I came, I staged, I sold!

Preparing a property for sale can be a daunting and often overwhelming task. Whether you are living in your current property or if it has been tenanted for years there are some key staging strategies that can help get your property open house read.

1.    Start with a change of mind

Too often home owners become either too emotionally attached or not attached at all to their property. In fact, I have worked with clients who were renovating a property and blew their budget on some obscenely expensive tile they “had to have” and had nothing left for furnishing the place. On the other hand, I’ve worked with landlords who did not see the value in painting a place that had gone through 3 tenants! The truth is, looking at a property from a buyer’s perspective is key. Therefore, before putting it on the market, I take a tour of your entire property to give you my outsidere advice as a professional stager and realtor, so that you are aware of what areas need minor improvements to get you the maximum amount of offers, thus to sell your house for top dollar value.

2.    Maximize curb appeal

The outside should draw people inside. Neatly trimmed bushes, mulched beds, weeded lawns all help make that crucial “first impression”. Freshly painted front doors with new mailboxes and house numbers are easy ways to create maximum impact without breaking the bank. Adding seasonal urns by the front door for some colour are another way to brighte1n up concrete steps or boring brick.

3.    Choose neutral color palette - Potential returns on investment: 109%

Bold colors are great for living, but not for selling. Light and bright should be your motto! Stick with a warm, neutral palette like tans, taupes and greys. Avoid dark colours, especially in small spaces (like powder rooms). Keep the ceilings white to keep walls looking tall. Rule of thumb : if the walls haven’t been painted in over 2 years, now is the time!

4.    Let there be light - Potential return on investment: 303%

Lighting plays a vital role and is often overlooked when getting a property ready for sale. Dark hallways, rooms with little natural light, basements and bathrooms should be addressed. A minimum of a 2-bulb overhead fixture with maximum watt bulbs can transform a dingy area. There should be NO overhead receptacles without a light fixture! Consider adding pendant fixtures in dining rooms and eating areas. Big box stores offer affordable options in brushed nickel or silver fittings. Adding ambient lighting is essential especially in areas where there is no overhead outlets. Adding table lamps and floor lamps will help brighten up any room and help your property appear as “light-filled” as possible.

5.    Flooring - Potential return on investment: 107%

This is the other main area that always increases the value of a home. It will ALWAYS cost you less to replace worn carpet or add new flooring then to leave it to the new home owners.

Most purchasers are looking for reasons to discount their offers. Flooring is one of the first things buyers see when they walk in. If their first thought is “I will need to replace these floors”, I guarantee they are discounting their offers $5000-$10000 for condos and $7000 – $15000 for houses. Doing the work yourself (or by letting me do it) will cost you a fraction of that amount.

6.    It’s all in the details

Replace all burnt out bulbs, touch up any nicks and dents in high traffic areas, replace torn screens and fix leaking faucets. Once the fix ups are done it’s time to focus on the pretty stuff. Fresh linens in the bathrooms, a bowl of fresh green apples on a kitchen island, fresh flowers on a dining table or in the entrance way. Adding live or silk greenery to bathrooms and adding a new crisp bedding set to the Master all help create the impression of a well-cared for home.

7.    Clean, clean, clean

This may seem like common sense, but unfortunately it’s still the one area owners tend to try and shortcut. This is the time to hire a professional cleaning company if you must, and continuously maintain the cleanness for all buyers visits, an open home, etc. Special attention should be placed on appliances, inside and outside of cupboards, baseboards and windows. Bathrooms should be scoured and if necessary use grout cleaner to get the tiles looking spotless!

8.    Highlight best use of the space

Giving a room more than one function (i.e. guest room and office) is a great way to effectively show the space. In smaller properties like condos this becomes essential when space is at a premium. Using small glass desks with a stool you can tuck in can creatively introduce a “work space” where one wouldn’t think possible. Adding a daybed to a den/office creates extra sleeping space. It is my duty to determine what adds the most value to potential buyers in your neighbourhood, in order to showcase the spaces of your property accordingly.

9.    Kitchens and bathrooms are the place to invest - Potential return on investment: 172%

If you have dated cabinetry, cracked and worn laminate counters, chipped or broken tiles, consider investing in repairing and upgrading these rooms. If your budget is limited, changing cabinetry hardware to brushed nickel or silver knobs and handles will give it an immediate appeal. Consider painting cabinetry instead of replacing them. Also, depending on the price point of your property it is often worthwhile to install stone counters. This immediately adds value and is very durable for long term use. If stone is not in the budget, consider a “stone– like” laminate counter. Finally, re-caulking around sinks and bathtubs is a simple improvement that can greatly improve the look of a bathroom.

10. Vacant properties sit, staged properties sell

Trust me when I say that staged homes sell faster, receive more offers for the seller to choose from and end up being sold at a higher price point than unstaged ones. Why? It’s simple: People perceive staged homes that are well decorated as worth more. This is the very reason why I include staging as part of my realtor service offering to my clients for no additional cost when I represent them in the sale of their property; with my large inventory of staging material (paintings, furniture, greeneries, etc.), I highlight the appealing features of the property and distract from any “not so desirable” features, in order to accentuate the potential buyers’ desire for what could become their new home.

My personal professional advice should you decide to sell your home without hiring a realtor who is also a stager like me: If your budget is limited, consider focusing on the main living areas and at least one bedroom. If you can’t borrow furniture and artwork, rental companies carry everything from furniture to linens. Just keep in mind that the goal is to show people how to use the space effectively. Remember that 79% of buyers have already viewed your property on the MLS, make sure that your property stands out among the competition!

Staging is the key to your property getting noticed and getting SOLD!