Staging Secrets

There is no question that staging sells homes.  Your best option would be to hire a stager, which can be not only inexpensive, but also pay off huge in the long run.  If you can't, here are a few tips to stay ahead of the home down the street you're competing with.

1.  Remove the Photos

As buyers are walking through your home, the ONLY thing you want them to feel is themselves in your space.  It's difficult for potential buyers to do this when they're looking at an entire wall of your annual ski trip to Vail.  Use nature prints as a sure-shot.  If you're on a budget, buy a few photographic calendars.  Replace the personal photos you have in your frames with the nature photos from the calendars, and you'll have a neutral look without having a blank wall.

2.  Accentuate the Positives

What do you like best about your home?  In most cases, it's the thing that pushed you to purchase it in the first place.  Accentuate those areas to make potential buyers linger in those spaces to make sure they're truly soaking it all in.

3.  Ditch the Extras

I'm sure the kitten laying at the foot of your porch door to keep the drafts out is cute - but not everybody will think so.  Get an early start on packing, take your extra items (which include any items you don't use on a regular basis) and box them up!  Also avoid politically- or socially-charged material.  You don't want a buyer to walk away simply because they disagree with your views.

4.  Paint.  Paint.  Paint.

Your daughter has absolutely loved her neon pink walls for the last few years - I have no doubt.  It's time for a change.  You want potential home buyers to see your house with as little extra work as possible, so help them out.  All colors should remain neutral.  Paint will always be a good investment when trying to sell a home, so utilize yours with a color scheme that is not only comfortable for YOU for a few months, but also appealing to would-be buyers.

5.  Go Away.

As an agent, there is probably nothing more uncomfortable than walking through a home with buyers while the sellers are sitting in the family room.  In fact, I showed a home to some buyers where there were two small (and energetic) children running around.  When I say "running around," I mean the type of young boys that come behind you from out of nowhere and punch you in the leg.  My buyers, who were newlyweds that had obviously not thought about starting a family yet, asked me if we could go...immediately.  Typically, clients take about 20-30 minutes to tour a single home, so do yourself a favor and make yourself scarce.  Nobody can imagine relaxing in their new family room with the noise of you and yours.

Boost Your Curb Appeal

Though it might be hard to imagine it now, Spring is definitely on its way.  With a new spring comes a new burst of buyers that will be eager to settle in before summer hits.  In order to shake of the winter blues in your front yard and add some life, here are six simple ways to boost your curb appeal to attract buyers.

1. Punch Up the Windows

You can easily highlight the architectural elements by painting the outside trim with colors that set them off from the rest of the home.  For an extra punch, go ahead and add shutters or flower boxes.

2. Dress Up the Yard

A good visual mix can make small lots look larger.  Try sprucing up the front with ornamental grasses, flowers, stones, and other landscaping materials.  If you're looking for easy maintenance (which could also be a selling point to a potential buyer), use native plants - they need less water and fertilizer.

3. Tend to the Roof

Make sure the roof is in the best shape by replacing weathered or missing shingles.  If you have a porch, this is a must.

4. Accentuate with Paint

When choosing a color scheme, decide on one that calls attention to key architectural details.  No matter what type of home you have, there are colors that can make it pop.  Depending on the color of your home, a red front door has been known to draw lookers.

5. Entrance Exam

Consider adding a portico or porch.  Either will frame the front door, and a porch can add extra living space for a fraction of the cost of an insulated addition.

6. Shape Up Siding

Check to see that shingles, clapboards, and masonry are in good conditio.  Spotless siding helps a home's details stand out.

Fixing up the exterior of your home is a sure way to boost the appeal - and ultimately the value.  Experts have shown that the right colors can increase home value by as much as $10,000.  So whether you decide to hire a painter/contractor or flex your Do-It-Yourself muscles, tackling these projects will give your home a better chance of selling quickly in the not-so-far-away Spring.