Need info on staging a new house for resale.?
Answers:
Arrange furniture to make the rooms appear spacious. Use as few pieces of furniture as you can and stage so that traffic flows easily and smoothly through the rooms. Open blinds or draperies to views that are appealing, close them to ones that are not. Accessories should be minimal and arranged in vignettes of odd numbers 3,5, etc. at varying heights. But, avoid clutter. Towels in the bathrooms bring attention to fixtures when decoratively arranged. Candles that smell like foods (vanilla, cinnamon, banana bread) or baking cookies appeal to the sense of smell to give the feeling of home. Avoid tripping hazards in major traffic patterns. Most of us actually glue accessories down or I like to use museum wax because it makes the items difficult to remove, but can be cleaned off the items later.
Other answers:
The only tip I can give you that my sister told me about, (she's a real estate agent), is that you never put anything in the house that has a scent like real flowers, candles that are lit, or any plug in air fresheners. The reason is that people think you are trying to cover up the smell of a problem like backed up plumbing or mold and mildew. Oh! And she said how the house looks from the road is very important because that sets the tone for the whole inspection.
Good luck!
The only tip I can give you that my sister told me about, (she's a real estate agent), is that you never put anything in the house that has a scent like real flowers, candles that are lit, or any plug in air fresheners. The reason is that people think you are trying to cover up the smell of a problem like backed up plumbing or mold and mildew. Oh! And she said how the house looks from the road is very important because that sets the tone for the whole inspection.
Good luck!
Reiterating with others have said...
- Curb appeal and first impressions are key. If they don't like the house as they walk up to it, they won't even consider an offer. But if they are positivelty inclined, they may overlook problems inside.
- Less is more. Don't over decorate or load up the house. Consider if you even need to do any staging, we sold out last house completely empty because it was a small house.
- Smells are important. The baking cookies/food idea is good. But also consider that people LIKE to smell fresh paint or carpet shampoo when they look at a new house. It make them think everything is fresh and new.
- Anything you can do to make the house easier to move into is good. For example, put blinds on all of the windows. People will like that they don't have to run out for blinds/curtains in the midst of moving in. But, make sure they are neutral enough not to drive people away.
- Clean, clean, clean
I had sold my 56 yr old house, which i loved. The little tips to stage a house is
1. no clutter, whatever clutter u see, take a box, a bag, pick them up and store it in the basement or attic, laundry.
2. Make sure there are no dishes in the sink
3. Have a vase with fresh flowers on the dining table or in the kitchen.
4. Keep furniture and all the visible area clean.
5. The one thing i alwasy use to do, is let water boil and add simmering liquid to it atleast 1/2 b4 potential buyers were coming, and leave soft music playing and turn on all the lights, kitchen, hallway, bathroom, bedrooms, basement, driveway.
6. Make sure you have clean driveway or even beautiful plants in your driveway.
7. Harsh colors on the walls wont do, if ur budget allows, get colors from cool shades and paint the walls.
Good luck !
Make sure it is squeaky clean and smells good,like bread baking,and no smell of cats,or dirty carpets,big turn offs!Also make sure all electric works and all plumbing works in case someone tries the toilet or outside lights.Good Luck to ya!
Take a look at the HGTV website for the Designed to Sell show:
Can you put carpet in laundry room?