Home Staging For A Competitive Edge
by Connie Williamson
What is home staging? You'll find the answer on HGTV programs like Design To Sell, Sell This House and other real estate staging shows that feature Home Staging Designers making dramatic improvements in the appearance of houses for sale.
There is stiff competition in the real estate market. To get a buyer to make an offer, a home must be priced right and have a better appearance than comparable homes for sale. Staging is a cost-efficient way for homeowners or realtors to get a home looking good, and showing well, in a short period of time.
The 2005 Royal LePage House Staging Poll (conducted by Martiz Research) illustrates that 54 percent of Canadians think that $2,000 or more is the appropriate amount to spend in preparing a house for sale, with a surprising 25 per cent willing to pay over $5,000.
Key concepts are:
- Clean. A deep cleaning to make every surface, nook and
cranny sparkle and shine is a MUST. Do it yourself or hire a
cleaning crew and get your windows professionally cleaned inside
and out.
- Fix. Make repairs a top priority. Leaky faucets or
cracked tiles will send the wrong message to potential buyers. Fix
any obvious problems before you show the home.
- Eliminate Clutter. Buyers are impressed by ample storage
space, 50% of the items you have in your closets, cabinets and
drawers should be boxed and stored away. Rent a storage locker or
borrow space in a friends garage or basement. Knickknacks and
excess furniture should be removed so rooms will appear open and
inviting.
- Go Neutral. Neutral colors sell. Potential buyers
walking through your home want to imagine themselves as the owners.
If you use styles or colors they would never select, you've just
turned them off. A fresh coat of neutral color paint throughout the
home is a very good investment.
- De-personalize. Political and religious possessions may turn buyers off. Don't discourage potential buyers from making an emotional connection with your home; remove any such items.
About The Author
For more information on home staging please visit Serenity Redesign at http://www.serenityredesign.com, or contact Serenity's home staging expert, Connie Williamson at (780) 417-9521 or connie@serenityredesign.com.
