If you’re like most home sellers, your list of things to do before putting your home on the market is a mile long. Things can get hectic, and it’s easy to lose sight of what potential buyers want. So, as you dive in to that list, make sure you’re tackling the right projects in the right way. Here’s my list of the top five things NOT to do when staging your home to sell.
DON’T:
- Paint your rooms bright colors. If your walls need a fresh coat of paint, choose neutral colors. Neutrals can work for everyone and give them a blank slate to imagine what they would do with the rooms. While a variety of colors are trendy and in fashion, don’t try to choose the right ones for your potential buyers. Be safe and go conservative.
- Make it personal. It can be hard to remove the personal touches from your home. You love seeing your son’s newborn picture on the mantle or passing that wedding shot of you two glancing adoringly at each other. But put them away for now. You’ll be all the more excited to unpack them and find the perfect spot for them in your new home. Remove family photos or anything that’s uniquely your family’s (think your husband’s hunting treasures on his man cave walls or your 32 prized figurines passed down from Great Aunt Hilda). Do your best to create a neutral setting that allows your buyers’ imaginations to soar.
- Forget about curb appeal. Homeowners often get so caught up on getting the inside right that they forget about the outside. Don’t! Your curb appeal can be what attracts your perfect buyer! Power wash, paint, cut the lawn, plant bushes and seasonal flowers and use mulch. The outside is just as important as the inside, so add these items to your to-do list.
- Skimp on cleaning and decluttering. When Mom and Dad come for a visit, they aren’t (I hope!) inspecting your closets. We are all guilty of shoving our clutter into closets and under beds in preparation for guests. You can’t do that with these guests! You need to clean out, clear out and make space everywhere. Store what you don’t need for the next few months to create the illusion of space as much as you can. And when it comes to cleaning, a routine quick pass through won’t fly right now. This is the time to scrub the baseboards, shine the windows and vacuum every nook and cranny you have!
- Try to do it all yourself! Tackling everything yourself can be overwhelming. Hire cleaners if you need to. Spend the money for professional power washing. Invest in professional staging. Did you know homes that are professionally staged can sell for up to 10 percent more? And if you list with me, I’ll use your furniture and décor to stage your home for free. You can check that one off your list without having to consult your budget!
If you’re ready to sell your home, give me a call. I love helping sellers prepare their home for the market, and I will go out of my way to make it look appealing to buyers by avoiding even more no-no’s than those listed here! Together, we’ll have your home ready to show in no time!
Warmly,
Marcia
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