Tis the season for sharing!
So, in direct cooperation with Rudolph, we are pleased to bring you the following A to Z guide on preparing your home for the market. May your nose (oops, home) shine so bright....
Appeal- The objective of course is to have the home appeal to a broad base of prospective buyers. By limiting the décor to a specific theme, we stand a chance of narrowing down the buyers. So how do you make it appeal to a broad base of buyers? Strive for warmth; add greenery, add a throw to a couch, add candles.
Bathrooms- These rooms are often viewed by many buyers as a place to escape from a long or hectic day. This is a great room to spice up with floral, ferns, fresh towels and candles.
Carpet - I get asked this question by many sellers; is it wise to replace the carpet or allow for an allowance? If your goal is to sell quickly, then replace the carpet before listing. This will allow for the home to show better.
Dining Rooms - Go ahead, set that table. You want the buyers to envision having their holiday meals there as a family. Set it up with dishes, napkins, and a center arrangement.
Emotions - Leverage the fact that many buyers will make their purchase based on the emotional connection with the home. You want to capture their attention from the minute they walk in the front door.
Frilly is out! Need I say more? (Smile)
Gender Specific - Recognize that both genders will be viewing your home. If the home is too bachelor-like or too feminine, then we stand the chance of losing a particular buyer.
Holiday Time -Yes, I've had the cooperation of Rudolph in writing this post but it behooves all sellers to try and limit the amount of holiday décor.
Ingenuity - Have a small space that could fit a desk and chair? Then place one there and allow buyers to envision having an area within the home to use as a home office.
Juggling? -Make a list of the items you need to accomplish before you put the home on the market and prioritize. You'll want to ensure you hit the items of most importance first.
Keep It Simple - Especially when it comes to showcasing some of the features your home has to offer. I've seen many fireplaces, for example, that were loaded with so many accessories that my eyes were actually distracted from the fireplace itself.
Landscape - There's a lot to be said about curb appeal. The minute the buyer hits the drive-way, they will be forming opinions of the home. If there's over growth, cut it back. If the yard needs sprucing up, take a quick trip to a garden center and plant some beautiful flowers.
Manage your efforts wisely. Some changes will make great investments and therefore, provide a great return. On the other hand, some aren't worth the effort, time or money. Do your homework.
Neat - Having a home that is neat and tidy speaks volumes to potential buyers.
Organization - Yes, buyers will open up closet doors and peek underneath sinks. You'll want to ensure those areas are nice and organized. In doing so, you'll allow the buyers to see just how much space it has to offer.
Pretend - This is a great exercise for all sellers. I want you to pretend you are a buyer and enter your home (don't forget a note pad). What do you see? Anything in particular that stands out in a negative way, you'll want to change. If you see positive things, then look to duplicate that throughout your home.
Quiet Music - Playing soft music (and no, it doesn't have to be classical) will tend to relax the buyers while they're in the home. Remember, the key word here is soft.
Refresh - Fresh linens, fresh towels, fresh hand towels - refresh it all. A great trick is to hide dryer fabric cloths in inconspicuous places.
Take the time - Take the time to make sure the priority items are taken care of PRIOR to listing.
Scents Make Sense - Scents, if they're not too overwhelming can evoke emotions. Ensure the scent is clean and fresh smelling.
Utility Bills - Plan ahead for a place to hide all your bills. If you're like me, I have a special counter which would be accessible to anyone previewing my home. Plan now for a place to put these so that they'll be nice and secure.
Vision - If the home will be vacant at the time it is listed, then consider putting furniture and accessories within the home. Most people are visual and proper placement can further show-case the home.
Wallpaper - Nine times out of ten, I'll suggest taking it off. Given the selection of wallpaper that exists today, it's likely that it's specific to your taste and not perhaps to the taste of the potential buyers viewing your home.
XYZ - Santa just called. So, my once very cooperative Rudolph has high tailed it (no pun intended).
At Georgia Interior Solutions, we recognize that preparing a home for the market can be a huge undertaking. We truly hope that this A-Z (okay to W) guide will serve as a foundation from which to begin. for additional services, whether the home is vacant or occupied, contact us at 678 522 8392.
Whether vacant or occupied, we have the experience and expertise to help showcase the features of the home. To see more examples of our work, visit our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com.
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About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly. Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392. Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.
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