Some Things to Remember When Listing Your Home

Being prepared when you decide to list your home is key.  But one task many homeowners forget is to "stage" their home before showings. 

Staging simply means arranging your furnishings and accent items, to make rooms feel open and airy; utility rooms seem spacious and living quarters are inviting.  The way you live in a home and the way you sell your house are two completely different things.  Setting the stage for potential buyers before your showings, will make a world of difference to how your home is received.  The goal is to allow prospective buyers to imagine themselves living in the space, so personal belongings and clutter are no help!

Homeowners with an objective eye should edit and rearrange their home before the first showing.  After all, you'll eventually be packing up all of your possessions to move, so boxing up some of your items and clutter is a good idea early on.  Rent a storage unit for a few months and fill it with your boxes of collectibles as well as sports equipment, holiday decorations, seasonal clothing and your extra furniture.  

If you find it difficult to "edit" your posessions, then either ask friends to help, or I would certainly be able to share what has worked for my clients in the past.  Also, if you need, I have a network of professionals who can do everything from cleaning a house to repairing any deficiencies.  

Many times we have too much furniture making rooms feel much smaller than they really are.  Space is a big factor in the stability of a listing.  These days, people not only need space for the growing family, but increasingly are working out of their homes as well.

Seeing Your Home for the Very First Time (Again!)

Try to imagine yourself as a Buyer, and put yourself in their shoes.  Now try to imagine that you are viewing two homes.  The first home is a brand new showhome, that has a nice colour scheme that matches the furniture, which has been strategically arranged to accentuate the spaciousness of each room.  The kitchen and bathrooms are polished to a high sheen and are tastefully accessorized.  When you open the closets, they are tidy and organized.  No clutter whatsoever.

The next home on your list is only a year old, and is the equivalent design to the first home.  The owners however, have their possessions packed floor to ceiling in every closet, drawer, and shelf.  The furniture in the dining room is so poorly laid out, that you can hardly walk around the table.  A light coat of dust covers the mantle and hardwood floors; the ceiling paint looks like it's seen better days.  The closets and garage are clumsily filled with sports equipment, boxes and holiday decorations.  There isn't even enough room for your vehicle.  

You've probably guessed that most often, the first home would sell much faster than the cluttered competing home, and usually for much more.  The show home has been "staged" to illustrate to the Buyers the selling features; the spaciousness of the floor plan, and the ample supply of storage.  

If you should also require some major form of home rennovation, such as fixing the roof, the plumbing or landscaping, be sure to visit my links page, for a list of qualified reccommended specialists.