Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Staging

  • Best Strategies for Staging Your Home

    There are lots of views on what the best strategies for staging a house are, but basically they can be grouped into one of three categories: declutter, depersonalize, demystify. If that seems a little abstract, read on for an explanation that could mean not only a faster sale but a better selling price.

    Declutter

    The deepest of deep cleans should accompany or follow the decluttering process. Tackle every possible surface in your house: walls, windows, carpets, light fixtures, window dressings, ceilings, air vents, registers, and lampshades. Consider hiring a small team of professionals to help out, because you’ll need to repeat this process on the outside.

    Staging professionals recommend removing half the furniture from most rooms. This doesn’t just improve traffic flow during showings, it allows space for customization in the potential buyer’s mind. Think less is more. If the couch looks like there isn’t room for one more pillow, it doesn’t invite someone else to nest. Now that you’ve got more room, pull the furniture away from the walls and invest in an area rug for your living, even if it’s already carpeted. Use the new rug’s dimensions as your guide for creating a cozy conversational grouping in living and family rooms, so people can imagine what it will be like when they have guests over.

    If you have well-organized storage in your garage or a storage locker, now’s the time to start packing things away. Renting a storage locker is an additional expense, but if you’ve truly outgrown the home you’re selling, you may have to make the investment. 

    Depersonalize

    When buying a home, the potential buyer has to be able to not just imagine but also visualize themselves in space someone else has occupied. But they won’t be living with your family photos or your athletic trophies, their children won’t be the same height or the same names as yours, so the growth marks on the door frame just have to go. If you can’t bear to part with this piece of your family history, replace that part of the door frame.

    If you have quirky, unique, or dated furniture, now’s a great time to send it out for cleaning or reupholstering. That’s if you aren’t going to replace it anyway. If you are, consider donating or selling it at the beginning of the staging process, and renting furniture while the house is on the market. You won’t need much — probably only half as much as you already have. 

    Pets are the bane of all real estate agents’ existence. It’s hard to accept that not everyone loves our pets the way we do. If you can get the animals out of the house before a showing, do so. If not, make sure that the fishtank is scrubbed clean, invest in a covered litter box and prepare to tend it daily, and find an attractive storage ottoman or box that will hold all the dog toys.

    Demystify

    Let the light in every way you can, even if it means investing in new sheers, different blinds, or a houseful of new light bulbs. Up the wattage and invest in whiter light bulbs, which more closely resemble daylight, which is 5000 to 6500 Kelvins. Plan to spend more time than you ever thought imaginable keeping your windows and windowsills clean and uncluttered.

    Part of the process of helping a buyer imagine your home as their own includes creating a purpose for every room. If you’ve got a multi-purpose room that serves as a home office, guest bedroom, and craft room, chances are good you’ll not only confuse a potential buyer, you’ll overwhelm them. Take everything out of this multipurpose room, choose a single purpose for it, and put back only the items that fit that purpose. The rest will have to go into storage or find a new home.

    Consider repainting your home’s interior before putting it on the market as part of the staging process. Light neutral colors still work best. Repainting will also give you a chance to repair all the picture holes and give you a fresh palette to work with when selecting artwork to display. Some real estate agents have invested in artwork that you can borrow. 

    Keep it simple and remember the room’s purpose when you’re hanging new pictures. Most are hung too high, at standing eye level in rooms where people tend to be seated. Think about your audience when choosing borrowed, rented, or newly purchased wall art. Photography and abstract or pop art may work better for a set of young, first-time buyers. Framed classic movie posters could add a touch of glamour if recent sales in your neighborhood have been to folks who are downsizing. But remember, by classic we mean Casablanca or Breakfast at Tiffany’s, not Rocky or Psycho.

  • Seven Reasons Getting Rid of Clutter Helps a House Sell Faster

    Whether you bought a starter home or what you hoped would be a forever home, circumstances change. One thing that doesn’t change though, is the inevitable expansion that occurs when you become a homeowner. As time goes on, you acquire tools that need to be used just once or twice a year, like step ladders and extension ladders, lawn mowers, edgers and leaf blowers. When it’s time to sell, you may find you’ve expanded just a bit too much. Getting rid of clutter is the first thing you need to do when you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, and sadly, unless you move frequently, there are very few people who don’t accumulate more than they should.

    Here are seven reasons you need to get rid of that clutter to ensure a quick home sale.

    Minimalistic spacious house interior with two floors
    Minimalistic spacious house interior with two floors

    1. It’s all about imagined lives

    Clutter makes it hard to think. You may not think of your collection of exotic masks from your foreign travels as clutter. But let’s face it, we don’t all like the same things, and if your home is bursting with small objects, buyers can’t imagine themselves in your space. You have to make room for them and their imagined lives in what might soon be their home rather than yours. Store the highly personal collections during the selling process so buyers can see the space as theirs, and they’ll be more likely to make an immediate offer.

    2. Help the potential buyer maintain focus

    Extra seating, family photos and bone china tea cup collections are all distractions. You don’t want potential buyers to become so intrigued (or puzzled) by the things you’ve collected—none of which they’ll be purchasing—that they don’t actually register the house itself. You want them to look at the space, appreciate its best features and become convinced of its potential for their family.

    Built in closet with warderobe in home interior
    Built in closet with warderobe in home interior

    3. Create the illusion of space to entice buyers

    By getting rid of extra seating, paring down the clothes in your closets and weeding out everything in the pantry that’s past its best-before date, you create the illusion of more space, which is always a good thing when trying to sell a home. After all, empty rooms always look bigger than rooms filled with furniture.

    Be strategic, though, and don’t leave yourself with nowhere to sit. Think of your home as wearing its Sunday best rather than sweats and a t-shirt, and if there’s a chair the cat’s clawed, the sun has faded or that needs cleaning or reupholstering, get it out of the house while potential buyers are viewing. There will be plenty of time to kick back and relax in that past-its-prime lounger when you’re moved into your new home.

    4. Well-staged homes photograph better

    While you might get a viewing from a drive-by or after an open house, most potential buyers these days are going to look at your house and its listing online. Good photos make all the difference here, but you’re not going to get them if you haven’t decluttered. Put the family photos away, get all the toys into the toy box, remove the gym equipment that’s migrated from the basement to other living areas and make your real estate agent’s job easier by presenting a home that shows to advantage in both photos and real life.

    white and steel kitchen interior

    5. Maximize kitchen counter space

    Yes, it’s a pain. But even though your family uses the toaster and blender every day, putting them away in cupboards before viewings provides a clean slate and makes potential home buyers think about all the meals they’re going to prepare in their new home.

    If your home’s being shown to first-time home buyers, chances are good they’re looking for more space, particularly an opportunity to expand from a galley kitchen to one that has room for a table and chairs. Help them believe they’re going to be transformed into hosts with the most when they buy your home by giving them the visual space they need.

    6. Don’t borrow trouble

    Cluttered homes make potential buyers uneasy. Viewing someone else’s occupied home is slightly uncomfortable for most people. Clutter is not only a distraction; it makes your home look uncared for. This can make potential buyers start to ask themselves, “if they haven’t taken care of their possessions, what other problems are brewing here?” You could lose an offer if this kind of nebulous doubt sets in.

    7. Let your home show itself

    Let’s face it—you’re selling your home, not the couch and coffee table. By getting rid of clutter and replacing it with neutral but stylish accessories, you lead the buyer’s eye to the features of your home that are its true selling points. That means you’re going to get a quicker sale and a higher price than if you make a potential buyer struggle to see your home’s merits.

  • 10 Tips for Staging Your Home to Appeal to Buyers

    If you want or need to sell your home fast, staging furniture can make all the difference in attracting a buyer. Successful staging is a contributing factor to many of the quickest sales and to getting the best price for a home.

    Ready to stage?

    These 10 tips for staging furniture can help you easily transform your house into an inviting environment that homebuyers can’t pass up.

    1. Consider curb appeal

    The exterior of your home makes the first in-person impression on buyers. Many people drive by a home with no intention to see the inside unless they’re impressed with the outside. Stage your outdoor areas for buyers by power washing walkways and siding, hanging house numbers that are easy to read, mowing the lawn every weekend, planting colorful flowers, cleaning windows and re-staining decks.

     

     

    2. Create a welcoming entrance

    Whether you have a large porch or a simple stoop, create a welcoming entrance for potential buyers. Place a clean and inviting doormat, put potted plants around and make sure any outdoor furniture is in perfect condition. Illuminate your front walkway and door. Motion sensor lighting is a nice touch.

     

     

     

    3. Make the inside sparkle

    If cleaning the inside of your house to model home standards will take too much time or effort, hire someone to take care of this task. Making sure your interior sparkles and will be comfortable for guests (your potential buyers) is critical. Imagine that the person you’d most like to make a good impression on is coming into your home. Clean beyond that expectation.

     

     

     

    4. Focus on your floors

    Flooring is an expensive home remodel project. Help a buyer see that there won’t be much energy or money spent to enjoy nice floors in your home. At the minimum, steam clean carpets and give all flooring a deep clean. Wood floors should be either refinished, treated or waxed.

     

     

     

    5. Clear away clutter

    Model homes are attractive for a reason. They’re minimally decorated and don’t contain a lot of clutter. The house stands out, not the stuff. This is what you should aim for when you clean away clutter to attract a buyer. Staging your home to sell means that you should remove anything you haven’t used in three months (ideally clear away more than that). Put it into storage or in a family member’s garage. Clear floors, cupboards, closets, pantries, drawers and any other spaces where buyers will look. Get rid of anything even remotely unsightly. Try to keep only items that are neutral or classic in style lying or set out.

  • Tips and Tricks to Stage a Home on a Budget

    Staging a home can be the key to selling your home. However, it can sometimes not be ideal for every budget. The good news is that with a few small purchases, a little elbow grease and some simple adjustments, you can revitalize your real estate property while also increasing the home’s value.

    RevitalizeOld Furniture
    Purchasing new furniture can be an excellent option for staging a home. Unfortunately, it isn’t always the most affordable one. Instead, revamp worn furniture pieces with new slipcovers or a fresh coat of paint. If you are able to purchase new furniture to stage a home, focus on pieces that will define how the space can be used. Oddly shaped rooms, interior pillars and hallways can always use a little pick-me-up to show prospective homebuyers the potential of the area. Grab some corner tables, tall floor lamps and hanging plants to show off the full square footage.

    Replace Old Hardware with Modern Updates
    Old hardware can be a dead giveaway that a home is in dire need of renovations. Prospective buyers may assume the entire house hasn’t been maintained, updated or repaired. Although hardware is a small detail within the home, it can make a huge impact on its entire appearance. Banish outdated hardware and replace it with modern versions. Everything from cabinet handles, doorknobs, light switches, sink fixtures and even showerheads can make a powerful statement when brand new.

    Make Small Rooms Appear Larger with High Ceilings
    Increasing the value of a home can be as simple as creating an illusion. Add in strong vertical lines with home décor items to help elongate the walls in areas that have low ceilings. You can also hang floor-to-ceiling drapery to create the illusion of taller ceilings, or hang drapery well past the vertical portions of the window frame to make the room appear larger.

    Utilize Comforting Vignettes
    While the key to staging a home is getting rid of the clutter, setting up homey vignettes can help prospective buyers picture themselves living in the space. Think about the characteristics that make a house a home and add them into the space. A fresh bouquet of flowers or a bowl of juicy, seasonal fruits can liven up the space while also giving the home a pleasant aroma. You can also stage the dining room table so prospective buyers can imagine themselves enjoying future meals. These small personal touches are enough to create the appearance of a desirable home.

    Staging a home doesn’t have to come with a daunting price. These simple adjustments can revitalize any space for a fraction of the cost of a complete staging.

  • 8 Tips for Selling a Home with Kids

    Selling a home while there are kids still living in it can be one of the most daunting tasks you’ll ever have to endure as a parent (aside from potty training, of course). It’s a constant battle to keep your furniture and decor looking as they should in order to entice potential buyers. However, the good news is that it is certainly doable. With these 8 tips, selling a home with kids doesn’t have to be an overwhelming responsibility.

    8 Tips for Selling a Home with Kids - bhgrelife.com

    1. Give yourself plenty of time to clear the clutter

    Clutter is one thing that will instantly overshadow your home’s true appeal. Give yourself plenty of time to clear the clutter from every room. It may take several trips to Goodwill or to a storage unit, but clear out those hand-me-downs and forgotten toys early in the process so you can focus on other things while you sell.

    Once you have gathered all the extra items, and before you put them in storage or donate to Goodwill, take another look around. There will still be plenty of items that can be put away during the selling process; whether it’s bicycles, train tables, photos, or memorabilia, it’s time to store those away for your new house.

  • Showing Your House? Don’t Let the Holidays Interfere

    It’s holiday time! You should be spreading yuletide decor and cheer, but you’re selling your house and haven’t closed the deal yet. Do you have people coming over? Do you want to decorate for the season and enjoy this time of year at home while the festivities begin? It’s all possible, without missing out on the holiday fun! Follow our simple steps to show your house successfully during the holiday season.

    Showing Your House? Don’t Let the Holidays Interfere - bhgrelife.com

    Decorate, without going to extremes

    Don’t stop yourself from getting into the spirit. Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves actually living in the house, so go ahead and decorate. Be sure to keep from going overboard, though. Everyone has unique tastes and will want to deck their halls differently, so you should leave room for buyers to imagine their own styles, too: think sleek and neutral decorations.

    If you’ve already begun the moving process and are running low on décor, consider placing throws on a piece of furniture in each room, for an understated means of livening up the space. If you’re still living there, don’t be afraid to host the celebrations—showcase your home’s ability to be the life of the party!

  • How to Stage Your Home for the Feng Shui Buyer

    One of the most important practices you can follow when selling your home is to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. If you are staging your home for sale you may not have thought to make it feng shui-friendly. However, for many Chinese and Chinese-Americans – who comprise the fastest growing segment of homebuyers in the U.S. today—the principles of feng shui are considered to be the second most important factor in choosing a home after neighborhood safety.

    Feng shui is the spatial arrangement and building design that produces a harmonious qi flow—the word “qi” translates to energy. Feng shui homes allow the energy of the five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—to flow freely through the home and encourage balance and calmness. If you want to appeal to feng shui buyers, follow these staging tips to help your home stand out in the market.

    how to stage your home for feng shui 1

    1. Clean the Clutter

    Feng shui depends on the free flow of the elements through your home. Clutter on kitchen countertops is an especially big red flag for any feng shui-minded buyer.

    • It’s ideal for cabinets to reach the ceiling (as seen here). If they don’t, try placing living plants or items of personal value above them. Stagnant energy is a no-no, but so is filling that space with the wrong energy.
    • Countertops and tables should remain free of clutter and appliances. Tuck things like blenders, toasters and spice racks away before you welcome potential buyers for a viewing.