Can't Miss Home Staging Tips

REALTORS® know how important it is to have a home in the best shape possible when showing it to prospective buyers," said NAR President, Chris Polychron, executive broker.  "At a minimum, homeowners should conduct a thorough cleaning, haul out clutter, make sure the home is well lit and fix any major esthetic issues."

Bathroom

Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers.  Bleach grout, clean soap scum, scour shower doors, wipe countertops and put away clutter.

Avoid dated tile by painting.  Bathrooms sell houses, but dated tile doesn't.  A low-cost alternative to replacing the tile is to use paint.  First, coat the tiles with a high-adhesion primer.  Next, brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering.  For a fraction of the cost of new tile, you will have an up-to-date bathroom that brings in big bucks.

Living Room

Do you have an overpowering brick fireplace that sticks out like a sore thumb?  Tone it down with paint.  Use a rag or brush to rub a light coat of paint on the bricks, one at a time.  This will give them a new tone without covering them completely.  If you use a paint color that matches the walls, your fireplace will go from sticking out to standing out.  Also, make sure your fireplace, screen and tools are clean!

Buyers love built-in bookshelves.  There's a fine line between bookshelves filled with clutter and staging them to sell.  The trick is to arrange neutral items in clusters.  Make sure that no single accessory stands out too much.  That way, you'll show off your attractive built-ins, and not your personal belongings.

Let the sun shine in.  Buyers love light and airy living rooms.  Open up your window shades to let some light in.  Cheat some sunshine with a light-colored paint and lots of artificial lighting.  Last, arrange a space with lightly colored furniture, and you'll have a living room that brightens your chances of a sale.

Unpleasant pet odors won't win over buyers.  We all love our pets, but unpleasant pet odors can make a negative first impression.  Get rid of old carpet that can trap offensive smells and replace with neutral colored rug.  If you paint the walls to match, your living room will look bigger.

Kitchen

Fill existing hardware holes instead of making new, unsightly ones.  Removing old kitchen hardware can leave your cabinets with stripped-out holes.  Here is a trick to reusing the existing ones.  First, dip a toothpick in blue and place it in the stripped hole.  Cut off the excess piece.  Once the blue dries, you'll be ready to put in the hardware that buyers love.

Clean your kitchen clutter.  Clear off counter tops to show off how much counter space you have.  Organize storage/pantry and inside of cabinets, your buyer will open all doors.  Clean the inside and outside of your appliances that are being sold with your house.

Bedroom

A master bedroom should appeal to both sexes.  When you are selling, your master bedroom should appeal to buyers of both sexes.  Get rid of features that seem too gender-specific.  Paint the walls a neutral color, and choose bedding that matches.  Then accessorize minimally with items that complement the overall color scheme.

Storage space sells!  Potential buyers love homes that have lots of storage space.  Since they will open your closets, it's a good idea to half empty them and clear out unnecessary clutter, and organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have.  Plus, it gives you a chance to start packing.

To learn more helpful tips or to find out more about what Century 21 Semiao & Associates can do for you, contact us!