Who Cares About Staging and Curb Appeal??

Answer: You should if you are selling a home today.

A buyer’s market is a staging market. Buyers are picky and looking for value. Staging helps set a home apart and make it look more 'valuable'.

Staging is the process of de-cluttering your home and showing off the home in the best possible way in order to maximize the sales price. Loads of research show that it works and will actually help you sell for more money!

STAGING BEGINS AT THE STREET
Curb appeal is a big deal. It's the first impression that a buyer has of your home. The entire purpose of improving the curb appeal is to get a prospective buyer inside the home. If the front of the home is in bad shape and needs work then you’ve got a problem. People will skip it!

In home buying, people tend to judge a book by its cover, meaning if the front is unappealing, then they assume that the inside is just as bad. They may never get to see your completely renovated kitchen, because there is no landscaping and the sidewalk needs repair. They’ll move on to the next home down the street.

POLISH THE ENTRYWAY
Whenever a Realtor is showing your home they will pause for a minute at the front door to get the key out of the lockbox. While they are waiting, buyers will take a good look at the entryway. Make sure it gets some attention whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or repairing a loose handrail. Of course, don’t forget the welcome mat!

From there, think about the buyer’s experience and spend your time accordingly. De-clutter the entire home and start packing now. Think of your home like a nice hotel suite or a model home. Put away the family pictures and clean out the closets. Dust everything and change the air filters. You may even need to get a storage unit to get the stuff out of the house. (Yes, it’s that important!)

The kitchen and baths are usually most important so make sure they shine. Do some deep cleaning and clear off the countertops. Caulk the bathtub and buy a fresh shower curtain. Remove any odors that may be offensive, especially smoke and pet odors.

The idea is to lead a buyer through a home letting them imagine themselves living there, with nothing distracting to break the ‘spell’. If you can get a buyer ‘emotionally attached’ then you home will be sold!

I started by saying that a buyers market is a staging market. To get your home sold it MUST stand apart from the competition. Pricing your home is all about location and condition. We can’t change the location, but anything that you can do to improve the condition may be the difference between selling and not.

-Peter

www.NashvilleCityHomes.com