There's No Such Thing As Too Clean!

Clients often ask me how clean their home has to be to put on the market. I answer "How clean do you like your hotel room to be when checking in?" The situations are similar. Buyers know that someone lives in your house, just as you know that your hotel room has had many occupants. But, the fewer reminders the better.

In the bathroom, counters and floors should be sparkling clean, mirrors spotless, commodes, tubs and showers gleaming! Shampoo bottles, razors, etc. should all be stored out of sight, and towels should be fluffy and clean! Light fixtures and window treatments should be dust free. Don't even think about showing your home if there is mold present. Mold can be a deal breaker, so address it before your home goes on the market.

Kitchens need to be spotless! Are your appliances staying in the home? Don't forget to clean them, too. Buyers will open doors and pull out drawers, so it's important that storage areas are kept clean. Baseboards and window sills should be clean of dust and dirt. Carpet and flooring should be vacuumed and swept every day. Wipe those dirty fingerprints off switch plates! The rule is if it stays with the house, clean it like new!

I know it sounds exhausting, but if done correctly, it may be the last time you have to clean this house!

Less is More!!!

Decorating your home to fit your lifestyle, and decorating your home to sell are VERY different! You may have displays of treasured collections, items you have picked up on your travels, or family memorabilia.

There are two reasons to pack it all away when you put your home on the market. The first is that your display may be so interesting, that buyers pay more attention to it than your home. I did a consultation at a home that had a border of plates depicting different animals displayed along the top of the living room and dining room walls. I could just imagine the buyer’s focus directed at this collection instead of the features of the home. The second reason is for the safety of your possessions. The only way to guarantee that your belongings don’t get broken or stolen, is to pack them away out of sight.

What is a good rule to follow? Less is more! Do you have photos or artwork hung on every wall? This is a good place to start editing. Blank wall space allows the eye to rest, and makes it easier to take in the surroundings. It will also make a space appear larger. Remove anything hung on a wall, when that wall is less than two feet wide. Place artwork on the larger walls only. For tables, shelves, or other surfaces, stick with the “Rule of 3.” Remove all but three items from each table. For example—a coffee table might have a plant, a decorative bowl, and a large book. This rule works for the kitchen counters, or a fireplace mantle, too.

Remember, buyers will open closets and cabinets, and if everything is filled or overflowing, it will appear that your home does not have enough storage. Remove one third of everything in each closet, kitchen and bathroom cabinet or drawer, and pack them up. Is your garage or basement bulging at the seams? Buyers pay attention to these two areas, also. This would be a good time to clean out what you don’t want to move with you. You’ll be surprised at how much room you will have, and buyers will be impressed with the amount of space.

Getting your home ready to sell takes time and hard work, but when your home sells, you will be glad to have some of the packing already done.

Selling Tips for Little or No Money!

When selling, it would be great to update your home, and make it more desirable to buyers. But, in reality, most sellers have no budget or a very small one to work with, so a remodel is out of the question. The good news is that there is still hope.

There are many things homeowners can do to prepare their home for the market and improve the chances for a successful sale. Here are just a few:

Cleaning your home is probably the most important task you can take on for no money. Dirt, dust and bad odors are the biggest turnoffs for buyers. So, roll up your sleeves and make your home sparkle!

Move or remove! Two very important words, which will help make your home look more spacious. Move furniture away from walls. Placing furniture around the perimeters of a room make it appear smaller. The ability to see more walls will actually create more visual space. Remove all furniture which does not add function or beauty. It is not necessary for every space to be filled.

De-personalize and de-clutter! It’s very important for buyers to see your home, not your stuff.

Painting is a very low-cost way of brightening up your home, making it appear more clean and modern. Even if you only do an accent wall, it will create drama, and perhaps draw the eyes of buyers away from dated flooring. A freshly painted front door will really add to the curb appeal.

Get creative! Appliances can be painted, tubs and showers re-glazed, at a much lower cost than replacement. New lampshades can modernize old lamps for a fraction of the cost of a new lamp. Bring old wood back to life with a treatment of wood oil. Brass fireplace doors can easily be painted with heat-resistant paint. Bathroom mirrors can be updated by framing them with molding you have painted or stained. Heavy drapes can be replaced with inexpensive sheer panels. The options are endless. Home improvement magazines or TV shows are a great source for other low-cost ideas.

So, don’t get discouraged when you realize there is little or no money for fixing up your home. Your home may not be the best on the market, but with a little hard work and imagination, you can make your home the best it can be!

Themes and Collections--Neutralize Them!

One of the terms we stagers use often is “neutralize.” It means to stage the home in a way which will appeal to the greatest number of buyers. One of the easiest ways to do this is to eliminate themed rooms and collections.

Themed rooms are easy to recognize. A few of the more popular themes are sports, beach, Tuscany, southwest, and wildlife. Done in moderation, there is nothing wrong with these themes or styles. This is directed towards those who get a little carried away. Every piece of furniture, all the artwork, and all the accessories, have been chosen around the theme. The drawback to this excess is that buyers find it very difficult to imagine their own belongings in the room.

I have a friend whose family room has a “cowboy” theme. I think it is safe to assume that most buyers do not have spurs, pistols, and saddles in their homes, and would have a hard time getting past this theme and imagining their own furnishings there. This doesn’t mean you have to get a whole new room. The trick is to edit. For example, my friend could remove the aforementioned items, but a leather sofa and paintings with cowboys as the subject is perfectly acceptable.

I usually link themed rooms with collections, because quite often I will find collections spread throughout a themed room. But, sometimes they are off by themselves, or a collection becomes the theme. Almost all homeowners have some kind of collection. Whether it is a common one like books or framed photos, or something more unusual like Victorian birdcages or bobble-head dolls, these collections can be very distracting to buyers. The best bet is to pack these collections up, making them safe and sound, and more importantly, out of sight!

The bottom line is your home will sell faster, and you can create whatever theme, or collect whatever you want, in your new home that much sooner.