In the last few years, home staging has become an increasingly popular method of preparing a home for sale. However, home staging involves far more than the cleaning and minor repairs required to put your home on the market. The process of staging a home is actually an in depth dressing of a home to make the property seem as appealing as possible to prospective buyers. Home staging professionals use a variety of methods to help homeowners sell their properties, incorporating both amenities already inside the home and a number of special products. When preparing to sell your home, you may want to think about some of the home staging methods outlined here to help you find the right buyer.

At its most simple, home staging is about setting the right mood for prospective buyers. By decorating and arranging a home’s interior to present an ideal way of life, buyers are assisted in visualizing themselves in your home. Whether you undertake the process of staging your own home or decide to consult a professional, there are a number of different “props” that may be used around the home. For example, to add a vibrant sense of life to the home, many home staging professionals recommend using different types of potted plants and arrangements of flowers and fruit. Throughout the home, they tend to utilize soft, luxurious fabrics – such as satin, lamb’s wool and silk – to create an atmosphere of comfort. This process can also extend to the exterior of the property, where patio furniture can be added in the backyard and colorful flowers or unique accessories outside the front door.

Many home staging professionals come from interior design or art-related backgrounds. Hence, when working on staging a home for sale, these professionals utilize a number of visual tricks to capture the attention of potential buyers. For instance, furniture is always arranged very carefully to simulate the ideal living space. In living rooms, home staging professionals often use loveseats and ottomans in lieu of large couches to create the illusion of added space. Likewise, mirrors are often placed throughout a staged home to make the living area seem larger to potential buyers. In areas where you hope to focus a buyer’s attention – like a hand built stone fireplace or a remodeled kitchen – staging professionals can place unique artwork or accessories to catch the eye.

One of the most important steps in home staging is the exchange of your personal decorations with more neutral furnishings. Beyond replacing family pictures with more design-friendly items, a successful home staging will attempt to eliminate any idiosyncratic tastes and represent a living space that has broad appeal. Though this process may feel like a slight on your family’s home, you should hardly take offense. This commonly used tactic simply helps potential buyers view the property not as someone else’s home, but as something they can call their own.

Most real estate experts claim that home staging is especially important when the home is empty. Without any furniture or amenities, even a home for sale in the most attractive area can make potential buyers feel uncomfortable. If you are trying to sell your home and have already moved out, you may want to consider working with your agent to stage the home’s interior. With the assistance of your agent and a home staging professional, you could quickly transform a lifeless house into dream home.

In the end, home staging is about making the most of your home’s potential. If the staging of your home is completed effectively, it is also possible that your home may receive better offers from potential buyers and spend less time on the market. By minimizing the flaws of your home and making the living area seem larger, brighter and more appealing, home staging may be one of the most important steps in selling your home quickly and at the right price. 

Call Malcolm Bellinger at 250-215-1414 for more information.

You love you pets and so does the rest of the neighborhood. However, when it comes time to sell your home, you shouldn’t expect the same of those interested in your property. While it is difficult for some homeowners to understand the negative perceptions about pets held by some prospective buyers, you should try to make your home as appealing as possible to everyone who walks through the door.

Before showing your home, consider some of these steps to minimize the impact of pets and potentially maximize interest from prospective buyers.

Before showing your home to buyers, you should try to remove all signs of your pets. Start by putting away any food and water bowls, pet toys and litter boxes. If your dogs use a doggie door to get in and out of your home, consider replacing or sealing up the door. If you keep photos of you and your pets on display, pack the images away when prospective buyers are in your home. Lastly, if you have any items that are too big to hide – like cages or dog carriers – find a discreet storage location in the garage or outside the home. 

To ensure that you don’t offend the eyes (or noses) of prospective buyers, you may want to devote extra time to cleaning your home. If you have cats or dogs that roam freely in the home, start by vacuuming the entire house. Next, as most pet-loving homes have a carpet stain or two, consider hiring a professional cleaner to get rid of the offending spots. If you find any stains that cannot be removed, you may want to replace the carpet or flooring before showing your home. To remove the last whiffs of pet smell from your home, avoid air fresheners (some of your guests may have allergies) and try using a heavy-duty enzyme cleaner. When you are confident in your cleaning, ask a friend or extended family member to inspect for stains and smells before showing the home.

Ideally, homeowners may want to try relocating their pets while their home is on the market. Rather than keeping your four-legged loved ones locked up in the garage, consider asking your friends and family to help out. If you can’t find anyone with the ability to watch your pets, you may need to consider using a nearby kennel. While this might be incredibly difficult to do – for pet and pet owner alike – this step could go a long way towards helping prospective buyers feel comfortable in your home. By keeping your pets out of your home while it is on the market you will be able to minimize the impact they’ve had on the property and avoid any mishaps with prospective buyers. However, if you can’t bear to part with your pets while your home is on the market, you should still try to remove your furry friends during open houses and tours.

While there may be plenty of pet-friendly homebuyers that visit your open house, it is important not to offend anyone who looks at your home. In fact, even some pet owners might be turned off by the presence of your pets. After all, plenty of pet owners believe their own animals to be cleaner and better behaved than anyone else’s. Hence, when it comes time to show your home to prospective homebuyers, you should try your best to minimize your pets’ impact.

Call Malcolm Bellinger at Coldwell Banker – Horizon Realty at 250-215-1414 for more information.

So you’re getting ready to put your house on the market. Naturally, you want to realize the most value for your home. One of the best ways to do so is by putting your home’s best face forward. This doesn’t necessarily mean going to huge expense. Often you can improve the look of your home and its profit potential with a few minor cosmetic adjustments.

What makes a house show well? Often it’s the little things that add up to a successful sale. First off, be ruthless in your assessment of the pros and cons of your house.

Try to look at your house with an unbiased eye. Two of the things that most prospective buyers are looking for are space and evidence the property has been well maintained. You can accomplish both by reducing the clutter inside and outside your home. Outside, make sure that shrubbery is trimmed well back, and every window’s view is bright and unobstructed. In the winter, ensure the walkways are shoveled and they’re wide enough to allow easy navigation. In the fall, rake leaves every day. And in the summer, make sure you keep the garden well watered. Drooping plants and a shaggy, unkempt lawn can create the wrong impression.

Bring the same energetic approach to reduce the clutter inside your home. Even if your home is small, creating the illusion of space can make a big difference in your home’s resale value. Remember, in this case, less is more.

Before people start trooping through your home, pack away anything that’s very fragile or holds great sentimental value. As well, you might need to clear out some furniture to help create that all-important illusion of space.

Perhaps you can even pack up just a few of the bigger, bulkier items first and arrange temporary storage at the in-laws, the cottage or the office until the house is sold. Then it’s easy to rearrange the remaining furniture to create a spacious and airy feeling, and allow for easy flow through of traffic during showings.

While you’re in the mood to clean up, why not tackle the clutter that’s accumulated throughout the house? Tidy cupboards and other storage spaces in every room. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything that you haven’t used in the past two years. Why not having a garage sale now, before it’s time to pack up for moving day? Or gather up those still serviceable items and donate them to charity. If the task seems daunting, your Coldwell Banker sales representative can suggest professionals to help with any task ahead of you.

If you follow these suggestions, you can be sure that when the “For Sale” sign goes up you’ve increased the profit potential in your home. And before you know it, that “For Sale” sign will read SOLD.