The Importance of Staging
By Kathleen Haller, ASR, GRI, ASP, CDPE, Signature Properties Group
Just imagine you are about to sell your home. There’s so much to do, and you don't know where to start. It can be an overwhelming task. The key is to stay calm and get in touch with a local experienced Realtor who has an Accredited Staging Professional designation. Now you will not only have the needed expertise to sell your home, but to prepare your home to bring top dollar. I am a Realtor and Accredited Staging Professional with Signature Properties Group and can tell you that this part of the real estate sale process is key.
An ASP designation ensures that your Realtor has the tools necessary to help sellers prepare their home in the best light possible. Most people know first impressions are vitally important. When buyers drive up to a property curb appeal is critical. Many people often will not want to go inside if the outside isn't kept up. Owners sometimes stop noticing exterior details as they approach their home day after day for and can become blind to the fact that it needs updating. It is important to look with the fresh eyes of a potential buyer. A gracious, clean (no cobwebs) and freshly painted front door with proper planting gives a home a welcoming clean appearance. Any wood rot or stained items on the exterior should be repaired before putting your home on the market.
The next task is a BIG job that a staging professional can guide you through: the interior of the home needs to be completely without clutter. For instance, closets should not be overflowing with excess sheets and towels. A good way to straighten closets with medications and pharmacy type items is to use plastic containers and keep them organized. Kitchen cabinets should not be overfilled and items should be lined up and straight, so when a prospective buyer looks in them it appears that there is plenty of extra room. Pots, pans, glasses and dishes should be organized in the same manner.
Eliminating furniture or re-arranging it to provide a better flow for walking through the home is a big improvement. Fresh paint in quiet, soft colors is more appealing to a homebuyer. It is a plus for the new owner not to have to repaint in order to move in. A good basic color is Sherman William Indigo White (truly a soft, pale yellow). It makes a room look cheery and larger. Stay away from dark colors like purple or bright pink, as these can all be potential turn-offs for buyers.
The roof, kitchen, and bathroom are three of the most expensive areas of a home, but there are some relatively inexpensive and easy ways to improve the appearance of a kitchen or bathroom for sale without total renovation. Cabinets can be painted and new pulls installed. If the appliances are not stainless steel, you can have new front stainless steel added. If you are going to stay in the house for more than a year, you might want to invest in new appliances because this will help on resale.
Bathrooms also can have some quick fixes, like putting in a new cabinet with new sinks. A new toilet is a very inexpensive fix as they have changed over the years. For example, the Cimarron is a fairly inexpensive new toilet that can be purchased at Home Depot for less than $300. If your bathroom is very old and has pink tile or the old pale yellow, we have access to a wonderful gentleman who paints tile so that it looks brand new. If you don’t need storage underneath your sink, replacing a traditional cabinet model with a pedestal sink will make your bathroom look larger.
We all love our pets. Most people have them; however, when selling your home, you don't want anyone to be able to tell that from telltale signs in the house. Pet odors can immediately turn off a potential buyer. Make sure that all rugs have been deep cleaned and that the pets are never in the home when being shown. No dog or cat hair should ever be visible. Sometimes when we live with our animals we don't notice the odor in our own homes, so ask a good friend to tell you the truth about any smells and, if they exist, deal with them. There are many products at pet stores to help you with this problem.
These are just some of the tips that an Accredited Staging Professional knows to assist their clients in presenting their home in the best manner possible. That’s why it’s important to use a Realtor with an ASP designation who will do her or his best to get your home sold. Please feel free to contact me at 912.270.3660 or kathaller@gmail.com any time to set up an appointment if you need assistance preparing your home to list for sale.
Kathleen Haller, ASR, GRI, ASP, CDPE is a licensed Realtor at Signature Properties Group with more than 30 years experience serving the public with their real estate needs. Starting out strong as Rookie of the Year in 1983 living in the Main Line of Philadelphia, she continued a strong track record of success and has consistently been among the top producers in the Golden Isles since relocating here in the early 90s.
