How Staging can Make or Break the Sale

Gone is the time where a seller can simply breathe a word of a sale and the home would be sold. Now days, sellers are working extra hard at making their homes look appealing to buyers and some have given up their homes to foreclosure because they just couldn't hold on any longer.

There are tricks and tips to setting your home up for sales success but it does take some work on your part. Here are some key ideas to set the "stage" for selling your Alamogordo home.

1. De-personalize.

Many buyers simply clean up a little and that's it. But sellers are competing with new homes and these buyers are seeing perfectly put together and professionally staged model homes. When they visit your home after seeing a model home and see grandma's teapot collection and family vacation photos hanging on anything that stands still, which home do you think they will choose. You might think that buyers should look past that since they are not buying your things but the house, but guess what? They don't! They want to see the house at it's very best no matter if they ever plan on it looking like this once they move in. They need to try an envision themselves in the home. Imagine a hotel room; would you feel as inviting if there were personal memorabilia and photos left by the last occupant?

2. Choose your colors wisely.

Don't choose blood red for kitchen or burnt orange in the bathroom. Buyers just see work. Keep colors and tones as neutral and simple as possible. Keep the colors warm but not distracting. Again, visit some model homes for color choices and ideas.

3. Keep rooms as they were meant to be.

No one likes seeing the office in the dining room or play room in the garage. Buyers will think there is not enough room for basic tasks. Keep rooms as they were meant to be and it will give the illusion that there is plenty of space even if you needed more for your treadmill or painting canvas.

4. Keep smells under control.

If you have a cat, it should not be obvious to buyers. Whatever odd odors or sour smells in the house, get rid of them. If you have become too accustomed to them have a trusted friend be honest with you and get rid of them. When showing the house, take the dog or cat with you or keep the evidence of a pet in the garage. Keep fresh and clean odors all over with room sanitizers or scented furnace filters.

With these tips you can "wow" your buyers and have them choose your home over the competition. For more tips please email me below and I would be happy to take a look at your Alamogordo homes for more specific details on staging your home.