Selling Your Home?

Staging your home can make it more appealing to homebuyers and may mean a higher buying price and less time on the market.  Sprucing things up with paint, rearranging furniture and deciding what to keep in the home can make a big difference in the sale of your home.

Here are some tips for staging your home from realtor Lynne Poston of Patrick Williams Real Estate:

• It must be spotless!  Homes that are less than clean will be the last ones sold (if ever).  A sparkling home sells! 
• Shine doorknobs, handrails, and more. Add a layer of sparkle to each room and the hallways by polishing the doorknobs, handrails, hinges, vents, and lighting fixtures — especially if you want to draw attention to vintage features or unique details that make the home stand out from the rest. Clean the molding and baseboards, too.
• Show off the windows. Those bay windows can be a major selling point — if they’re clean, that is. A good cleaning (don't forget the screens!) will help to highlight the style of the  windows, bring in natural light, and draw attention to great views.
• Provide enough lighting for both day and night.  Putting lights on timers is a good idea so you don’t have to worry which lights are on and which are not.  A buyer does not want to walk into a dark home — not to mention the liability you have to provide a safe place to walk.
• Pack the personal items.  Family photographs, children's artwork, and religious or ethnic decorations make it difficult for potential buyers to see the space as their own. Move your  personal items out of sight.  Potential buyers also don’t need to see the seller’s prescription medications, toothbrush, or socks (etc.)  hanging out to dry.
• Accentuate closet space. In older homes, small closets are a common challenge. They’ll look bigger if they’re organized, clothing hung neatly and not stuffed to the gills. A buyer should be able to look into a closet and be able to visualize placing his or her belongings into it.  Box up non-essential items and store them. 
• If there is too much furniture, remove/store some of the furnishings to create more space.
• Clutter will make your home look smaller and less desirable.  Don't leave anything on the floor that is not meant to be there (for example, no stacks of books, etc.)  If you don't get a head start on cleaning and packing, there's a chance buyers will instead focus on the cluttered kitchen, shelves and the family photos.  Remove almost everything from the tops of tables, counters and everywhere else.  Keep the buyer focused on the room and not your personal belongings. 

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