Curb Appeal November 2, 2009

The shutters give the exterior some much-needed architectural appeal, and the dark stain on the deck and pergola looks fantastic!

 

Before and After October 29, 2009

This is a home I staged via email. The living room looked quite good, but benefited from a few tweaks to really kick it up a notch:

1. The pictures on the left wall are hung too far apart, they don’t relate well to one another
2. A neutral picture is hung in place of family photos to the right of the window
3. Tab top curtains are letting the room down, as from this angle the room does not have a real focal point
4. Moving the rug/coffee table helps, but my only remaining wish would have been to change out to a larger rug and add two substantial lamps to balance the weight of the sofa and loveseat

Many small changes throughout the home created a warm, welcoming environment for the buyer.

Neutralize Your Home October 27, 2009

Who is your target market? The simple reason people buy a particular house and not another, and why you likely bought the one you chose, is that they can visualize living there. They will not make on offer if they cannot. I appreciate that de-personalising your home is perhaps uncomfortable for you, but it is necessary.

As a seller, you will be marketing your property to the masses, and to pull offers you must to appeal to the widest possible cross-section of people who will be viewing your home. Potential buyers are comparing your house to many other houses on the market, including spanking new show homes, and against their own hopes and dreams.

If your personality and that of your family is strongly imprinted, they will not be able to imagine themselves in “your space”. Emotionally detaching and allowing them to picture bringing in their furniture and belongings will have the positive effect of both engaging their emotions and building buyer commitment.

When you move, all of your belongings are then packed up, so why not get a head start now and remove at least 50% so it isn’t as overwhelming later? You’ll appreciate how much easier it is to keep your home clean and tidy for viewings if you remove superfluous clutter.

Tip: A revenue buyer is not going to “oooh and aaah” over how fabulous your house shows. They are looking for defects and a rationale to bring down your asking price, even if they want your property. My suggestion? Don’t give it to them!

2009 Copyright The Next Stage. Do not use without permission.

10 Strategies for Selling the Small Home October 26, 2009

1. Emphasize lower utility and tax bills as compared to larger homes and have the information printed out for the buyer to take
2. Go green to further drive the eco-benefits of a small footprint
3. Create an outdoor living room or balcony sitting area
4. Address any deferred maintenance for attractive low-maintenance living
5. De-clutter and remove any extra furniture
6. If you are fortunate enough to have a second bedroom, make certain to stage it as a bedroom only
7. Keep it light and bright, use roman blinds or white shades and keep them open for viewings, clean windows inside and out
8. Remove at least 50% of the items in closets and wardrobes and put into storage
9. If your 3-piece suite is eating up your living room, consider purchasing or renting two undersized loveseats
10. Finally, visit Ikea for creative ideas and solutions for small space living that you can affordably incorporate

Buyers who consider your home are likely downsizing, and want to see if they can make it “work”. The last thing you want to do is put them off by allowing your home to appear cramped and unmanageable. Do not say you are moving to a bigger home; choose another possibility, for example closer to family or work. Whatever is true for your current situation.

2009 Copyright The Next Stage. Do not use without permission.

Budgeting Your Home Stage October 23, 2009

No-one wants to spend money on a house they are selling and leaving behind, but the alternative is continuing to carry mortgage payments for a house that is not selling! Home staging is the most cost-effective improvement you can make to go from languishing on the market to SOLD! I’m happy to work with you no matter what your budget.

Budget: £0

Curb Appeal

• Mow and edge lawn
• Prune plants and trees
• Remove dead plants and all weeds
• Tidy leaves and other garden debris
• Scrub down door, steps, and railings
• Brush walkway and drive
• Clean windows and sills
• Clean and repair gutters
• Remove any faded or broken garden accessories

One exception – even on a zero budget, you must find the money to replace any broken window panes. Buyers will run from this as they will consciously or sub-consciously infer there are many more deferred maintenance issues.

Interior

• Clean windows and sills
• Clean tiles and bleach stained grout
• Scrub baseboards and mouldings
• Lubricate squeaky door hinges
• Launder or dry clean curtains and air rugs
• Ruthlessly de-clutter and store any duplicates
• Store out-of-season clothes and shoes offsite
• Remove photographs, souvenirs, and personal items
• Organise drawers and closets/wardrobes
• Send exercise equipment into storage or the garage
• Limit room colours and patterns for a well-chosen palette
• Relocate and re-hang art and mirrors if necessary
• Take down any cobwebs in corners and on light fixtures

One exception – dirty carpets kill sales. Hire a professional to steam clean your carpets. Make sure the company is aware in advance if pet odours are an issue for the best possible job. I don’t recommend rented shampooers which rely on soap and will quickly attract more dirt. Book in several days before viewings to make sure carpets are completely dry, and don’t be afraid to ask buyers to remove their shoes for viewings, they’ll appreciate that you care. The more effort you use in staging, the better the results.

£100 Budget

If you have £100 to spare, these items give you the most impact in staging your home. Here are my recommendations in addition to the advice above:

• Plain welcome mat £10
• Luxury white bathroom hand towel £10
• White waffle weave shower curtain £10
• Flowering potted plants and long-lasting cut flowers £30
• Fabulous bed linens in a complimentary colour for the master bedroom £40

Bonus: except for the cut flowers, you can take these items with you for your next home. Shop around for the best price. If you have a gracious friend or family member, borrow these items where possible.

£500 Budget

All of the above (minus £100 spend) and:

• Candles £20
• Buy cream coloured paint and neutralize one or two rooms £80
• Give the kitchen a small face-lift with new cabinet hardware £100
• Remove 3 dated curtains or nets and install roman blinds £120
• Buy 2 lamps to illuminate dark corners OR one light fixture with big impact for the entry way or living room £80

If you have more to spend, and more issues to discuss, I would rather work with you one-to-one to prioritize and correct deficiencies that are holding back the sale of your home.

2009 Copyright The Next Stage. Do not use without permission.

Best Approach: How to De-clutter October 22, 2009

Everyday life is relentlessly busy and messy. But you’re selling ‘the dream’! Not for your buyer the chaos and breaking tide of endless chores. Instead, a careful meditation on organised and stress-free living. This is what you must envision for the buyer and bring into reality. The challenge is to raise your house to its highest and best purpose.

One thing that can negatively define your space is clutter. You may look fondly upon your clutter and see beloved gifts and happy memories. A potential buyer looks at your clutter and sees, quite literally, junk. They don’t care about your possessions and it doesn’t help you sell your home. Give them room to breathe and see how easily they’re going to fill it with their own clutter! To keep down the level of angst, work systematically in one room at a time. Incorporating check-lists will make the job easier.

Focus and take 15-minutes a day, two times a day if possible:

• 5 minutes to fill a bin bag with items to throw away (have the recycle container handy and toss old newspapers and magazines)
• 5 minutes to fill a second bin bag with items to donate such as good clothing and knickknacks
• 5 minutes to fill a third bag or box with items to sell or put into storage

Put the last two bins in your car boot and deal with it as soon as possible.

Lastly, when you’ve cut the clutter to zero, list furniture and larger items to sell or give away. Damaged, dated and mismatched furniture should go first. Put small-scale furniture such as telephone tables and plant shelves into storage so the room opens up and appears larger with fewer distractions. The room may look empty to you, and possibly feel a little uncomfortable, but it won’t to buyers. They are buying square footage, not your stuff.

I prefer this method because you aren’t sorting and organising three piles at once while pulling rooms apart in such a way that if you have to stop mid-way through, you are completely overwhelmed by a massive pile of clutter.

Tip: Buy large, heavy-duty bin bags so they don’t rip.

2009 Copyright The Next Stage. Do not use without permission.