Close your eyes.  Picture multiple buyers, multiple offers and a bidding war.  Envision selling in days instead of months.  Feels pretty great being a real estate genius, doesn’t it?   So, how do you create “We’ve gotta have it!” and “We’ll offer more!”?   

In this Why Pay 6 Percent blog, we offer illusions, tips and tricks of the trade on the art of “Staging”.  We ask you to look with “new eyes” at your house.  Remember that your house is no longer “your home”…it is a product that is For Sale.   The challenge is objectivity.  The reward is mass appeal.  The genius is in knowing that real estate is a numbers game.  Better your odds by eliminating no one.  

If you are unsure of exactly what staging is, think new home builders.  Even though staging is a new concept to the resale home market, homebuilders have profited from staging for years.  Their model home parks take “picture yourself living here” to an art form.   They often sell entire subdivisions of homes, sight unseen, thanks to a few smartly decorated “model” homes.  

What can staging do for you?  Take a look at a couple of builders model homes.   You will quickly spot that everything is new, fresh and clean.  It smells good.  It’s light.  It’s bright.  The lawn makes you want to walk barefoot.  It’s very friendly.  It feels like home, maybe better than home.  Gottcha!  

When touring a model home, don’t focus on the furnishings, but how they are placed in  the room.  Notice the amount of light in the room and where it comes from.  Note what you don’t see…clutter, deer heads, dead plants.  All these little things you see, and don’t, create an illusion of warmth, openness and universal appeal that make buyers say “I could definitely live here”. 

You can also get practical ideas about staging on TV channels like HGTV and A&E.  Shows like “Designed to Sell” and “Sell This House” have great ideas and feature real homeowners.  Their websites, www.hgtv.com  and www.aetv.com feature show highlights and special topics to discover at your convenience.  Great staging idea’s can also be found in home magazines and websites.  And, in case you are short on time, we’ve done a little research for you.    

InfoTip 1:  First Impressions are formed in 15 Seconds

A buyer called to see inside.  Congratulations, your marketing is working and your curb appeal, appealed.  What can you do to make a good first impression?

      Buy a new Welcome mat.  Avoid cutesy.  Go classic.

      Shine up the door knob and knocker

      Mood Music, softly please.  Avoid lyrics’, opt for soft jazz or classics.

      Open the windows and air the house out.  If outside noises are not a problem and the weather cooperates, leave a few windows open.

      Adjust the inside temperature to an ideal setting.

      Flower Power— Flowers are cheap, create ambiance, add personality and cheer. 

      Smells—Good, clean, subtle smells are good.  Overpowering, disinfectant smells are used to cover something up and may also trigger allergies.

      Add a nice guest book and pen to invite comments.  Add small photo book picturing your house during a beautiful season.

      Turn on the lights in each room.  Well lit rooms show well.

      Open the drapes and blinds, but don’t expose ugly views.

      Highlight good views by drawing the eye to them.

      Light a few groupings of candles in appropriate areas.  Avoid strong scents.

      Remove all items considered “real estate”, before showing.  A good rule of thumb is, if it is attached or would leave a mark when removed, it stays with the house.  Many buyers refuse to close, or worse, they call an attorney, when they discover the dining room chandelier they “bought” is missing, the roses bushes have been dug up or the basketball goal has been stolen.

InfoTip 2:  Making a Grand Entrance

      Area Rugs break up the expanse of a floor space and make rooms feel smaller.

      Entry closets should be cleaned out.  Hanging Coats should not touch each other.

      Remove coat stands.

      The entrance into all rooms should be free of obstacles.

 InfoTip 3:  Bigger is Better

Create illusion of big rooms that people can picture their stuff in.  Think Spare, not Bare.

      Traffic Flow—You should be able to walk through every room in your house without being impeded by furniture.

      Counter Intelligence—Clear off all horizontal surfaces in the entire house.  Store the designer blender.  Decorate with a rosemary topiary, not functional items.

      Bigger is better does not apply to furniture.  Store oversized pieces.

      Re-paint dark rooms in light, neutral colors.  White reflects light-black absorbs it.

      Mirror, Mirror on the Wall–Seinfeld fans know mirrors create the “illusion of space”, feelings that there is a “whole other room in there”.  Mirror magic is highly effective on birds, and home buyers… Mirrors also add light, elegance, enhance views, show off mantels and shrink long, narrow hallways.

      Small pieces of furniture like footstools, end tables and throw rugs shrink space.

      Dining Room or Home Office?  Multi-tasking décor is confusing at best and screams that you have a lack of space and storage.  Computers do not belong in the dining room, ironing boards do not belong in spare bedrooms.  Stage each room for its intended purpose.  

InfoTip 4:  Hidden Treasures

Everyone needs Storage.  Covered Parking. Garages.  Attics.  Basements.  They may not count as finished square footage, but for homebuyers they count a great deal.

      Clean and light these areas before showing your home. 

      Use a label or sign to mark hidden doors or areas buyers might miss.

      Empty garages look bigger.  Pack the bikes, lawn equipment and trash cans.

      Basements should be aired out and free of mold and mildew. 

      Plywood can be placed in attics to create large, walk-in storage area’s.

      Hide things in storage boxes that slide under the bed.

      Lubricate the garage door.

 InfoTip 5:  Outdoor living rooms

When looking for ways to grow your space.  Look outside. 

      Balconies, patios or porches are living area’s, if staged properly. 

      Tables and chairs near your grill create another dining area.

      A comfortable lounger and coffee table create a reading nook.

      Healthy, potted plants can stage a greenhouse effect.

      Freshly mowed, green lawns have universal appeal.

      Outdoor lighting and sprinkler systems set a mood of relaxation. 

InfoTip 6:  Stimulate Imagination.  Buy this house and dreams come true.    

      Romantic, candle light dinners happen every night in this house… set your dining room table with your finest tableware.  Add a center piece and the stage is set.

      Use the romance and coziness of your fireplace to your advantage.  Place a pair of wine glasses and a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of the fire.

      Sex Appeal.  Set the mood in your bedroom with fresh, fluffy linens, decorative pillows, candles and soft lighting.  Remove all personal items from view. 

      Well Healed His & Hers.  In the closet, like clothing should be grouped together.  Designate His and Her areas with his pants & shirts in his area, her blouses and dresses in hers.  Allow for space between each hanger.  Shoes should disappear.  Shelves should not over flow. 

      Anything provocative could spoil the mood.  Play it safe with displayed books, magazines and religious items. 

      Private Parts…bedrooms and bathrooms are private areas that people feel uncomfortable exploring.  To lessen feelings of intrusion, hide all personal care products in a basket under the sink.  Your Jacuzzi tub is sexier without the used razors and waxing creams.  Stage your bath as a place of retreat and quiet pampering.  Freshly hung, fluffy towels, candles, a basket of unused bath products de-personalize and give a bathroom the feel of a luxury hotel. 

InfoTip 7:  Real Life Issues Builders Never Face 

      Pets.  We love our Pets so much, this topic is painful to discuss.  Unfortunately, when buyer’s see pets, they start looking for trouble.  They immediately sniff for evidence of accidents.  They scrutinize for chewing, stains and scratches.  They rarely venture into the yard for fear of what they will step in.  You can’t pack your pet, so what can you do?

F     Cat Fanciers- Change the litter and sweep up daily.  Vacuum for hair.  Pack the kitty condo and all the toys.  Pick up the food bowls.  Freshen up bedding.  Brush your cat daily, so shedding is minimized.

F     Man’s Best Friend- If you can take your dog with you or to the neighbors, during a showing, do so.  If Doggie Day Care is available in your town, perfect.   Dogs who feel their job is to guard the house must be confined or taken off the premises.  Aggressive or barking dogs are best kept elsewhere until the house sells. 

Pick up the toys inside and out.  Scoop the lawn, daily.  Repair holes, paths, bare spots and damaged fencing.  Clean the pen.  Paint scratches on the door.  Remove feeding dishes and water bowls.  Vacuum daily.  Groom the dog and keep him clean.  Freshen his bedding.  Make it up to him when this is over. 

      Small Children—Can a two year old make selling difficult?   

As small as they are, they sure have a lot of stuff.  Try packing toys while they nap.  When you unpack in your new house, they will think it is Christmas.  Store the big life-size golf carts and doll houses.  Pack up most books.  Neaten their closets.  Clean out diaper pails, daily.  Move obstacles out of the entry or middle of their room.  Clear off bathroom countertops and hide bath toys under the sink.  

      Teenagers.  Bribe if necessary.

Scary, but their private space is now on public display.  They should make their bed every day, especially on weekends.  Take down the beads and re-hang the door.  Roll up those super model posters.  Get the TV, DVD, Computer, X-Box and Video Games stored out of view.  The closet is clean.  Clothes are put away.  Hide the spider collection and the magazines.  Repaint those purple walls boring white.  If a buyer is looking at the house, get out of bed, even if it is only 10:00 a.m., or get off the phone, turn off your TV and get out of the house.  Take comfort– a trip to the mall usually buys their forgiveness. 

Staging is a hard thing to live with everyday.  Thankfully, if you do it right, you won’t doing it for long.  One of those Looky Lou’s will picture themselves lounging and entertaining in your house in no time.  They will at long last become a homeowner and you will be recognized as a true, real estate genius.

Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com.  Our turnkey marketing programs reach million of home buyers, from all over the world, each and every day.  We can help you sell and save money to!!

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