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When you put your home on the market, you are selling more than the physical structure.  Think of it as selling a lifestyle.  This is why preparing your home is so important.  As buyers walk through your home, they are trying to imagine themselves living there.  A savvy seller will help them along the way!

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

One of the ways is to set the dining room table.  The china doesn’t come with the house, so why would you do it?  Because buyers want to believe that if they buy your home they will finally be able to have those fabulous dinner parties they’ve been dreaming about.  You are not trying to deceive buyers; you are just providing a visual to stimulate their imagination.

What do cluttered bathrooms bring to mind? A family rushing

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How we choose to live in our homes is our business…right? WRONG! If you are selling your home, you may have to make some lifestyle adjustments. For instance, that pool table you have in your living room might make sense to you, but, to a buyer, it can just be confusing. If you have a room with a chandelier hanging down, you should probably have it furnished as a dining room, even if you have not been using it that way.

Quite often, we have rooms in our homes that have to do double duty, or even triple duty. The room that functions as an office, guest, and exercise room, is sending a message to buyers that there are not enough rooms in your home. It is best to choose one function, and move the other items out.

I went on a staging consultation one time, and the homeowners had a bookcase in front of the fireplace. I asked them why, and they said they never used the fireplace and it was the only place the bookcase would fit. You can imagine how confounded buyers would be. A large TV placed in front of a window because that is the only spot where glare is not a problem, is fine for you and your family. But, when your home is for sale, there should be nothing in front of the windows. When buyers open your coat closet, it is best for them to see coats, not boxes of cereal or rolls of paper towel. The fax machine you keep on your kitchen counter will only raise questions as to why it is there.

Take the time to put your home in order, an order that will make sense to buyers. A little inconvenience is a small price to pay for getting your home sold quickly.

There is still a lot of warm weather ahead in most parts of the country.  If you are selling your home, don’t forget the “extra” living space you have. Of course, I’m referring to your deck or patio.  There are almost as many design magazines focusing on outdoor spaces, as there are for interiors.  If you are not utilizing this space, you are missing the opportunity to add square feet to your home.

Think of your deck or patio as an outdoor living room, and include comfortable seating, soft lighting, and stylish accessories.  Pots of colorful flowers are a great way to fill in those empty spaces, but make sure you keep them watered and pick off the dead blooms to preserve their beauty.  Dried up plants and flowers are a definite turn-off to buyers.  Keep walkways clear, and make sure leaves and other debris are swept up.

Once you have created this inviting area, it needs to be visible from indoors.  Keep blinds and curtains open, so the eyes of the buyers will travel to the outdoor space.  Make sure windows are clean and there is nothing obstructing the view.

So, when you are getting your home ready to sell, don’t forget your deck or patio. The space is already there, and with a little effort, you can extend your home.  Buyers will appreciate the extra living space, and your home will stand out from the competition.

There are many affordable ways of getting your home ready to sell.  Updating the lighting can produce that “wow” factor, for not a lot of money.  The larger home improvement stores have a wide variety of lighting choices, at surprisingly low prices.

I recently previewed a condo and suggested that the owner replace the dated brass, five-light fixture in the eating area.  When I went back on staging day, hanging over the table was a sleek modern fixture that the homeowner purchased for under $40.  The effect was dramatic, as the whole kitchen seemed to have been updated.  And don’t stop with the kitchen! 

A new light fixture can improve the appearance of an entry, or hallway, and don’t forget the bathrooms. Outdoor lighting is important, too, especially (more…)