Preparing your house for selling can be a daunting and overwhelming task whether you have lived in your home a few years or many. The longer you have lived in your home the more things you will have acquired. The intent of this Top 10 Tips for Successful Home Staging is to help you save TIME, MONEY and ENERGY.

In preparing your house for selling, you need to take a step back and have the mindset that this is no longer your home, but your investment for your future. You want your home to have broad buyer appeal to your target market. Following these 10 Tips for Successful Home Staging will help you sell your house sooner and possibly for more money than if you did not prepare it for selling! Remember most people want to move into their new home without having to make updates to it.

1. Curb Appeal

Stand back and view your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. This is the ‘first impression’ stage. Depending on the season, you may want to have lots of colourful and attractive flowers to greet buyers; a clean and inviting doormat; new and shiny door handles and/or knockers; a freshly painted door.

2. Declutter

Start your pre-pack as soon as possible. You need to decide what you are going to keep, give away, sell or throw away/recycle. Many clients will rent storage lockers or have pods delivered so they can start to clear out what is not going to make the house look good.

3. Clean

A clean home translates into ‘they must have really cared for their home.” Use environmentally friendly cleaners where you can, for hard cleaning areas, tsp is a good product. Bathrooms and kitchens must be sparkling clean at the very least.

4. Depersonalize

We know you love your family photos and your personal treasures and for living they are perfect. For selling pack them up carefully so you can showcase them in your new home. You want buyers to focus on the best features of your home and not your personal things or collections.

5. A neutral colour scheme is the way to go for selling.

Choose only three colours or less to paint your house for selling. If you have an open floor plan then paint the main floor all the same colour. Bedrooms look good in light sage greens or warm blues.

6. Highlight your home’s best architectural features

Place your furniture in each room so that you have very obvious focal points that show off the home’s best selling features. For example, if you have a beautiful fireplace, then place the furniture in a parallel grouping so that the eye is drawn to the fireplace.

7. Decide on the function in each room

If you were using your guest bedroom as your living room, turn it back into a bedroom with bedroom furniture in it. If you do not have the right furniture for each room, consider renting or borrowing it. There are more and more rental furnishing companies opening up every day.

8. Lighting your home to its best advantage

Spend money on new light fixtures in brushed nickel or stainless steel. There are many low-cost lighting stores to select from so no excuses for having dated light fixtures.

9. Window treatments that sell your home

The most popular on the market are the 2” faux wood in a white tone to go with your trim. Decorative side panels will do the trick if you need to add warmth and colour.

10. Flooring needs special attention and is a good investment for updating the look of your home

For entranceways, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, tile or linoleum is a great choice. As for living rooms and family rooms, a good quality laminate or hardwood is perfect. Consider a neutral carpet to make your bedrooms attractive.

By planning and budgeting, you can get yourself to the “OPEN HOUSE READY” stage.

Remember that the vast majority of prospective buyers have already looked at your listing on the internet. Will they like what they see?

Happy Selling!

Every year, hundreds of thousands of homes of every style, shape, and size are bought and sold across this country. In spite of all the differences, many of them have one very important thing in common: a RE/MAX professional who is the driving force behind the transaction. RE/MAX agents buy and sell more homes in your area than anybody else.

When you choose RE/MAX, you are choosing the combined experience we have gained from every deal we’ve completed. This experience and expertise ensures that you get the best possible price.

RE/MAX has done extensive research with homeowners, to better understand what makes them tick. This enables us to help you in many ways such as knowing that your preferences are invaluable when it comes to finding that perfect home.

As a homeowner, you are likely to re-sell at some point and should consider the benefits of the neighbourhood. Remember, the choices you make regarding improvements or renovations can drastically influence your home’s market value.

LANDSCAPING

IT ALL STARTS AT THE CURB.

Everyone knows the value of a first impression, and RE/MAX has learned that landscaping the front and backyard of your home will give you a 7% better return on your renovating dollar over the average return on other popular renovations you might consider.

Increasing your curb appeal can be as simple as adding containers of brightly coloured flowers. Another idea would be to add a low maintenance garden for blocks of colour and texture. Also, consider a simple water fixture in the backyard to add ambiance.

KITCHEN

THE KITCHEN IS THE HUB

Ever wonder why “kitchen parties” naturally occur every time you have guests?

Well, it’s because the kitchen is the hub of every home. It’s where we get nourishment, refreshment, gather and regroup after a busy day. It is a room with real value for every family. Kitchen upgrades can really deliver, with a 44% higher return on investment over the average return on other popular renovations you might consider.

Whether you’re working with a contemporary kitchen or more of a country feel, stainless steel appliances continue to hold a lot of interest. In cabinetry, look at fine-grained maple, stained or natural, over the traditional heavy oak look of the past. Laminates and marble are great choices for countertops, but granite continues to be the most popular surface of all. Check out the latest fixtures in today’s new, brushed nickel finishes.

FIREPLACE

REKINDLE YOUR PASSION FOR LIVING

Nothing beats the feeling of curling up around a fire on a cold winter’s night. Not to mention the comforting feeling of hearth and home that a fireplace adds to a room.

The RE/MAX Return on Reno Index will tell you that installing or upgrading the fireplace in your home will generate 11% greater return on investment than the average return on other popular renovations you might consider.

Gas fireplaces have made huge advances in popularity thanks to recent increases in efficiency as well as advances in design. A gas fireplace delivers the best of both worlds: all the comfort without the mess and maintenance.

BATHROOMS

DISAPPEAR IN YOUR PERSONAL SPA

Today’s stress-filled world leaves us all craving rest and relaxation. Bathroom improvements can generate a 56% better return on investment than the average renovation.

The goal should be to create a spa-like environment in your bathroom. This can be achieved by installing a soaker tub with relaxing jets, or perhaps a new steam shower stall.

FLOORS

GREAT IDEAS UNDERFOOT

Great looking floors are a strong feature of any home. It often makes all the difference. With RE/MAX, we’ll show you how this upgrade can generate a 22% better return on investment than the average.

Start by ripping outdated wall-to-wall carpet and refinish your existing floors, or choose one of the many easy-to-install and affordable laminates now available. A darker stain gives an elegant, yet up to date look. Use area rugs to accent and ground the space.

Ready To Sell Your Home And Move On? RE/MAX Can Help!

RE/MAX agents have the expertise and resources you need to help you sell your home quickly and successfully. It all begins long before you open your home to showings. You need to see your home as a prospective buyer. To do that, you need to look at both the inside and outside with a fresh perspective. If you follow these simple steps, you will be helping to set the stage for a property that shows great potential to buyers.

Letting Go Of Clutter

When prospective buyers walk through your home, they tend to imagine it as if it were their own. You can help them envision their dream space by presenting a clean, clutter-free environment.

Here’s How…

New Perspective

Bring a friend, a RE/MAX professional agent or home stager to help point out overlooked problem areas of clutter. When you live in a space, you get used to it and don’t see what others see. Trust their advice.

Remove Personal Items

Put away family photos, souvenirs, knick-knacks, and personal items. These items are special to you, but the prospective buyer wants to envision their own personal items in your space. So, help them out.

Clean, Clear Surfaces

Clear off counters, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, storing away small appliances and miscellaneous personal items. Scrub down the surfaces and perhaps even put out a bouquet of flowers.

Create Ease of Movement

Remove and store extra furniture to create open areas that promote easy foot traffic through your home.

Show Off Storage Space

Clear out closets, basements, and garages as prospective buyers are always on the lookout for ample storage space. Now is a good time to box up unworn clothes, toys and personal items for storage or charity.

Quick Fixes And TLC

Potential buyers will be looking for visual clues that your home is well cared for. How much work a house seems to require will impact the offering prices you receive, so it’s worthwhile to ensure that everything is in good working order.

Here’s A Quick Checklist…

Bathrooms

Ensure all plumbing fixtures are clean and in good working order. Outfit leaky faucets with new washers and clean any visible stains on porcelain fixtures. Replace old, worn shower curtains and bath mats.

Doors and Windows

Spray WD40 on all hinges so everything operates smoothly. Have windows cleaned inside and out. Potential buyers will be estimating their energy costs, so fix drafts by re-caulking windows and replace exterior doors if necessary.

Walls and Floors

A fresh coat of paint instantly transforms a space, helping it to look neat, clean, and up-to-date. Always fix obvious wall imperfections like cracks and nail holes, before painting. Steam clean carpets and runners, and repair any chipped or loose floor tiles.

Atmosphere

Be mindful of the odours left behind by pets and smokers and consider using an environmentally friendly room fragrance to neutralize unpleasant scents. Replace light bulbs and add light fixtures in dark hallways, including basements, garages, and closets.

Curb Appeal – Drive By Success!

First impressions can be everything. Many people simply drive by a listing and make a decision based on your home’s curb appeal, so don’t forget the importance of creating a well-manicured entryway to entice potential buyers. Maintaining a neat and attractive exterior to your home will show buyers that you take pride in your property.

Here Are A Few Tips…

Landscaping

Consider planting a few bushes and colourful mature flowers to create an eye-catching display. Ensure that your lawn is mowed, watered and void of brown spots.

Front Door

Look critically at your front entrance: does the door or the porch railing cry out for a fresh coat of paint? Polish the door handle and invest in a new welcome mat.

Front Porch

If it’s spring or summer, plant colourful containers to flank your entrance. If it’s autumn, rake leaves. During winter, clear the snow and ice from your walkway. Whatever the season, look closely to determine if any repairs are needed. All loose cement or rotting wood should be replaced.

Shine On

Many serious buyers will want to drive by your home after the sun goes down. Remember to ensure that all outdoor light bulbs are turned on in order to show your home in its best light.