If you are hoping to sell the home quickly and for as much money as possible, you are going to need to spend a little time highlight your home’s strengths, downplaying its weaknesses in order to appeal to the largest amount of buyers.
1. Remove the Clutter
Removing clutter is an important step in making the rooms of your home (no matter how big) appear as visible, open, and inviting. A cluttered home can sit on the market for longer than you anticipated, costing you time, money, and frustration. A more attractive (and less cluttered) home can get you a lot closer to your asking price than a home that is left cluttered. Start with the closets and don’t save anything for a garage sale you intend on having “down the road.” If you don’t use it or need it, donate it! After that, get everything off counters, clear off shelves, dust off your mantle and only leave a few carefully selected decorative items.
2. Light Up the Room
When a prospective buyer walks into your home, you want your home to feel warm and inviting. Do you have adequate lighting in your home to showcase its best features? If you are not sure, check to see if you have a total of 100 watts of light for every 50 square feet.
3. Make It Bigger
To make a room appear to be bigger than it is, paint it the same color as the adjacent room. If you have a small kitchen and dining room, a seamless look will make both rooms feel like one big space. You could also paint the walls the same color as the ceiling which will make the room seem bigger as well. Another design trick: If you want to create the illusion of more space, paint the walls the same color as your drapery.
4. Neutralize
The colors potential buyers see when they enter your home should be neutral so that the buyers will not be distracted by someone else’s style. They should see the walls of your home as a blank canvas on which to project their own style. But “neutral” doesn’t necessarily mean white. Using subtle color can actually enhance the buyer’s experience, so repaint walls that have strong colors with rich neutral hues.
5. Straight to the Curb
Don’t stop with the just the inside of your home. Home staging needs to continue straight out to the curb since that is the first view prospective buyers will have of your home. Start by Pressure washing the outside and if some touch-ups are needs with paint, get them done as soon as the weather permits. How do your windows and doors look. If they are a little worn, apply a new coat of paint to the doors and take the time to clean the windows inside and out. If you have any porches on your property, make sure they are properly lighted and are stages with proper porch furniture. Don’t forget the lawn and garden. Beyond trimming your hedges and bushes, take the time to plant some flowers and small plants around your home to increase the curb appeal.
Dan Brassil
Real Estate Professional
St. Louis Real Estate
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