Essential Home Staging Preparations that Promote a Quicker Sale

Every home seller wants to ensure they get top dollar for their home and get those offers rolling in quickly. Properly preparing or staging your house before you list the house in the MLS ('multiple listing service') can help get that sold sign up quickly. Staging is the process of getting your house ready for market. It involves several crucial steps that will promote a more rapid sale. Ignore these steps and your house may be sitting on the market for months. On the other hand, if you properly stage your home it will enhance buyer appeal and increase the likelihood of a rapid sale. Be aware, it is important these steps be taken before you list your house on the market. These first few weeks are the most critical because you will generally experience the most traffic.

Comprehensive cleaning - This is the one time when you need your house to be spotless - both inside and outside. Potential buyers will be turned off by dishes in the sink, a smelling litter box or dusty furniture. Professionally clean your carpets. Remember, you want to create a lasting impression - a positive one. Clean your windows, wipe down floor molding, clean counter tops, replace moldy or aged caulking and even clean your garage. Prepare yourself and your family for the challenge of keeping your home spotless for the duration of the pre-sale listing. Reward your children for helping and keeping their rooms clean.

Remove clutter - To ensure your house looks as big and roomy as possible you will need to remove clutter and excess furniture. Proceed with one room at time. Work through every closet, drawer and cabinet of every room. Sort items into three groupings: things you must leave in the room because it is a necessity, things you need to keep but can keep at an alternate location and things that you can discard. Your motivation as you de-clutter is to make your home look as spacious as possible. Keep in mind that potential buyers will look into closets, cabinets and even drawers as they walk through your home.

Remove unnecessary furniture - Leave only those furniture items that are necessary and those items that reflect the purpose of the room. If furniture blocks a pathway, move it to storage. This is not the time to save money and store everything in the garage. You need to remove clutter from the garage as well so it looks as spacious as the rest of your de-cluttered home.

Neutral Colors - While you might love that bright green kitchen, many potential buyers will be turned off by bold paint and carpet colors. Most buyers walk through a house and try to visualize how it will look with their furniture in the home. They may find this difficult to do if the color tone clashes with their furniture and accessories. Think neutral and warm to appeal to the widest audience. Repaint rooms and strip wallpaper that does not fit this neutral objective. Replace carpeting that is not neutral in color or is highly worn. Once the walls and carpeting are neutral colors, you can add back some color with tactful accents and accessories.

Show off key elements - Take advantage of unique or key features of your home. If you have beautiful hardwood floors, don’t hide them with a large area rug. Removing the rug and polishing the hardwood floor will show off this key element of your home. For fireplaces, be sure to thoroughly clean the inside of the fireplace and spruce up the mantel with some small topiaries or other decorative accents. Take advantage of other key features of your home and accentuate them so they become a focal point of the room.

Curb Appeal - After cleaning the interior of your home, you need to clean up the outside as well. First impressions are lasting. Potential buyers will gain their first impression of your home as they drive up for a showing. Paint the exterior of your home and window trim if needed. Trim your bushes and trees. Mow and edge your yard weekly while the house is on the market. Remove leaves and weeds from your flowerbeds.

Create a positive ambiance - After you have staged your house and listed in on the market, be ready for the showings and take steps to enhance the experience for the potential buyers. Be careful of what you cook. Garlic mashed potatoes may sound tasty, but the smell could linger into your unplanned evening showing. Strategically place air fresheners throughout the house, but use them in moderation. You should plan to leave the house for every showing. Be sure to take your pets with you; a barking dog can be a significant turn off for a potential buyer. Empty all trash cans and turn on all lights before you leave. Be patient and hang in there. Showings can be a significant interruption and the effort it takes to keep your house spotless may seem overwhelming. In the end, it will be worth the effort and will help you find the right buyer early in the process.

If you follow these suggestions eagerly, you may have second thoughts about selling your home now that it looks so appealing. You'll see the most potential buyers during the first few weeks the home is on the market. Capitalize on this traffic and be sure to turn up the charm during this critical time period.

Article Source: http://publisherscloninghouse.com

Kristi Cole is a home remodeling expert at www.inhomeimprovements.com where you will find many home improvement tips such as advice on decluttering your home. Webmasters and publishers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active

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