Planning to sell your home this spring? Well then, get moving now! Homeowners nationwide are selling their homes quicker and for more money by using proven home-staging techniques. Barb Schwarz, President of StagedHomes.com, suggests homeowners "Invest one percent of the sales price on preparing your home for sale.
The investment in staging a home is far less than the cost of a price reduction. And, the best way to prepare your home for sale is to Stage(R) it!" Barb Schwarz has trained thousands of Realtors and designers worldwide on how to professionally and economically stage a home for sale. Using a proven set of guidelines, Accredited Staging Professionals (ASP's) offer everything from comprehensive 'do-it-yourself' recommendations to completely staging the exterior and interior of a property.
"The moment you place your home on the market, it becomes a product; and like any product on the shelf at your local store, it has features and benefits, pros and cons, and plenty of competition. To compete in the marketplace it must be marketed right and look better than the competition. Your home is no different. It becomes one of many homes for sale and you must present it to the buyer in the best possible light," recommends Schwarz.
There are plenty of basic things that a seller should do before listing their property.
First, start looking at your house through the buyers eyes as though you've never seen it before. Start with the outside of your home.
1. Go around the perimeter of the house and remove all garbage cans, etc.
2. Make sure the gutters are clean.
3. Prune bushes and trees. Keep plants away from the windows.
4. Weed and mulch.
5. Keep the lawn freshly cut and fertilized.
6. Clear patios and decks of small items, toys, etc.
7. Hose off the house to make it clean and appealing.
8. The front door should be clean and inviting. Invest in a new doormat and wreath. Shine up the handle, kickplate, lamp etc.
Now it's time for the inside.
1. Clear the clutter. You plan to move, so start packing now! Pack away collections and any valuables that you wouldn't want broken or damaged.
2. Clear all unnecessary objects from kitchen countertops. Clear refrigerator of messages, photos, flyers, magnets, etc.
3. In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, shower stalls and commode tops. Keep only your most needed cosmetics, toothbrushes, etc. in one small group. Coordinate towels to one or two colors only and you should probably go out and buy fresh new towels, and possibly a shower curtain if your current one is at all mildewed or tattered.
4. Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary to open up the space.
5. Store extra possessions in the garage or a storage unit.
6. Clean! Clean the carpets, the windows, and repaint the walls if necessary.
Research done by StagedHomes.com shows that staged homes typically sell after just seven days on the market, versus 31 days for non-staged homes. If that's not enough, staged homes also sell much closer to or over the asking price, whereas non-staged homes usually sell at asking or below.
About StagedHomes.com
StagedHomes.com is headquartered in Concord, Ca. Barb Schwarz pioneered the concept of Home Staging (R) in 1972 and since 1985 has taught over 500,000 real estate agents and interior decorators her Staging (R) principles. Barb Schwarz is a nationally known award-winning professional speaker with over 12,000 hours on the platform. Author, trainer, and the creator of "The Accredited Staging(R) Professional Course (ASP Course), The Home Staging(R) concept, and President and Founder of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP). Schwarz can also be heard on her weekly radio show "Staging Life with Barb" which airs Monday and Friday between 2 and 3 p.m. Pacific on Positive Choice Talk Radio 1150AM in Seattle WA or you may stream it live at http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/radio.php. The program features ideas galore on Home Staging(R), decorating tips, personal fashion, and ideas on how to live a balanced, healthy and happy life.
For additional tips on how to stage your home, to view before and after examples, for more information on a career in Staging or to find an ASP in your area please visit www.stagedhomes.com.
