“The investment of staging your home increases the sale price of your home!”
First impressions are everything, and there are no exceptions when it comes to the world of real estate. Whether you are in a highly competitive market or a fast seller’s market; you need to be sure it stands out and is in it’s optimal condition when listing your home for sale. Staging comes as a major component of your success in the market.
According to the National Association of Realtors research, NAR finds home staging helps buyers visualize and homes sell faster.
“Staging a home helps consumers see the full potential of a given space or property,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. “It features the home in its best light and helps would-be buyers envision its various possibilities.”
The staging process can be seen as a professional preparation carried out on your home before getting it listed on the market. It is a service that I provide for my clients when they are preparing their home for sale. Staging is done to attract more buyers by showing a property’s full potential. Selling a home comes down to the buyer’s first impression; every detail counts.
By showing attention to detail and understanding the buyer’s need to visualize your house as possibly being their own, you can dramatically increase the salability of your property.
It only takes most buyers 30 seconds to decide whether or not a home is good for them or not. Home staging can maximize the impact of those critical first moments to ensure a quick sale.
It is stated that over 90% of home buyers begin their home hunt online before extending to other resorts. Staged homes show better in person, online and in print.
Professional or DIY staging guarantees that prospective buyers will be wowed the moment they step over the threshold and into your home.
Statistics have shown that “94% of staged homes sell on average in 29 days or less,” and almost always at a higher price. 85 to 90% of potential buyers who tour a home cannot see the potential in the property. By staging your residence, you are appealing to the majority of buyers, enabling them to become emotionally attached and envision themselves living in your home.
There’s more to staging your home than just vacuuming and dusting, let’s go further to the various steps of preparing your home for the Fairfield CT market.
The Interior
1. The Kitchen: The kitchen is often considered a focal point when dealing with the interior. It deserves the most attention. And sometimes you just need to start with the kitchen as it will take most of your time. Strive for a clean and clutter-free kitchen as it gives potential buyers the chance to envision as their own.
• Completely clear countertops. No baking supplies, knife blocks, or anything that might be distractive to buyers
• Get out all appliances. You might leave out one such as a coffee maker.
• Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
• Get the refrigerator free of magnets, photos, or papers
2. Dining Room: whether you have an entire dining room or simply a table in the living room. It needs to be taken care of. Be sure the table is spotless and free of dishes or any random item.
• Clear, dust, and polish tabletop
• Put in place one centerpiece such as a bouquet
• Make use of decorative place settings if available
• Straighten and place chairs evenly
• Remove child seats/booster chairs
3. The Master Bedroom: When it comes to staging, the master bedroom tends to be a focal point. Most potential buyers tend to show more interest in this area than others.
• You can first start by sending out your items such as photos, laundry hampers, and clothes lying about
• Clean up the floors, tables, and furniture
• Make bed including decorative pillows/shams if available
• Get all dressers clutter-free
4. Bathrooms: When it comes to your home’s bathrooms, do your best to create the impression of a five-star resort.
• Clear countertops completely. No toothbrushes, no soap, no medications, and finally no deodorant.
• Remove dirty towels and leave just new and unused towels
• Put down toilet seats
• Close doors of closets
• Remove floor mats
The Exterior
The first impression always counts most! The exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will see and notice when they come around. The exterior acts like an indicator of what lies within. Let’s talk about a few tips on how to get your exterior ready.
1. Be sure the home is easily accessible: If there is snow or an ice storm, clear the driveway, sidewalk, and any pathways on which potential buyers may walk. If there are back steps, don’t forget to clear those, too. You never know when a buyer will want to see the home. In markets where your agent uses a lockbox for showings, you could get a request for a last-minute showing any day.
2. Prepare your garden: A successful summer should be accompanied by a garden. Prepare and clean your garden for the coming summer. Mulch your flower beds and take out unwanted weeds, this will give the garden a new look.
3. Prepare your summer tools: lawn mowers are most important when it comes to keeping your yard clean and neat all through summer. Get your equipment ready to tackle such tasks.
4. Make use of some Front Door Décor: Wreaths aren’t for Christmas only. They can be found year-round and can add an exceptional dose of beauty to your front door. Look for wreaths made from dried or preserved greens and florals, you can as well make things easier by purchasing one made from flaux plants. Stay away from seasonal elements that can date a wreath and make it appear inappropriate. Instead, go with something simple and elegant throughout an entire season.
5. Power Wash: There are very few things possibly to match the joy of power washing years of dirt and grime off your siding, porch, walkway, and driveway. In case you don’t own a power washer, you can simply rent one from a hardware store.
Final Touches: Clean and turn on your furnace and ventilation shafts. Doing this doesn’t call for a cosmetic upgrade, but will enable your home to function more effectively. Burn candles or incense, or bake an apple pie before showings, a new scent might help you enjoy the feeling of a new and nicer atmosphere.
If you are thinking of selling and want advice on how to present your home at its best for the market, contact me today!