Home selling staging techniques to avoid
Any good seller knows, staging a home is meant to create the best possible impression for buyers. Staging a listing should emphasize unique aspects of the property while minimizing perceived deficiencies. It is certainly best to avoid obvious attempts at covering up smells and/or hiding unneeded nick knacks. Instead, make sure to clean carpets, drapes and floors, touch up paint and fix any visible defect. A little proactive effort may lead to a quick sale and the ultimate goal of a tidy profit.
However, staging is like many things in life: a little goes a long way. Whether you hire a professional or save some money and do it yourself, heed the following list when considering what to do to make your home highly desirable to prospective buyers.
Do not be overly conservative (aka boring)
Tasteful and neatly arranged is one thing, sterile looking is another. It is certainly in your best interest to declutter and have all furniture and room contents arranged for maximum appeal. But, avoid monotone décor devoid of style and appeal. You want your house to look warm and inviting, not sterile and cheap-hotel like. Use warm color accents to compliment your current furniture.
Do not oversell with excessive smell
Of course you do not want to have your home smell like dirty dishes, dirty laundry or stinky animals. However, an overabundance of air fresheners or potpourri is nearly just as bad. Again, the point is to present your home in the best possible condition. Cleaning the carpets and drapes, placing Fido with a friend temporarily, and washing and drying all used dishes make sense. Having your house smell like cheap aerosols or overwhelming perfume and/or potpourri will no doubt turn off potential buyers – in extreme cases, causing visitors to have respiratory reactions. Not what you want.
Spending money on unneeded renovations
Perhaps you have always wanted to redecorate and remodel. When you are trying to show the home may not be the best time. New paint is appealing, but not overly inviting if any portion of the house is in repair mode. Buyers need to see a finished project, not be required to imagine what the all-new bathroom will look like when finished. Bottom line, fix what needs to be fixed well before you plan on putting the house on the market. Your procrastination should not cause buyers to be inconvenienced. Otherwise, you may receive offers based on perception of value (low ball offers no doubt) instead of demonstrated desirability. Ultimately, ask your agent what improvements make sense and are financially beneficial.
Do not rearrange clutter; get unneeded “treasure” out of the home
Do not try to move unnecessary room contents to other locations inside the house. Serious buyers like to look under sinks and beds and inside closets, attics and garages. Get rid of that which does not add to the overall appeal of the listing; if not, at least move your sentimental treasures to a relative or friend’s home or a storage unit for temporary safe keeping. The serious internal cleaning will make you feel better and more organized for your upcoming move and the house will appear larger from less contents. Mutual benefit in spades.