A potential buyer makes the decision to purchase a home within the first minute of entering. A great first impression is the key to selling a home quickly and for top line pricing. Staging a home gives the buyers ideas about ways that they could use the space, as well as creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Homes that are well-staged typically sell 30 to 50% faster than homes that are not staged. If you are looking to sell a home, you should follow these steps:
1. Organize and clean all rooms of the home. You should either pack, give away, or throw out any items that you won’t need to be using right away. Organize your cabinets, closets, and drawers. Potential buyers will open them to look inside. Put anything that you think you are probably going to need in a small, well organized box in an out of the way corner.
2. Concentrate on taking care of any and all repairs. Thoroughly inspect the inside and outside of your house for wall or foundation cracks, etc. A small investment of time and money to make the necessary repairs will pay off when it comes to the selling price. Make sure to look for burnt-out light bulbs, leaking faucets, and squeaky doors. You may also want to repaint the walls of your house to a neutral color, which will give them a fresh and clean appearance. Neutral wall colors also make it easier for potential buyers to picture how they can put their own design impression on the house. Whereas, the bright mustard-colored walls that you thought really gave the room a designer’s flair, may not be nearly as appealing to potential buyers as it was to you.
3. Organize and clean kitchen cupboards and counter tops. Cupboards and counter tops should not be stuffed with kitchen appliances and food. You want the kitchen to feel clean, spacious, and convenient. Make sure that all of the dishes are neatly stacked in the cupboards, turning all of the coffee cups and mugs so they are facing in the same direction creates an organized feeling. Make sure that everything is clean and orderly (this includes the spice cabinet).
4. Keep the bathroom as bare as you can. You should never leave any of your personal items out in view when your house is being shown. This means you need to put away you hair brush, tooth brush, and so on.
5. Depersonalize the entire house. Buyers will be far more attracted to a house when they can envision themselves and their family living there. To make your house feel lived-in without looking like your family lives there, pack the following items away and put into storage:
- Children’s artwork
- Nik-naks and collectibles
- All family photos
- Home Gym equipment that has not been used in months
- Trophies and certificates
6. Whether you are selling your house privately or professionally, make sure that you make some fliers with photos and details about the house for prospective buyers to take with them when they leave.
7. Be aware that when the house has a showing scheduled, it should appeal to the buyers’ five senses.
- Smell: Put out scented candles and flowers in the main rooms of the house and a large, colorful bowl of fresh fruit on the dining table.
- Sight: Open the curtains to let in the natural light. Remove all visible clutter, vacuum, dust, and clean the bathroom(s). You have spent time cleaning to guarantee that everything looks perfect, so leave the pets outside or at a friend or family member’s home for the day to ensure that your house continues to appear as fresh and clean as when you finished cleaning.
- Taste: A freshly brewed pot of hot coffee will help with taste, as well as adding the warm and inviting scent of coffee to the home.
- Sound: Turn off all television sets and computers. Turn on some soft jazz music or easy listening music to provide a soothing and peaceful tone.
- Touch: Make sure to ask potential buyers to sit on your most comfortable couch. You also want to be sure that the entire house is clean and free of cob webs and dust.
- Space: When showing your property, always allow the guests to enter the rooms first. In small rooms, like bathrooms, stay just outside the door. Too many people in a small room causes the room to feel even smaller than it really is.
8. Be sure to hide or put away any major appliances that are not being sold with the house. For example, if you want to keep the antique chandelier from the dining room, it is best to take it down and replace it prior to showing the house. This eliminates any risk of the buyer seeing it and wanting it for himself.
