Purchasing a new home can be both exciting and exhilarating. Filled with promises of new beginnings and fresh starts, the process can actually be quite fun. However, while you might be in a hurry to imagine your life in new surroundings, the downside of the equation is that you still have to close on your existing home.
If you’re looking to move sooner rather than later, waiting all summer to get an offer on your current residence might hurt your plans, so it’s important to do everything you can to reduce your home’s time on the market. Therefore, according to a study conducted by the Real Estate Staging Association, homes that were staged before being listed received an offer within an average of 23 days, which is 87% faster than those that went months after listing before staging.
Still, finding the money to stage your home may be a bit of a stretch, so here are five FREE things you can do to get the job done.
FIND YOUR INNER NEAT FREAK – OR ENLIST THE HELP OF SOMEONE WHO CAN. Whether you’re already extremely tidy or you have a friend who is a master of organization, it’s time to declutter your way to a speedy closing.
Sure, it’s one thing to simply shove everything into a closet but it’s another to turn your space into an open, pleasing oasis. Start by tackling common junk areas such as magazine racks, fireplace mantels, kitchen and bathroom counters, and tabletops, and streamline those closets while you’re at it. Buyers want lots of storage and BIG closets, so the less things clogging them up, the better. Potential homeowners will want to see how much space is in there for THEIR stuff, not how much of your stuff can fit in the space.
SHOULD THAT COUCH REALLY GO THERE? Once you’ve taken the time to purge your home of disorganization and clutter, make a point to stop and look at the big picture. Your house should invite buyers to sit and stay a while, so if they can’t walk through your space without zigzagging through the room or bumping into furniture, it’s time to rearrange a few things.
Start by putting excessively bulky or unneeded items in storage and moving things away from the walls. Sure, you might have kept Aunt Mildred’s favorite chair out of obligation and nostalgia, but if it’s only taking up space, consider removing it from the home for a bit. Plain and simple, buyers want to walk in and see an open—yet cozy—space that invites family bonding, so the furniture should be placed in a way which begets this vision.
If, at the end of the day, you simply have no idea where to begin, you can always utilize the services of an experienced agent (free of charge with no obligation), who can walk through your home and help you rearrange things to produce the correct effect.
CLEAN, CLEAN, AND THEN CLEAN SOME MORE. Taking the time to clean your home before a showing should be common sense, but while many people understand the importance of presenting a fresh house, most underestimate how clean it should actually be.
At the end of the day, selling your home involves a large amount of money, so buyers want to see more than your standard tidy-up. Preparing your property for the real estate market involves all of those minute details and corners, such as ceiling fans, baseboards, window blinds, and tile grout. Additionally, don’t forget to clean your windows both inside AND outside. You’ll want to let in as much light as possible, so make sure they’re nothing short of squeaky-clean!
SET THE TABLE. The top thing buyers want from a home is to picture themselves living in it, so you need to put an effort into making sure they can do that. You can start by setting the kitchen and/or dining room table, since nothing represents family life quite like a beautifully staged dinner table.
To set the right mood, arrange your dinnerware like you’re preparing for a big holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Bring out your good china and linens, but keep things slightly simple by setting 2-4 places and adding a decorative centerpiece.
LET THE OUTSIDE COME IN. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. Most of us appreciate the beauty of the outside world, especially when it’s in full bloom. So, make a point to fill your home with favorite picks from your garden such as roses, zinnias, peonies, lilies, or fresh fruit and vegetables. If you’re short on vases, utilize the services of that old antique pitcher or Mason jar stashed in your cabinet.
If you’d like to learn more tips and tricks or would simply like some advice on where to begin, I’d love to offer my services, free of charge. Please contact me!
Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.DinsmoreTeam.com | 770-712-7789
