|
Staged to Sell
It‘s a sure sign of spring – “For Sale” signs are
popping up in front yards faster than the crocuses. I drove by one
condo building yesterday, and there were three sale signs outside! With
so much competition and a soft market, how do you make your client’s
home stand out from the others also for sale? One way to do that is to
stage the house. Staging may reduce the length of time the house is on
the market and may result in a higher sales price. Great for both you
and your client!
As an interior designer, I’m a
strong believer in designing and decorating a client’s house to make it
my client’s HOME. However, when a house is on the market, the décor
needs to be neutralized to appeal to the greatest number of potential
buyers. In that respect, staging a house is somewhat the opposite of
designing a home.
You want potential buyers to be able
to visualize themselves living in the house – THEIR HOME! Although
buyers typically are not buying the furnishings and accessories along
with the house, the décor creates the all-important first impression.
Staging can be done in stages, and
the first steps, which cost little or no money, could make a major
difference in the way your listing presents itself. Here are my “6-D
Staging Tips” to help stage a home.
D-clutter:
Clutter makes spaces look smaller. And it gives the appearance that
there isn’t much storage space in a home. Having a lot of “stuff”
D-tracts when a house is being shown. People will notice the stuff, not
the house.
Put toys in toy chests. Minimize
the tchotchkes on display. Clear the kitchen counters of small
appliances, soda bottles, and food boxes. Cleared counters look more
spacious and indicate plenty of kitchen storage space.
Put miscellaneous objects away in
closets, cabinets, or storage areas. But remember to keep the closets
organized. Buyers want to know there’s sufficient storage.
Too much furniture makes a space
look cramped. Remove some pieces. If the furniture doesn’t already
allow for an easy flow, rearrange it. Have the seller rent a storage
unit to hold the clutter and excess furniture, if necessary.
D-personalize:
Sellers should put away family photos, diplomas, and children’s
artwork. With these personal items in view, it’s hard for buyers to
imagine themselves living there.
D-fine:
If a particular room is used for multiple purposes, it creates ambiguity
and confusion for buyers. Is it a dining room or an office? A bedroom
or a playroom? Create a well-defined use for each room.
D-sign:
You don’t want your listing to look tired or dated. Have the seller add
some new decorative elements. Get new hardware for the kitchen
cabinets. Buy a new shower curtain. Add inexpensive sheers to
unadorned windows. Update lighting fixtures.
D-ferred Maintenance:
We know buyers respond positively to houses that are well-maintained
and look and smell fresh. These are some of the fixes sellers can do:
replace broken tiles; paint the water-stained ceiling from last winter’s
storm; fix that leaky faucet; scrub the kitchen and bathrooms; and get
rid of mold.
D-lete Color:
I’m a strong advocate for painting walls exciting colors. But there are
many buyers who are afraid of color, or have an intense dislike for a
particular color. I find it interesting, when watching the
house-hunting shows on TV, the most frequent comment uttered by buyers
is “I don’t like the color of this room.” Wall color is an easy thing
to change, and it should not influence a buyer’s decision, but it often
does.
If rooms are painted colors that may
offend prospective buyers, repaint them a neutral color. Neutral
doesn’t necessarily mean white or off-white. Consider a warm, pale
yellow or a mellow blue.
That said, some color is necessary.
Use colorful throw pillows, accessories, or artwork. You want the house
to have some personality and create excitement!
Be D-lighted!
Staging can be difficult for your client to do
on his or her own, since their home is so personal, and it’s hard to be
objective. Often, the seller overlooks the problems in a house. For
the best results, suggest that your client consider hiring a
professional designer experienced in staging.
Unfortunately, many sellers do not
understand how spending a few hundred dollars for a staging consultation
is a worthwhile investment. If this is the case with your client, you
might consider engaging a professional directly. Both you and your
client will be D-lighted with the results!
Sheila R. Selby is
a professional interior designer with extensive experience in both
residential and commercial interior design projects. Sheila’s firm, On
The Move Interiors, provides interior design services for commercial and
residential clients. Services include staging for real estate sales,
providing furniture planning for clients who are moving, furniture and
finishes selection, room arranging, color consulting, and styling. You
can learn more about On The Move Interiors by visiting the website at
www.otminteriors.com or
calling 617.277.9442. |
