Credit for this article 

First of all, I have to thank my colleague Sandy Scanlon for her technical
expertise and cooperation with this article. Sandy is a Staging Professional
and my source for prepping houses for sale.

Why Consider Staging?

Every accomplished agent can get a house show-ready and can present it in it’s
best light but sometimes unusual circumstances, or the need for a quick sale,
necessitate hiring an expert who has studied layout, design, and consumer
behavior to turn the house it is into the house that will sell.

Furthermore, in this market where there is a great deal of competition for the buyer’s attention,
staging gives the home seller the opportunity to “stand out among his or her competition resulting in a higher offer.”

“It is important to remember,” Ms. Scanlon said “even though it will cost you a little money (to have a professional stage your home) prepared homes result in an industry average 17% higher home value. “ 

With this in mind, however, you don’t want to overspend.  For instance, you wouldn’t want to remodel a kitchen for $30K knowing that the neighborhood market would not bear that increase.
Instead just consider painting and replacing the hardware on the cabinets and doing smaller things to improve appearance, lighting etc.

What does a stager do?

Ms. Scanlon offers two levels of service, consultant and practitioner - or as she puts it she can tell you what you need to do or she can do it for you.

• Often times once a home seller gets the consultation and realizes the work that has to be done they end up hiring the stager to implement as well.One key to bringing in a staging professional is that the stager sees with a fresh perspective the home you have been looking at and living in for some time. The first thing Ms. Scanlon does is measure curb appeal. What does the buyer see, feel, experience as they approach the house.  “If the outside of the house is not maintained, what must the inside look like?  So consequently, they
  continue to ride-on-buy without ever looking inside,” says Ms Scanlon.First the curb appeal

  Cut the grass, trim the hedges, remove anything dead, give consideration to scaling back foundation plantings, powerwash the walk, clean the curb and street area, remove crabgrass coming up in cracks. Then you can move on to setting a welcoming entryway.

  Your front door is what I like to call the “Gateway to home ownership”.  This front entrance should be attractive and appealing.  The color of the door, the style of exterior lighting and accessories, and the hardware all introduce your visitors and set the tone for what they will see inside.

  And now for the house…

  “Each room has to be addressed individually with the purpose and layout of the room in mind,” reports Ms. Scanlon “but there are some basic points for sellersto keep in mind.”

  Basics for the home.
  

• Remove your valuables and collectibles. Many people will come through your house and valuables can be stolen.
• Minimize! Remove excess furniture. If you have to, contract a storage unit or rent a portable storage unit.
• Lighting- a well lit home shows very well.
• Ms. Scanlon says she cannot stress enought the importance of “clean, clean, clean and clean!”

Eliminate unnecessary clutter, including closets.

Interior Colors

Consider color - while statement colors can be the envy of your neighbors and create great spaces in your home they can be off-putting to potential buyers. Buyers will stop short when they realize their furniture will clash with the color or, even worse, they will be unable to see them living there because they would not have used that color.

On the other hand, the days of white, off-white and egg shell walls are over! Don’t be afraid to introduce tone and color but do so with a neutral palette.

Furniture

Next, consider furniture placement. Use the placement to commmunicate comfort. Buyers should feel as though they could relax there. Avoid the cold four-square layout centering on a sofa against a wall. “Furniture lined up against a wall
looks unbalanced and as though their has been a “stick-up!” Ms. Scanlon jokes.

Give additional attention to balance and proportion. Overstuffed couches and chairs in small spaces are all-consuming. Too many pillows take away from spaciousness.  In small rooms use small pieces that blend into one another - it creates a larger visual appeal.  Buyer’s want space. In larger rooms you can afford to use a more ecclectic style with varying pieces.

Other considerations

Buyer’s want to see themselves living in your home.  Set the dining room table with placemats, chargers and dinnerware and glassware.  Try to create a simple but elegant atmosphere.  A place to relax after a long hard day of work, a time to enjoy with family.

Finally, complete all the work you are going to do before you start showing the house. “If you are working in your home and showing it at the same time, buyers are not able to visualize what the finished product will be. You may get lower offers or none at all.  ” Ms. Scanlon warns.

 Note: For more information about staging or to hire Sandy Scanlon call her at 401-595-4555.