One of the best kept secrets among top selling real estate agents and the most successful home builders in the country is that "staged" homes sell faster and for more money.
So what is a "staged" home? A "staged" home is one where interior elements of the home, such as furniture, paint and accessories, have been arranged or positioned in a manner to highlight the best features of the home, while creating the desirable "look and feel" that buyers want.
Just as you would "set the stage" for a play to create the mood and feeling for a scene, you'll "set the stage" at home to create the mood and feeling that most appeals to your audience of potential buyers.
Staging a "lived in" home, versus a newly built home, usually involves removing clutter and de-personalizing the home. Moving or "angling" furniture when "staging" a home is commom. It's often necessary to remove some furniture altogether for the sake of flow and appearance.
Removing clutter is a must. Most people move to a new home because they want and need more space. Clutter in a room will always make the room seem smaller. To make the most of the space you have, you must de-clutter.
De-personalize: A house full of personal pictures and your favorite "gone with the wind" collectibles might make you feel warm and fuzzy all over, but odds are pretty good that they're nothing more than distraction to a potential buyer. Be sure to put away the majority of your "personal" items. When you're selling a home, your home needs to appeal to the greatest number of buyers possible and that's hard to do if your home is over "personalized".
Moving or removing furniture: Sometimes all it takes is just "angling" a sofa a little differently to really open up a room, make it look larger and give it a better "flow". Also consider removing furniture if that's what it takes to make a room look and feel more comfortable.
Highlight the positive aspects of each individual room. Give each room a purpose and focal point. In the living room for example, draw the eye to the fireplace or mantle by angling furniture toward the fireplace. Place only three or five items on the mantle. Group smaller items, such as candles, together in odd numbers to look best.
In a bedroom, you might have a chair in a corner with an afghan draped over the back, a reading light behind and a book on the seat cushion. That gives the room a purpose and a focal point.
A great kitchen can literally "seal the deal" for many buyers. Buyers love to see lots of clean, clutter free counter space. Give them what they want. Remove all but the absolutely necessary items. The fewer items you have on a counter, the more spacious it looks. Do the same in the cabinets and pantry. The kitchen should be clean, uncluttered, organized, and well lit.
In bathrooms, it's much the same. Buyers are impressed with clean, uncluttered, organized rooms. Get rid of the messy soap dishes and all the bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Pick up a new shower curtain along with a few new "show" towels. Maybe even put a couple of candles out by the bathtub.
In the dining room, set the stage as you would for an elegant dinner party. Put out your best place settings, a bottle of wine, a couple nice wine glasses. Make it romantic and memorable.
Be sure to pick up some fresh cut flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit to add color and fragrance in the kitchen or dining room.
And just before your "Open House", go ahead and put a batch of cookies or brownies in the oven. Remember how great that smells as you walk in the house?
Want a great way to get some "staging" inspiration? Visit a few of the model homes in your area! You can even take a camera if you want.
The designers and decorators that "stage" model homes for successful builders are paid to know "what's hot and what's not". Use their expertise to help you "set the stage" at your home.
Written by
Michael Hart
Michael Hart is a former real estate agent, a private real estate investor, author of numerous articles on real estate and finance, and a Senior Mortgage Consultant with Anderson Lending Group, Inc. based in Peachtree City, Ga. He can be contacted at 678-318-3542 or on the internet at www.InternetLoanCenter.com