| p>What is staging? I am asked this all the time. | | | | #4.) Rake and tidy-up yard. Having nice clean lines will |
| Staging is a verb. It is the action of doing something. | | | | make yard appear large and un-cluttered. It is difficult |
| Staging can be from one end of the spectrum-renting | | | | to have yards pretty this time of year. Put out new |
| & setting furniture up in vacant home to making | | | | mulch in beds, this will at least cover-up winters |
| over 200 suggestions for occupied or vacant home. | | | | wrath. Landscaping will appear neat. Be careful... make |
| So "staging" is a word used to describe many things. | | | | sure that mulch doesn't have any manure smell or |
| I do all of the above for my clients. As each home is | | | | other unpleasant odor. That is not the impression you |
| different so are the actions taken to stage each. | | | | want perspective buyer to experience. The yard is |
| It is definite that those consumer savvy buyers are | | | | part of what perspective buyer will see first. It is |
| looking for the BEST home they can find. | | | | "curb appeal". When buyer sees that yard is neat |
| For the Realtors® that work with me they are | | | | & tidy they are willing to see the inside. They |
| seeing a significant increase in the sellers interest in | | | | should make the connection that if the yard is tidy |
| "staging". They, the Realtors®, are enjoying the | | | | than most-likely the interior is neat & tidy too! |
| attention they are receiving for showing their | | | | #5.) "Spring" clean the interior. No matter what |
| professionalism by offering my services at time of | | | | problems a particular house may have, no one wants |
| listing the home for sale. These Realtors® homes | | | | to have to clean their NEW home. Dig in and clean, |
| are selling VERY quickly. The Realtor® and | | | | hire professional cleaning crew if needed. |
| home-seller reap the benefit of staging their home, | | | | #6.) Box and store off-premises your winter |
| (product), by enjoying having sold the home at the | | | | wardrobe. Why have items in house that seller |
| higher end of comps and in very little time. | | | | probably doesn't need for several months? Rent a |
| As always it is best when seller makes changes | | | | storage unit and edit items that are not crucial to |
| suggested by stager BEFORE house is listed. When | | | | ones well being. |
| house starts to advertise it will be "show" ready | | | | #7.) Have a garage-sale. Seller can have a sale |
| from day 1! MLS photos will reflect the correct | | | | BEFORE advertising the house. It will make their |
| "product". You don't want to have your first days on | | | | move to new home less stressful, why schlep these |
| market not reflect the house at its best. Your best | | | | things to new home. Seller can than use profit |
| perspective buyer may be the one that sees house | | | | towards any minor staging suggestions or for items |
| first, as soon as it is listed. It is important that you | | | | needed for their new home. |
| not "lose" those important first days. | | | | #8.) Have "WOW" factor when new buyer steps in |
| Ideally the following list should be implemented | | | | the door. This is EVERYTHING! According to NAR |
| BEFORE listing. Of course it will still be effective no | | | | perspective buyers make connection to house in 15 |
| matter how long house has been on market. It is | | | | seconds! Make sure your "wow" is a positive one. |
| never to late! | | | | You don't want the thought.."Wow, this is awful, or |
| The only guarantee I have is that the investment to | | | | stinks. You need a magazine "WOW". You need them |
| stage will ALWAYS be less than first reduction in | | | | to WANT to live there. |
| price! | | | | #9.) Place a new "Welcome" mat at doorways. This |
| Now with all that said lets get down to some | | | | seems so simple, but many seller's fail to understand |
| practical information. | | | | the significance. The mat is the house's way of |
| "Top Ten Spring Staging" to-do list | | | | saying "Hello, come on in and stay awhile". |
| #1.) "Happy" colors on front door. Choose a | | | | #10.) Use silk greenery and spring flowers for that |
| contrasting color of house or door. Such as if house | | | | added touch throughout your home. Plants=life. Not |
| is tan and door is red, use yellow decorations. Use | | | | only will good silks add aesthetic value, they have a |
| yellow marigolds and other fragrant flowers in a nice | | | | subliminal effect. Think about it....dried dead flowers in |
| large container. Do not over-fill space. Use yellow in | | | | pots or the appearance of living plant life. |
| door decoration. | | | | Remember that first impressions are everything |
| #2.) First Impression- What are your own first | | | | make sure their "wow" factor is a good one...NOT |
| impressions that you have when seeing the house? | | | | "Wow did you see that? Or smell that?" |
| Would you want live here? Would you even come in | | | | Make it a GOOD experience and buyer will certainly |
| the driveway? | | | | remember that! |
| #3.) NO empty flower pots-especially filled with dead | | | | I hope that I have helped those of you in need of |
| flowers! It is better to have nothing rather than dead | | | | some practical advice from a professional staging |
| flowers. | | | | Interior Decorator. |