|
Staging even more important in competitive
home sales market
If you are planning on selling your home this year,
there are a few things you should know about this year's
real estate market. Since half of my interior decorating
business involves home staging, I keep up with trends
in real estate. According to the newspapers and what
I hear from my colleagues in the real estate industry,
this year is predicted to be a more normalized market
between buyers and sellers. Sellers should be aware
that homes may stay on the market a few weeks longer
than was typical last year and that competitive pricing
will be extremely important. On the bright side for
sellers, however, experts are still predicting about
8-10% price increases in the price of homes over last
year.
This year, sellers will have to be even more diligent
in getting their homes ready to sell. To increase your
likelihood for a fast, profitable sale in this kind
of market, make sure your home looks great and is in
excellent condition. According to a recent article
in the Argus (Bond craziness impacts borrowers, January
3, 2006), "Now, the process of staging an open
house becomes more important and sellers have to make
sure homes are cleared of clutter and not in need of
major repairs."
Since you will be competing with many other homes-
new developments as well as homes in your own neighborhood--
you will want your home to stand out from the crowd.
Based on my experiences as a home stager, I've listed
below three mistakes I see sellers making and how to
correct them.
Mistake #1: Selling a home "as
is"
While there may be a few buyers out there who want
a fixer-upper, most buyers really do want a home
in move-in condition. Of course this means that you
should make any needed repairs, but it also means
you should spend some time and energy updating fixtures,
flooring and paint colors. Remember, you want your
home to look better than the home selling down the
street.
Mistake #2: Not clearing the clutter
I've said this in my columns many times-- clutter can
wreak havoc on even the most beautiful of homes.
Put yourself in the buyer's shoes-- would you want
to walk into a home and see someone else's paperwork,
junk mail, laundry and 35 pairs of shoes? Remove
the clutter, remove most of your personal items,
and neutralize the interior. Buyers will open cupboards
and closets, so spend some time tidying those up
as well.
Mistake #3: Clearing out too much
Sometimes people go overboard and clear too many of
their belongings. Vacant homes look cold and uninviting;
furnished rooms with no artwork or accessories lack
personality and warmth. Decorative touches like artwork,
green plants and candles are really important to
help create an appealing home environment. If you
have a talent for decorating, you can prepare your
own home for sale. If not, a good home stager can
help create a home that buyers will love.
This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper
Group papers on Jan. 21, 2006.
Go
back to the list of decorating columns.
All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna
Jacoby.
|
