Assignment 2 House Staging for Home Sellers

Assignment 2
Now that we have Halloween out of the way I hope all sellers have started to stage. It is now November and Christmas is knocking at our doors, so are potential buyers. If you didn’t read or start assignment one you can find it on www.paisleyhomestaging.blogspot.com.
In assignment two I am hoping that you got all your clutter cleaned up and put away. You have started your honey do list and ready to move on. Literally ready to move on to a new house, if you’re having second thought this is a great time to reflect on the reasons you are moving. It is believed in many cultures that a house will not sale until the owners have emotional detached themselves from the house. In English a seller must really want to "move" for the house to sell.
At this point in staging you’ve gone over your pros and cons list, looked at the pictures, cleaned the cob webs, decluttered, and have become somewhat organized. You’ve packed up those simple items in the kitchen and have started other areas of your home, such as the garage? Please don’t just fill up your garage with all the items removed from your home. Clean garages help sell houses.
Now is the time to set deadlines such as when your first open house will be? When you first want to start your advertising? Time to start a new List:
1. What is your staging budget?
2. If you have large repair you need to consider how long it will take the project to be complete? What it will cost? Maybe it is time to start getting bids from a handyman for those major repairs or even minor repairs. Most bids are free.
3. Carpets? Do we need to replace or have it “professionally cleaned?” How old are they? Do we have pet odor? What color are they?
4. Paint? Do we need to paint? Or can we touch up? How long has it been since we painted? What color are the walls?
5. How old is your kitchen? How old is your bathrooms? Do they have any problems such as a leaky faucet? Worn flooring, etc.
Go back and look at your pros and cons list and ask yourself these questions. Below are some simple guidelines to help you stage your home for sell:
· If carpet is more than 10 years and an odd color (example: red, green, yellow, blue, orange, rust or anything marbled in these colors) are good reasons why you need to replace your carpets. Bad idea to offer a carpet allowance. Most carpet retailers don’t charge to measure and will give you a free bid. You don’t have to use them, but it does give you a rough idea of a number for your budget.
· If it has been a few years since you last painted, it is probably time to paint. It is fairly inexpensive to paint. A five gallons bucket of paint costs about $100.00 and is enough to paint the average home, so evaluate your walls. Also stick with a paint that is a high hiding one coat. A uniform wall color throughout the home sells a home. Stick with a neutral such as light beige with white trim. You would be amazed at what a fresh coat of paint can do to a room. Did you know that some cupboard can be painted?
· Fixtures are like jewelry for a home. Styles change, brass is out!!!!!!! Start with light fixtures. You don’t have to buy the most expensive fixtures. A simple brush nickel fixture will change and update the look of a room.
· If your faucet and fixture are outdated replace them. If the toilet leaks fix it. Clean up any mold or mildew it just looks bad. This is one of many area’s that a home inspector can find issues.
· Kitchens are what makes or breaks a deal. If your kitchen is old and out dated there are a few things that you can do to give it a mini make over. As stated above some cupboard can be painted. New counter tops can really make an outdated kitchen look new. If your kitchen floors are tired and worn replace them. Do not use peel and stick tile flooring. Prefab counter tops and laminated flooring can be purchased through your local hard ware store. All of these task can be taken on by a do it yourselfer. Just give yourself some time.
Starting and complete one project at a time! By doing this you won’t become overwhelmed with projects. I always recommend start with an inexpensive project first, like painting. Another rule I have is if you can’t paint, then don’t try and be a do it yourselfer.
By preparing your home for sell, you are taking away a mental list that a potential buyer creates as he or she walks through a “Home for Sell.” A mental list also means no offer.
On a typical consultation with a client I spend an hour letting home owners know what is wrong with their home. Trust me a potential buyer will see everything that is “wrong” with your home before he or she the positive side of your home.
If you have questions please blog me. Yes I will use it on my blog as an example for others, but you will get the answers you need to sell your home.
Thanks
Tamie Ogden
Owner / Paisley Home Staging