For the past three months
the average selling price of a staged home was 19% above the listing
price while the unstaged home was only 15%. The 4% difference more than
paid the staging cost.
Here are the ten secrets fo selling from Marelen Wharmby, a successful home stager:
- Freshen up the home
by painting walls a light, neutral color, such as antique white.
Lighter colors appeal to a wider range of buyers and make each room
look larger.
- Take a close look at the floor
coverings in each room. If you have hardwood floors under the carpet,
you will always make money by removing it, even if the floor is not in
perfect condition.
- Allow as much light as possible to enter the room. Open up or remove all draperies, blinds, shades or other window coverings.
- Removing the clutter
of everyday life - all utilitarian items, stacks of paperworks,
toiletries, kitchen utensils, electronic equipment and television sets.
- Remove furniture
from each room that does not go with the decor, such as items that
stand out too much and items that are worn or of an unappealing color.
- Place the remaining
room furnishings in a way that makes best use of the character of the
space. A room should be balanced so that people do not focus on one
particular piece of furniture.
- Now that you've
removed the clutter from your home, adding some nice but inexpensive
accessories will greatly elevate the perceived value of the home.
- Clean, clean, clean.
Every crevasse within the home should be spotless and gleaming. Even
your normal weekly cleaning can not come close to the quality of clean
you need.
- You can't over spend on fresh plants
and orchids, elaborate floral arrangements and landscape plants. All
these provide a strong addition to the ambience you want to create.
- Go on vacation!
The houses that sell for much higher prices are homes that do not have
the slightly disheveled look which comes with showering in the morning
and cooking dinner in the evening. Being gone also will lower your
level of stress and make the house easier to sell. Think of it this
way: Your vacation will actually make you money.
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