There seems to be an increased number of For Sale signs recently. Summer appears to be a popular time to contemplate changing your digs. Perhaps it’s because school is out, the children are going off to college, moving out, it’s time to downsize, or the economy is still a black cloud overhead. Whatever the reason, Cora Sue Anthony, host of Real Estate Intervention, offers advice on buying, staging, and selling on HGTV.
Selling and Staging: Expect people to snoop! The two biggest turnoffs for buyers are clutter and bad odors. People like to see that you’ve been able to fit all your things and there’s room left over. Don’t use plug-ins to mask odors. They may be irritating to some people. Put away your personal pictures which could be distracting. Use objects that will appeal to anyone instead; a stack of books, a cluster of candles, a bowl of fruit and you can never go wrong with fresh flowers. Some of the little niceties that owners often overlook are fresh soap and towels in the bathrooms, clean dish towels and pot holders in the kitchen, and a new doormat is always welcoming. Cora Sue’s staging secrets include: put away all fragile items that might break, get rid of any signs of pets, remove safety hazards like small area rugs or runners and my favorite-scent the lawn with cedar or pine mulch to shrubs and flower beds. Lastly and most important ALWAYS leave your home during an open house or a showing.
Here are Cora Sue’s tips for buyers (and for owners to keep in mind). Anything that’s part of the house is fair game to be looked at — the attic, garage, closets, cabinets, appliances included in the sale. Medicine cabinets, desks, dressers and nightstands should be off-limits (but often are not). Always ask why the owner is selling. Inquire about what repairs have been made. This could be helpful information for negotiating a price.
The following are some suggestions for how Casart temporary and reusable wallcovering could be used for staging. A little will go a long way to sprucing up an entry hall or a powder room and you can take it with you when you sell as well as enjoy your new decor in the interim. Look at your stairs. Depending on their location, they may be the first thing a potential buyer sees when they walk into the house. Do they look just ho hum? Are you seeing scuff marks on the risers? Consider Casart stair risers.
If there isn’t a backsplash in the kitchen, try our faux glass mosaic tile printed on either the standard color or if you love the color of the wall and want the color to show through as the “grout” and it’s a light color, then select Casart Clear.
Create a memory point — something that will positively stand out so a potential buyer will remember your home as being different. Faux Glass Mosaic Tile wallcovering doesn’t just have to be used as a backsplash; it can be used a full wall treatment, giving your place that wow factor. And everyone will be happy to learn that the wallcovering can be removed easily if one chooses. Actually, a stager can even use at another property or the homeowner can even take it with them when they move. You can’t do that with real tile!
When staging your home, keeping Cora Sue Anthony’s quote in mind will help,”Remember, the way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two different things.”
In fact, it is about marketing and showing off your home in it’s best light to others.
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