Take the time to stage your house for a better sale.

There are plenty of things to think about when you’re getting ready to sell your house, that’s for sure.  You may be doing some fixing up – painting, cleaning carpets, trimming the bushes, and such.

These days, there’s a lot of talk about “staging” a house for sale.  This goes beyond the usual recommendation that you remove clutter from the house.  Staging can involve removing or rearranging furniture, carefully arranging plants and accessories for a pleasing grouping, or making sure the smell of fresh-baked apple pie wafts through the house.  Staging is about getting people emotionally involved with the house, helping them see themselves in that house, and feeling happy to be there.

There are many levels of staging.  Some of it you can certainly do yourself with the help and advice of an experienced Realtor®.  There are obvious things like turning on all the lights when the house is shown to make it as bright and open looking as possible. Some green plants and carefully placed books on tables make a nice, serene setting.  Before showing you can simmer some orange rind and cinnamon sticks on the stove for a cozy scent, but don’t overuse deodorizing sprays. Ask your Realtor for suggestions on how to make your home as attractive as possible.

This trend has given rise to a new group of professional home stagers.  They make the point that staged homes can sell for higher prices, and it’s worth thinking about if you have a high-end home to sell.  You might also want to consider it if you’ve already moved and the house is empty.  It’s not free, but you may make up the cost in a better contract. 

Always remember that people buy the house as they see it.  Make sure you set your stage so buyers can see themselves living there.

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