Maximizing your Sales Price through Home Staging

As the housing market cools, it's more important than ever to pull out all the stops...six tricks of the pros for getting top dollar.

There are several surfire ways to boost the value of your home (a Viking stove and an inground pool certainly never hurt). But for sellers, there's only one way to maximize your investment that can A) be done in just a few days, B) can cost less than a plane ticket, and C) won't involve copious amounts of dust and contractor bills

It's called staging -- that is, spiffing up your home in a number of small ways -- and it's getting more and more popular as the housing market cools and sellers try and set their homes apart.

"The way you live in your home and the way you market a house are two different things," says Barb Schwarz, the CEO and founder of StagedHomes.com, who has personally staged more than 5,000 homes over the past 33 years. "You have to think of your home as a product."

A home that Schwarz recently staged in Seattle had been on the market for nine months at an asking price of $1.4 million. Three weeks after investing $8,000 in staging services (the average cost of staging is $3,200), the sellers received an offer for $1.9 million -- $500,000 more than the asking price.

Staged homes also sell faster, according to Schwarz -- an average of seven days compared to 45 days for unstaged homes.


Here are six tricks from staging pros that will give you the home-court advantage:


Get On Your Hands and Knees
OK, so cleaning up sounds like a given, but this goes way beyond a vacuum cleaner and a dust rag. To get your home in shape for sale, you need to scrub around the faucets and the light switches. Banish the dustballs hanging around the baseboards and the cobwebs in the skylights. Powerwash the house and the driveway and keep the sidewalk swept clean.

"You would detail your car if you were going to sell it," says Schwarz. "You should detail your house too."


Follow the Basketball Rule
It's no secret that America is a nation of consumers. And all of that stuff we buy is strewn about our homes.

In the living room of one luxurious home that Schwarz staged, she unearthed a grand piano beneath mounds of clutter -- something she did not notice when she first visited. So while you might like being surrounded by your collection of trophy fish or glass figurines, these items can be a real turnoff to a potential buyer.

Here's a rule of thumb: Remove all items that are smaller than the size of a basketball. Pack up at least half of your books. And stash the photographs of you and the kids on your Hawaiian vacation.
You want the buyer to be able to envision himself in your home -- not you.


Color Your Walls Martha
Yes, of course your bright red dining room and purple living room are exquisite and fit your style to a tee. But the truth is that a prospective buyer is unlikely to appreciate your extraordinary taste and doesn't want to have to paint everything down after closing on the house.

Cover your walls in neutral, complementary hues -- Schwarz says Martha Stewart's line is your best bet. They make rooms look expansive.


Cast a Cold Eye
Stand at the doorway of each room and take in the impression it gives. Are there too many accessories on the wall? Too many area rugs? Do the plants look overgrown? Is the furniture clustered on one side of the room?

"Most master bedrooms have too much," says Schwarz. "They tend to look like furniture stores."
In the dining room, remove extra leaves and chairs. In other rooms, take at least half of everything out and see how it looks. Then reintroduce items into the room sparingly. Be sure to visit your garage, basement, and attic for inspiration. Schwarz recently transformed a humdrum child's bedroom into a nautical paradise using items she found in the owners' garage. An old fishing pole found new life as a curtain rod, a net became a headboard, and a fishing boot served as the base for a lamp.

The buyers for this $1.5 million house were so taken with the handiwork that they stipulated in the contract that the contents of this child's room were to stay with the house. So go ahead and show some flair, but leave any dramatic artwork -- especially nudes -- out.


Set the Scene
If you're expecting an agent to stop by with a potential buyer, there are several last-minute touches you need to do before leaving the house. Empty the wastebaskets, put the toilet lids down ("I can't tell you how many people in million dollar homes leave their seats up," says Schwarz.), hide your laundry and grooming items, and place baskets of new, color coordinated hand towels in the bathroom. Always leave some lights on.

And have soft jazz or easy listening music playing. It will put people in a buying mood.


Call in the Pros
If staging your home is too big a project to pull off by yourself, there are scores of professionals willing to give you a hand. You can find Accredited Staging Professionals in your state at http://www.stagedhomes.com/asps/asps.php. But before hiring anyone, ask to see their portfolio.

Summer Selling

SUMMER SELLING

As spring gives way to summer, thousands of Liberty, Missouri area residents are putting their homes on the market and getting ready to move. If you’re one of them, be smart and prepare. To sell your home quickly and receive the best offer possible, you must be strategic in making enhancements.

You’ll need to start with the basics such as making home repairs, decluttering rooms and brightening up your space. Included in this article are some great basic tips that can help you get your house into tip-top shape!


Attract Buyers
First things first – curb appeal is critical in Liberty, Missouri. Present a neatly landscaped yard to create a positive first impression for buyers. Put away all items such as lawn equipment, toys and collapsible chairs. Mow and edge the lawn, trim shrubs (especially near windows) and pull weeds. Take advantage of spring by planting some colorful flowers.

Inspire Buyers
Nobody wants to buy a dark, dingy house. Inspire the buyer by lightening and brightening. Open the blinds and let sunshine pour into the house. Replace heavy window treatments with lighter ones. Change out dingy, yellow lightbulbs with new ones and use a slightly higher wattage if possible. Wash the windows. Another simple but effective strategy is to apply a fresh coat of a neutral color paint to the walls.

Relieve Buyer Stress
For the buyers in Liberty, a new house is about fresh possibility. Help them imagine a wonderful space of their own by decluttering and organizing. Relieve any feeling of stress by eliminating unnecessary items, especially those in view on coffee tables, bureaus, counters and bookcases. Also make sure that closets are no more than 50 to 75 percent full. Host a yard sale or give unwanted items to a local charity or thrift shop. Items you keep must have a home – assign each item to a place such as a basket or drawer. Keep in mind that, while treasured to you, your personal items are usually a distraction for buyers.

When I am given the opportunity to sell someones home, I have a professional "stager" come over to the property and work with the seller to maximize every room of the house. I use Sue Shores of Changeit Home Staging. Sue can be contacted at (816) 584-1393 or visit her website at www.changeitkc.com

Reassure Buyers
Homebuyers need assurance that your home is in good repair. If anything is broken – whether major or minor – get it fixed. This is crucial for receiving the best possible offer on your home.

Prepare for Buyers
Break out the Windex and Lemon Pledge, because it’s time for a deep spring cleaning! Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. Cleaning is not just about appearance – it also improves air quality, dramatically changes air scent and keeps your home materials such as woods and metals in top condition.

Let it Flow
Facilitating good traffic flow by carefully placing furniture is an art. Ideally, a home seller should replace furniture worn by kids, pets, or simply prolonged use. Replace a hodgepodge assortment with a few well-chosen, bold pieces. Arrange furniture so that rooms feel as spacious and comfortable as possible.

Roll out the Red Carpet
Well, maybe not red, but do make sure your carpet is in good condition. According to Richard Zweck of Joe's Carpet in Kansas City (816) 505-2333 www.joescarpetkc.com , if your carpet has stains that will not come out, it may be necessary to replace it. Choose a light neutral color with little pattern. This makes the rooms appear larger and gives a clean new look.

If you’re not able to replace your dirty-looking carpet, clean it using a professional certified carpet cleaner.

For those with hardwood floors, throw down some area rugs to show buyers what size is appropriate. It also warms the room and gives color.

Research has shown that by creating and implementing a ‘big picture’ strategy for home preparation, your home in Liberty, Missouri will sell much more quickly and you’ll get higher offers. Here’s to a great selling experience this Summer!

For more information about what your home in Liberty, Missouri could use before putting it on the market, call Ron Henderson at (816) 651-9001 or visit his website at www.clayandplatte.com