San Diego Home Info by Gretchen Pagnotta

North County Realtor Stages for Sales Success!

Home Staging will Bring You a Faster SALE

In a survey done by Barb Schwartz, the founder of the Home Staging concept, sellers who staged their homes,sold in 83% less time ! This was based on 1000 homes selling from July 09 to January 2010.”The Investment in ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) staging your home will always be less than a price reduction on your home,”as stated by Barb Schwartz. I became certified with her training 2 years ago although I had been staging homes for many years. It just makes sense!

Step 1 in Staging: Decluttering the Home

The cost of decluttering will increase the sales price by @ $1500-2000 according to a Home Gain survey.  For more on this I recommend: http://www.stagedhomes.com/mediacenter/stagingstatistics.php.  I think that is a conservative figure.In simple terms: pitch and ditch! Why pay a moving company to move stuff you no longer use! Start in the kitchen clearing counters, organizing the pantry and get rid of items you have not used regularly in 1 year. Put counter items such a memos, pens, phone books etc. in baskets.  Store appliances; blenders, toasters, mixers in a pantry or cabinet or pack up.  You want to create space! Continue your organizing throughout the home. Purchase baskets to store everyday toiletries under the bathroom sinks.  You can then bring out the basket daily (kids love this) and put them away after use.  Showers and tubs need to be free of a zillion shampoo, soap and other personal items.  Do you ever see a zillion shampoo bottles in a model home??? The way you live in a home and the way you sell a home are two different things!

Step 2 in Staging a Home: Clean, Clean and Clean Again!

Ask your Realtor for referrals for professional cleaning people to help you.  Every inch of flooring needs to cleaned; carpets, tile, wood, etc.. Many times the tile grout needs steam cleaning by professional stone tradespeople and if done will look like new!  Stretch any carpet which needs this attention.  Move onto the windows and screens and power washing the exterior of the home, garage floors. and patios.
The bathrooms should sparkle; shower doors, shower curtains,mirrors, tubs, sink..every surface…finish with pouporri or scented product.
Bed linens: All spreads, comforters, covers and bed pillows need to be cleaned and or replaced. These items can take on our body odors and be a turn off to a potential purchaser. 

Step 3 Staging a Home: Odor Control!

Pets: Wash them! Put away their food and kitty litter is a huge turn off.  Many people suffer from allergies from pets.  I am a dog lover and actually let my 84 lb. love bundle (Max) sleep on my bed.  However when I sell my home there is no evidence of him anywhere! Even if people have pets they don’t want to smell yours!
Kitchen: Try to keep your kitchen smelling like cookies and not last nights fish tacos.! Use vanilla extract in the oven (put in aluminum foil on low heat) or  light scented candles prior to a showing. Bathrooms: Wet towels go directly to the laundry! Keep a basket of potpourri on the back of the commode.
Front door: Place a basket of potpourri near front door for first impressions.Step 4 Staging a Home: Furniture Arrangement

When selling your home you want to create space and also make sure each room has a purpose. Therefore, make conversation groups in the living and family rooms clearing out any chairs that block a pathway to exterior doors.  Make sure bedrooms look spacious and eliminate extra bookcases, chairs, huge ,TV’s and other items that make a room look crowded.  Purchase white bedspreads to open up bedrooms. I suggest a quick trip to Ross or Marshalls for “Matelasse “spreads.Yard Space: Clear out multiple tables or chairs and make sure the yard has a function; outdoor BBQ and eating area, chaise lounge and table for relaxing, etc.

Step 5 in Staging a Home: Accessorize

Accessorize with minimal accents

Homes need some emotion to create a buying mood.  Take some time to visit model homes and bring along a camera.  The tables are set for dinner which creates a the mood in a buyers mind that “This is a great dining room for entertaining or for family gatherings..”

Purchase some new throw pillows for beds, couches and living room to spice things up and add some accent colors.

Purchase fresh flowers weekly for your kitchen counter.

Place some large candlesticks on your table or kitchen counter and light them for showings!

Step 6  Staging Your Home: First Impressions with the Yard 

Patios need a purpose!

When you drive by your home or pull up to the driveway ask “Would I like to see the inside of this home…?”

Many times we let trees and shrubs over power our front yard landscaping.  Prior to listing the home hire a gardener to trim back or remove any dead plants in your yard.  Fertilize and weed the lawn areas and plant some color with perennials or annuals along any paths or beds.  Add fresh bark as mulch..this smells good and makes the garden look as if it was freshly planed.  Put some new colorful plants in a nice pot at the front entry.  Look at your front door; clean it, paint it or refinish it as needed.  Polish the hardware or replace it.  Remember this is the first impression people have of your home!  A new front mat or rug also is a plus to welcome your guests.

AS Your Realtor Iwill stage your home to get it sold!
I stage my listings to sell and offer several options to my sellers. I many times can do the project myselfand also offer a local designers assistance.  If you are interested in getting top dollar for your home and having it stages as part of the sales process please contact me! The pictures in this blog represent an exceptional Santaluz home curemtly available for sale!

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This entry was posted on Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 8:13 am and is filed under Seller Info. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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