Over the years, I’ve been asked by many people what they should do to facilitate selling their home at a reasonable price.  I have to say I don’t just think as an interior decorator, but as a homebuyer as well.  I’ve been working in the homebuilding industry with my husband for many years on our Specs, Model & Custom homes and have done many different styles.  That is why I decided to venture out to work with other builders & homeowners wanting to update their homes as well as clients wanting to add a guest house to their existing property.

I’ve also learned a lot from the professional realtors we’ve worked with over the past 20 years and the strategies that make up my TOP 10 Staging Must are:
Curb Appeal.  Most people won’t even get out of the car to go through your home if it isn’t welcoming from the curb.  It is so easy to dress up the front entrance with pots full of seasonal plants at any time of the year.  Adding a wreath at the front door is always a nice touch and you can take them with you to the next home.  Re mulching the beds and manicuring the landscaping will help as well.  Finally, make sure the front door is updated with either fresh paint, stain or varnish.

Bye Bye Clutter. The first thing to do on the inside of your home is get rid of the clutter.  One of the major contributors to clutter is too much furniture or accessorizes. It will make the room seem small if there is too much furniture, but don’t leave it bare.  Sometimes we will take as much as half of the owners furnishing and the home will look bigger. You don’t have to be so dramatic, but take a good look at what you have and ask yourself what you can do without.  And of course make sure the home is clean.

Home Lighting. One of the things you can do to make your home seem warmer is with great lighting.  Make sure that all of the bulbs are working throughout the house and that they have proper wattage to the lamps and fixtures. It is recommended to have 100 watts for each 50 square feet.  If you don’t have enough lighting then you can always add lamps which give the lighting with a little personality and color.

Make It Bigger. To make a room appear to be bigger than it is, paint it the same color as the adjacent room.  If you have a small kitchen and dining room, a seamless look will make both rooms feel like one big space. You can make a sun porch look bigger and more inviting by painting it a pale green to reflect the color of nature.

Another design trick: If you want to create the illusion of more space, paint the walls the same color as your drapery.  It will give you a seamless and sophisticated look.

Create Relaxing Settings with luxurious linens.  This is something you can always take with you and makes your home seem updated. Soft colors in the bedroom will give the space the spa like soothing feeling.  Create a relaxing bedroom setting with luxurious linens and soft colors that will make a potential home buyer want to hang out.  And remember to de-clutter, by cleaning out your closets, you’re showing off you storage space, which helps sell houses.  Extra storage always ranks high on buyers’ priority list.

Neutral and Appealing.  Painting a living room a fresh neutral color helps tone down any dated finishes in the space.  Even if you were weaned off-white walls, take a chance and test a quart of paint in a warm, neutral hue.  These days, the definition of neutral extends way beyond beige, from warm tans and honeys to soft blue-green.  As for bold wall colors, they have a way of reducing offers, so go with neutrals in large spaces.

Prim & Polished. Having tile professionally painted can make a bathroom look brand new.  Accessorizing can make buyers feel like they are in a spa if you put out items like rolled up towels, decorative baskets and candles.  It a great way to create a polished look and it doesn’t cost much to do.

Update Hardware on Cabinets & Doors.  This will give your home a new home feel.  Make sure the cabinets are updated with either paint, stain or glazing before you install the new hardware. And instead of replacing the entire dishwasher, you may be able to get a new front panel.  Check with the manufacturer to see if replacements are available for your model.

Get Rid of Shabby Blinds.  You may even want to add new window treatments that you could take with you, unless the homebuyer wants to buy them from you and they are included in the sale.

Update Appliances.  If your kitchen appliances are outdated, invest in a new cook top, stove or refrigerator.  Studies show that sellers recoup every penny they spend on appliances.  Tip. Stainless steel looks great in the kitchen and will help sell your house, but not when it is covered with fingerprints.

If you don’t already have accessories like lamps, rugs, throws & pillows, you can always purchase them before putting your home on the market…because you can always take them to your next home. Mixing the right accessories can make a room more inviting.  For maximum effect, group accessories by color, shape, texture of some other unifying element. Update pictures and frames in and around the house.

Please feel free to call me at 210-601-6068 if you have any questions or want help on your home for a home makeover, renovation, staging or new construction.