In order to sell your home faster and for top dollar, you need to start saying goodbye to your home by staging it to sell! Here’s how:
Remember: 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.
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 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
