Marketing Your Home

It is necessary to look at your home from the eyes of a prospective buyer to determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and thrown out. If you were the buyer what would you want to see? The objective being to show a home which looks good, maximizes space and attracts as many buyers as possible. The general rule in real estate is that buyers want to purchase the least expensive home in the best neighborhood they can afford. Therefore, improvements should be made which fit the overall neighborhood but does not over improve the property since large capital investments in home improvement projects are not totally recovered from the sale of the house.

Many Sellers are turning to Professional Home Staging Services to assist in pre-sales activities and home staging activities to more effectively market their home. The data for the following Home Staging Projects was extracted from a larger survey of home improvement and home repair projects identified in HomeGain's 2007 national survey which was based on ten areas of home improvement identified by real estate agents in HomeGain's original 2003 survey.

Home Staging Projects:

To Lighten and Brighten typically costs home owners between $233 and $370 and nets a sales gain of $1,278 to $1,566 or a 355 percent return on investment.

To Clean and De-clutter a home typically averages between $190 and $318 resulting in a 578 percent return on investment and yields a sales price increase between $1,505 and $1,937.

Landscaping expenditures typically range between $378 and $546 with a resulting sales price increase between $1,718 and $2,158 or a 319 percent return on investment.

To Stage a Home for Sale typically runs between $403 and $584 resulting in a sales price gain of $1,938 to $2,431 or a 343 percent return on investment.

The most important point to keep in mind is that staged homes almost always sell faster and for more money than non-staged homes!

Let Your Home "Smile a Welcome" to Potential Buyers

Maximize Exterior or "Curb Appeal"

The front door greets the prospective buyer. Make sure it is fresh, clean and scrubbed looking.
Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Season permitting, consider planting a few flowers.
Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling and have repaired.
Repair and repaint peeling paint around doors and windows if needed, clean and align gutters, inspect and clean the chimney, repair and repaint loose siding and caulking and keep your garage door closed.

Maximize Interior Appeal

Decorate for a Quick Sale. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal. You can't find a better investment, when you're selling a house than a little putty and a few cans of paint to brighten up its interior. A quicker sale at a higher price will result.
Let the Sun Shine In. Open the draperies and curtains and let the prospect see how cheerful your home can be. Dark rooms are not appealing!
Fix That Faucet. Dripping water discolors sink and suggest faulty plumbing.
Repairs Can make a Big Difference. Loose knobs, sticking and squeaking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, and other minor flaws detract from a home's value. Have them fixed. Many buyers believe there are 10 problems they haven’t noticed for everyone they do see.
From Top To Bottom. Display the full value of your attic and other utility space by removing all unnecessary articles. Short term, off-site storage areas are relatively inexpensive.
Safety First. Keep stairways clear. Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries.
Make Closets Look Bigger. Neat, well-ordered closets show that space is ample. A little money spent on closet organizers reaps large returns.
Bathrooms Help Sell Homes. Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers. Make this room sparkle!
Arrange Bedrooms Neatly. Remove excess furniture. Use attractive bedspreads and freshly laundered curtains.
Harmonize the Elements. Turn FM radio or stereo on softly. TV off. All lights on, day or night. Drapes open in the daytime, closed at night. If it's hot, cool it; if it's cold, light a fire.
You Can Sell Pride of Ownership Faster and For More Money. It's called cleanliness, and cleanliness has more buyers than used dirt. Put sparkle in your bathrooms and kitchen. For owners who are busy elsewhere, hiring a professional cleaning service once every few weeks can be a good investment while the house is on the market. A list of cleaning services, pricing and scheduling information is available on-line at the Residential and Commercial Cleaning service website.

When Any Agent Shows Your Home

Avoid having too many people during inspections. The potential buyer will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house. Objections that can be overcome by a professional will not be forthcoming when the seller is present.
Music is mellow but not when showing a house. Turn off the blaring radio or TV. Let the sales person and buyer talk, free of disturbances. Background soft playing music is okay.
Keep pets out of the way – preferably out of the house. Many people are acutely uncomfortable around some animals.
Be courteous but don't force conversation with the potential buyer. He wants to inspect your home, not pay a social call.
Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all, it has been lived in. Let the trained salesperson answer any objections. This is their job.
Never stay in your house with house hunters. Let the agent handle it, and remove yourself if you possibly can.