The Power of Presentation...

Anyone selling a home wants to sell it quickly and at the highest price possible.  To do that, your property needs to look its absolute best when it is listed.  Arranging and decorating your home for yourself is very different than arranging and decorating your house to sell.  It's all about illusions.  It's about creating moods.  It's about making your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, and best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.

Now that your house is decluttered, repaired and clean we can work on presentation.  A home is a living, breathing space...a space that will sustain and comfort you in your busy life and provide you with positive energy that you will take out into the world with you...a space that is highly functional, but also welcoming and warm.  We want buyers to feel at home in your house the minute they see it.  You only get one chance to make a great first impression.

When you are decluttering, keep in mind "presentation" and keep a few things out just for this purpose.  A house should not look sparse or sterile.  That is what makes your home a home instead of a hotel room.  The key here is to choose the right stuff.  You want to arrange these items in a way that allow potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the house.  You also want to present your house in a way that will maximize appeal to the largest potential buyer population.  A proper presentation should showcase the space and the features of the house and help distinguish the property from the competition.  The house needs to say "move in condition."  Keep the things you love, help you in your daily life, or have a special meaning to you.  By organizing these things in a practical way, you will create a serene space which you can clean up easily and maintain with minimal effort.

Below is a good example of the effects of a well staged bedroom.  This bedroom was completely transformed by simply adding some soft lighting,  plump pillows, a cozy throw and a warm rug for the tootsies.   These extras create a mood which evoke emotion in the buyer.  By working with what they had, this  once stark and sterile room instantly became warm and inviting. 

BEFORE

AFTER

The cheapest and most effective upgrade that receives the biggest bang back for your buck is to paint.  A coat of fresh paint does wonders. 

Choose a neutral color or white, now is not the time to go crazy with color. Remove old wallpaper and borders.  Faux painted walls, once so popular, appear dated now so it may be time to cover that up.  If in doubt, ask the advice of an objective third party. Your agent should be able to give you valuable feedback.

BEFORE

AFTER

Consider removing heavy drapery and replace it with something that is fresh and light.  Update simple items like cabinet hardware and dated light fixtures.  These inexpensive changes and can take a room from blah to wow.

Purchase inexpensive little extras that will help show off your home to it's best advantage; flowers in vase, inexpensive bedding and throws, a new shower curtain, decorative soaps, a new bathroom rug and, if the season allows, a few inviting inexpensive annuals in your yard.  You get the picture.  Throw out the cruddy shower curtain!

You want to create a spa-like bathroom... calming neutral colors, lush white towels, unlit candles, a basket full of rolled towels or spa products such as scented soaps, creamy lotions and moisturizing and facial jars. All personal products, toothpaste, hair dryers, kid's toys should be out of site for showings.  If they don't have a home, have a basket ready to throw them into and place it in the cupboard.

Bring life to the kitchen with bowl of fresh fruit such as polished apples, bright oranges or luscious grapes.  Arrange a couple of colorful and fun cookbooks on the counter.

Knick knacks should be displayed in odd numbers.  Choose a group of 3, 5 or 7.  For some reason, this amount is pleasing to the eye.

And let's not forget to put our best foot forward in the closets too.  Everyone loves a pretty linen closet.  Learn how to fold a bath towel so that when they are stacked they display beautifully.  It's easy...just fold the towel length wise twice over and then the other way.  This gives the towel two nice edges.

Rooms inside your home should be well lit, naturally if possible.  Throw open the curtains and let the sunlight in.  If not, buy more lamps and strategically place them and have them on for all showings.  Remember each room has to showcase it's intended function.  Bedrooms need beds.  If you don't have one, consider using an inflatable mattress and "dress" the bed and room accordingly.  A dining room needs a table and chairs. If you don't have one try an inexpensive outdoor plastic table with a floor length tablecloth thrown over it.  If you don't have a table cloth...try a bed sheet that could suitably double for one.  Just tuck in the bottom and let it puddle along the floor.  If you have a dining room table, consider taking the leaves out so as to make the room appear larger.

I know what you are thinking, "This sounds like a lot of work." but it's really all on how you look at it.  The "work" has to be done eventually so think of this as just packing sooner as opposed to later.  The other thing to remember is that a staged home sells quicker than an unstaged home, which means you will reduce your home's time on the market, thereby reducing the stress associated with selling.

Presentation is a very powerful marketing tool.   Real estate industry statistics show that a well prepared and staged home will sell quicker and for more money.  Keep it simple.  Keep it neutral.  Make each room warm and inviting.  Try to appeal to all the buyer's senses.   A well staged home will give your home the "WOW" factor that home buyers are looking for.

I'm here for YOU.

~Ciao