STAGiNG TiPS

You want the potential buyer to be able to imagine themselves living there the whole time they are in the house and to linger in the rooms as they look at your home.

You want to draw people’s eyes toward the selling features of the home, a gorgeous fireplace, a beautiful window/view, lovely moulding, coved ceilings, built in bookcases, etc.  The objective is to have people focus on the house and not what is in the house.  What is in the house is just used to make it feel warm and inviting, to draw the eye to the selling features of the house.

THE BASICS FOR SHOWCASING YOUR HOME

• Clean everything so it sparkles, especially anything reflective like glass or metal. Pay specific attention to door handles and cupboard handles. Make sure they are clean to the touch.
• Get rid of clutter. As a general rule, you can remove up to 50% of what you own. Pack it into boxes and put them neatly in the garage, or preferably, into off site storage. Weed out what you do not need and neatly organize the rest. Pack away everything you are not using.
• Eliminate personal items, personal photographs, personal items in the bathroom and bedroom. They should look like beautiful hotel rooms, inviting and unoccupied.
• Let there be light. The home should be as bright as possible. Check all light bulbs and increase wattage if it is safe to do so. Open blinds and curtains. Even consider taking down heavy draperies if they block light in the summer but they can add warmth in the winter. For showings, turn on all the lights in every room.
• Stimulate buyers’ imaginations. Your goal is to set a scene that will encourage buyers to imagine that they can live in the home. Romance and cozy it up with the fireplace. Put a pair of wineglasses and a vase of flowers on the table in front of the fire. Put a barbeque on the deck, set the table, etc.
• Be ruthless about odours. If there is a smell, the house won’t sell. Use cleansers of all kinds to make the home smell fresh. Be careful when using sprays as they can irritate room allergies. Deodorize cat litter daily, put cedar chips in the closet. Smells, light and colour will influence a buyer so bake those cookies, brew that coffee. Create a welcoming, sensual environment for potential buyers.
• Create a spacious feeling. Make sure that all doors, cabinets and drawers open all the way without bumping or sticking. Clean out the entry way closet and put only a few hangers in it. Move all overstuffed and/or excess furniture into storage. Make sure all entrances to rooms and stairs have an open flow.
• Make the most of views. Disguise unsightly views. Put a screen or a basket of flowers in front of a fireplace if it isn’t in use. Let breezes move sheer curtains at the window. Make sure the interior is visible from the street if you can. All windows must be crystal clean and clear.
• Avoid eccentric décor. De-personalize the teenager’s room, the game room or other rooms by removing wild posters or any decorative item that could be construed as offensive. Remove any decor that might not appeal to the masses. Even really beautiful art or religious icons can be a distraction. Keep it fairly middle of the road, you are not selling the décor, you are selling the home!

ADDiTiONAL iNFORMATiON

The Vancouver Sun has a great article on the importance of staging your home before selling. Check it out here.