12 May 2008
The Number One home improvement that will give you 973% Average Return on your Investment is REMOVING CLUTTER. Remove clutter by storing items in basement, attic or friend's home. Rent a storage space or sell excess items, if needed. To sell your home fster and for top dollar, you need to start saying goodbye to your home by staging it to sell! Here's how:
Front door and porch:
q Does your home have curb appeal?
o No dead plants, replace with planters
o Trim shrubs to expose windows.
q Front Door
o Does it sparkle? If not, paint it or clean it.
o Door knob should shine to welcome people.
q Welcome with a spot of color.
o Flowers, old sled, bright milk box, etc.
o Paint door if necessary.
q Invest in a new doormat.
o Welcome only
q Capitalize on your front porch.
o Make it welcoming, even if you don’t sit on it.
o Use chairs, books, end table, plants
q Do cursory gardening as needed
o Keep lawn ornaments to a bare minimum if at all.
o Remove toys or any clutter that takes away from the gardens.
Entry hall:
q A dramatic focal point
o Create the effect if you don’t have one
o Greet buyers with “welcome home”
o Flowers, bold and dramatic
q Reduce furniture to make it easier to walk.
q Add a “special” mirror and clean it!
q Improve the floor
o Make repairs or replacements if necessary
o No loose throw rugs; one long rug is best
q Clean out your coat closet
o Only coats and shoes! No wire coat hangers.
o Closet freshener
Kitchen (your kitchen alone could sell your home!):
q Clean off front and top of refrigerator
q Use props to set the scene
o Open cookbook, basket of fruit, show food!
q Quick cabinet makeover: new knobs and/or hinges.
q Expand counter space
o Clear it of everything except a bowl of fruit, store things
q Create more storage if possible
q Accent windows
o Clean windows, use stained glass
o Windowsill with herbs or tiny bottles
q Make small kitchens appear larger
o Clear top of cabinets
o Repaint or unify the paint?
o Colorful accents are important
o Strategically placed mirror
o No curtains, or light in weight and color
q Highlight eat-in area
o Set the stage: placemats, bowl of fruit
o Need stools-painted bright colors?
q New towels/pot holders/dishcloths?
q Items on a horizontal surface should be attractive
q Clean out what opens
o Cabinets, refrigerator, pantry, mop closet
Dining room or dining area:
q Set the table
o Personalize the room: bright placemats, pitcher filled with flowers, candles, etc.
q Make large dining room do double duty
o Room-within-a-room: secretary to create a den, reading place, music corner, etc.
q Visually enlarge small dining area
o Remove leaves in table
o Against wall instead of center
o Remove extra chairs
o Clutter eats equity so limit the “stuff”
Living room and family room:
q Set the stage: happy medium between, too casual and too formal
q Take down 90% of your family photos
q Music, games, knitting, reading means “We could live here.”
q Open curtains or eliminate them
q Highlight fireplace/screen
o Clean it
o Mantel uncluttered, tasteful
q Improve traffic flow
o Make room to walk
o Remove excess stuff and furniture
o Exit and entry ways not blocked
q Draw attention to exposed beams or cathedral ceilings
o Draw eyes upward: lighting, hanging basket, mobile, etc.
q Downplay the television if possible
q Clean out what opens
o Cabinets, closets, built-ins, toy chests
q A few matching pillows and afghans for warmth
q Bookshelves
o Organize books by size and color and leave white space; less is more.
q Organize electronics and accessories, clean up wires
q Papers and magazine racks organized
Bathroom:
q Limit the “stuff” inside the shower stall: makes it look bigger
q Consolidate bottles and go through old make-up
q New bath towels/floor mat?
q Make sure grout is clean.
q New shower liner and/or curtain?
q Clean out what opens
o Cabinets, medicine chest, linen closets
q Fold towels in closet
q Guest towel and liquid soap on sink
Laundry Room:
q Cheerful and appealing
o Accentuate any window
o Well organized and fresh smelling
o Bright lighting
q Can it do double duty?
o Sewing/hobby area?
o Area for coats and shoes for out of the way storage?
Stairways:
q Make them safe
o Increase lighting
o Clutter-free (attic steps too)
o Stair railings tight and secure
q Add visual interest
o Wide stairways-hang pictures or lighting; attractive focal point
o Narrow stairways-minimize clutter, pictures and loud wallpaper
q Improve stair treads
o Secure any loose carpet
o Clean carpet or replace
o Lightly wax wood or paint
Bedrooms:
q Organize children’s toys
q Clean out what opens
o Cabinets, dresser drawers, closets
q Closets
o Clothes hang straight, not smashed in
o Matching hangers
q Master bedroom: aim for restful, retreat, book open?
q Depersonalize children’s rooms: remove posters, memorabilia
Attic, Basement, Garage:
q Clean out or organize any area that you walk into.
q Rearrange or consolidate all storage to maximize space.
q Increase wattage in bulbs.
q Create a workbench area if there isn’t one.
q Do a good sweeping, no cobwebs!
q Rearrange garage so a car can fit in.
Great References:
Refer to these books for more ideas on selling your home for top dollar!
Ø “101 Easy Ways to make your home sell faster” by B.J. Hall
Ø Dress your House for Success by M. Webb and S.P. Zackheim
Ø 50 Simple Steps you can take to sell your home by I.R. Glink
Vali G. Heistt
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