Jul. 26, 2007 - Showing your home's assets

Home Staging Tips

What is a staged home?  A staged home de-personalizes and utilizes all the space to show its assets rather than merely using the space for storage. Think of staging like detailing a car. A smart auto seller would detail a car before selling it to add value.  Staging does the same thing and helps the prospect envision him/her self living in the space.  Simply put, it’s that model home in the new residential development.

With the increased inventory of homes for sale in Franklin Township and stiff competition for qualified buyers, it becomes more of a necessity to present the best possible home package.  The open ended question to home sellers is, can you afford not to place your home in the upper percentile of the best presented homes?

Here are a few tips to get you started with staging your own home:

First impressions count:  A new welcome mat, seasonal flowers and a clutter free entry sets the stage. 

Sell the space, not your stuff:  Open up and de-clutter the space. Let the prospect see what they are buying.

Paint and elbow grease work wonders:  A thorough cleaning and fresh paint in neutral colors are your best bet.

Make the kitchen sparkle:  Clean, clean, clean.  Remove all appliances and non-decorative items from countertops.  Set the table including placemats, napkins and dinnerware. Oh, did I mention to clean?

Go with the flow:  Angle furniture to add interest and arrange furniture for an easy traffic flow.

See the light:  Arrange window treatments to allow maximum natural light.  Move lamps to dark corners.

Go green:  Live plants and cut flowers add warmth at a reasonable cost.

Don’t forget the outdoors, especially this time of year:  Ensure the porch, deck or patio is clean including the furniture.  Don’t forget to replace worn cushions.   Reseal, paint or restain weathered finishes.

Warm up an empty home:  If your home is vacant, consider renting furniture for key rooms, but don’t go overboard.

For additional information or tips you are welcome to contact me.