Does the very idea of home staging make you feel uncomfortable? If you are selling a home for the first time, it might bring visions of interior decorators stripping your home completely and filling it with expensive rental furniture. Nothing is wrong with that if you aren’t living in the house while you go through the sales process. But our real estate agents would like to reassure you that extreme measures are unnecessary to show your home to its best advantage. Here are a few tips to make it easier for you.
- Open Up the Space
Store any unnecessary furniture. This includes computer desks, extra tables, unused nightstands, and storage spaces. Do you have an exercise bike in the bedroom you rarely use? Pack it away. How about that beanbag chair in the den? Remove it, too. The key is to remember your goal is to make the house look liveable, not lived-in. You will be amazed at how much larger the room appears with less furniture. - Depersonalize the Space
Collections, trophies, and family photos may make your house feel like home to you, but you want potential buyers to imagine the house filled with their belongings, not yours. Look at the process as preparation for your move and pack the things you love first. This doesn’t mean you must live with bare walls, but generic artwork is more attractive to shoppers than your personal memories. - Declutter the House
Small appliances in the kitchen are a great place to start. Remove as much from the countertops as possible. Straighten the shelves and pantry to make it look neat, clean, and organized. Be sure the appliances are sparkling clean, including the inside of the refrigerator. Get rid of anything that looks messy in any way. - Remove Signs of Your Pets
As much as we love our fur babies, not everyone feels the same. At the very least, put your pets outside, but kenneling them during showings is optimal. Be sure to vacuum and air out the rooms to eliminate odors you may not notice. Remove pet beds, toys, and dishes while potential buyers are in the house. Deep clean areas that your pets dominate. This being said, many people looking at Roslyn homes for sale will be looking for a space that welcomes their pets. Feel free to point out features the house may have that will be attractive to pet owners, such as a large fenced backyard or a doggie door. - Spruce Up the Bedrooms
You can maximize the closet space by removing off-season clothing and shoes. Store them or stash them in under-the-bed containers to open up the space. Match the scale of the furniture to the size of the room. A large bed in a small room will make the room appear crowded. Fresh linens and a comforter will make the room more inviting, as do fluffy new pillows. Replace pictures on the walls with a large mirror to add light and the appearance of extra space to the room. - Pay Attention to the Bathroom
This is one space that potential buyers want to see as devoid of personal items as possible. Be certain that it is sparkling clean, and that toothbrushes, make-up, and medications are out of sight. Buyers would like to see little more than clean towels and a soap dispenser. This room can harbor unpleasant odors, so consider using a plug-in air freshener to minimize that possibility.
If you are putting your home on the market and need help with staging or other preparations, don’t wait to contact us for assistance.