since many buyers eliminate homes just based on online photos.
Staging your home will always be important in any kind of market if you want to maximize the proceeds from the sale of your home and minimize your time to closing. Let’s spend some time getting your home ready and if we need to bring in an expert.
Are you ready?
