Does it show like a model or a to-do list?

 

HONOLULU ADVERTISER   July 8, 2007

 

BY LISA SCONTRAS

Custom Publishing Group

 

It’s good therapy to clean your closets and re-arrange your furniture but did you know that these tasks can also mean more money when selling your home?

 

It’s true. Just like detailing your car before you sell it, home staging methods are the latest tools in the toolbox of techniques designed to help sellers make their homes more appealing to buyers.

 

According to Bonnie Coen, Realtor/home stager and partner at Prudential Locations LLC, the uptick in the number of homes on the market means it’s more important than ever to set your house apart from the crowd. Home staging is a way to do that.

 

“When buyers have a selection of homes to choose from, a staged home will generally sell faster and for more money than a competitor that doesn’t show as well,” she says.

 

Coen goes on to explain that if you can give your listing the feel of a model home, buyers can better see the optimum use of the space and its livability.

 

“That’s why developers do it,” says Coen. “If, on the other hand, the home feels more like a ‘to do project,’ buyers are likely to turn away or want you to bring the price down.”

 

Professional home stagers are practiced in the art of preparing a home for resale.

 

“They work with the flow of the home, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture and enhance curb appeal,” she adds.

 

Depending on the price of your home, you may elect to spend thousands of dollars to hire a stager give your home a whole new look with new furniture, accessories and art, or you may elect to find a real estate agent who has a background in staging to give you some advice as part of their listing service.

 

High-end homebuyers expect more in the way of staging, says Coen. But whether you’re selling a million-dollar oceanfront villa or a 500-square-foot condo, there are ways you can make your space feel more open and accent the home’s best features.

 

If you don’t have a budget to do a full-scale staging makeover, another option is to rearrange the existing furniture to create a better traffic flow or remove some pieces to open up the space. Coen says she’ll give homeowners a punch list of suggestions. Here is a list of the basics.

 

Clean, clean, clean

 

“Scrub like crazy and make your home sparkle,” says Coen, who lists eight key areas.

 

 

Don’t assume buyers can look beyond clutter and untidiness. They often can’t. If the kitchen, bathroom or windows are dirty, the perception may be the sellers are just as unconcerned with maintenance and care of the home.

 

Declutter

 

Home staging basics includes tricks for making the home feel bigger.

 

“A cluttered home looks smaller and is distracting to many buyers,” says Coen, who recommends getting rid of half the items in every room.

 

De-personalize the home

 

Pack up personal photographs and family heirlooms. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls.

 

Fix all the unfinished do-it-yourself jobs

 

Eliminate “to do” list repairs entirely such as leaky faucets, running toilets, holes in the walls, torn screens, burned-out light bulbs and closet doors that don’t close properly.

 

Clean up the yard

Remember, first impressions do count. Typically, a homebuyer makes up their mind within 30 seconds of walking into an open house. Some are forming an opinion when they pull into the driveway. Make sure the trees are trimmed and the lawn is cut. Children’s toys should be put away and broken or rusted items removed.

 

Paint the interior and exterior of the home

 

Coen believes this is the most cost effective way to give your home a fresh appearance. Be sure to keep the colors neutral.

 

Little things can make a big difference in maximizing the value of your home. The devil is in the detailing. Using staging principals to make the house appear cleaner, larger and more inviting can work wonders and statistics show will get it “sold.”

 

 

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