When staging your home to sell, the rule of thumb is attracting buyers by helping them imagine their life in this home. Unless you have a crystal ball that allows you to predict the future homeowner, you want to appeal to all personalities. How? The home’s potential!
Step One: Depersonalize
Any personal items that can identify you or your hobbies should be out of the way. This includes photos, golf clubs, holiday cards, refrigerator magnets, and the like.
Step Two: Declutter
It may seem like common sense to some, but objects that aren’t personal such as books, movies, toys, and even extra furniture will detract from a home’s potential. Buyers will want to see the depth of closets, cabinet, the pantry, and built-in bookshelves; they’ll want to measure the length of walls and door openings. As such, pack up everything but the essentials.
Step Three: Clean and Deodorize
Dust and scrub everything starting from the top: air vents, crown molding, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. Wipe down the walls, door jams, and baseboards with a damp cloth and let dry. Vacuum all floors thoroughly. Mop all floors accordingly, or try renting a steam cleaner.
Step Four: Neutralize
Check out Benjamin Moore for their top selling neutral colors here: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/how-to-stage-your-home-with-color
Step Five: Rearrange Furniture
For help with this step, visit a few open houses and model homes. The furniture should be spaced to exaggerate the dimensions of the room without feeling empty, and most things should be in three’s.
Chairs can be turned toward each other to encourage conversation; arrange candles, books, and vases on the mantle. Add pops of color to the neutral theme with pillows and towels. Leave out canisters of sugar, flour, and coffee.
Step Six: Curb Appeal
Spend an afternoon outdoors mowing and edging the grass, trimming the hedges and trees, and laying new mulch. Planting a few annual flowers indigenous to the area can be an inexpensive addition.
