Tips from Christine Rae, President CSP International Staging Academy and author of Home Staging for Dummies:
- Don’t Get Personal! Whether working with a professional or going it alone cut all emotional ties! Visit each room, remember the memories, and then pack the sentimentality away. It clouds judgement – don’t look at your house from the perspective of it being yours, or this is who we are; buyers aren’t interested. Remove and store as many personal Items as possible, all family photos, certificates, diplomas, medicine, etc.
- Pack and store/dispose of 2/3rds of every closet and cupboard. It is a great time to start deciding what you want to keep/donate/dispose of. Organised storage space is one of the most frequently requested interior feature of buyers.
- First Impressions are the only ones that count; people have choices today- they make decisions about your property within a blink of an eye. Where ever the eye rests, the sale begins- are they looking at the RIGHT things?
- Understand staging is about condition more than décor; sure the house has to look and feel good, but remember buyers are savvy- they will deduct from the offering (IF they offer) their own perceived value for deferred maintenance! Which means repair anything which needs it, replace any fixtures over 8 years old then clean like your life depends on it (your equity will) and, pack and store (off property) anything you won’t use in the next two-three months. Remember buyers are buying their new house not your old one!
- Update the kitchen. This is the most important room in the house. Buyers will often compromise anything on their “must have” list when the kitchen exceeds expectations.
Look for Part 2 next week!
Photo by Colleen Donovan – CMD Home Staging
Founder and President at CSP®
Christine Rae, is known as the leading expert, trendsetter and powerhouse authority on shaping the future through real estate staging industry vision, innovation and focused intensity.
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