LESS IS MORE

Prospective buyers want to visualize themselves and their furniture in your home. If you have too much stuff and too much furniture of your own, it is difficult for people to see your home as their own. On the other extreme, you don't want to make the home look vacant.

LIGHT & AIRY

Neutral colors are almost always the right choice. The goal is to make your home appealing to the widest audience. Light colors work well. Some may really like them, and those who don't, can usually see beyond them. Either way, neutral colors won't detract from the home in the way a canary yellow kitchen might.

DE-PERSONALIZE

Put away the family photos and anything of a personal nature. Again, prospective buyers want to be able to see themselves living in your home.

LANDSCAPING AND CURB APPEAL

Many prospects will drive by a home and do an exterior visual inspection before actually making an appointment to see what it's like on the inside. Making your home look good from the outside is imperative to getting more prospects through the door. More prospects typically means more money. Clean up the outside, mow and re-seed the lawn if necessary, trim the bushes, sweep off the walk and driveway, paint the garage doors if necessary and clean the windows. A first impression is worth lots and it all starts at the front curb.

CLEAN. THEN CLEAN SOME MORE.

Whether you're selling a $150,000 studio apartment or a $1,500,000 estate, your home must be spotless. If you don't wish to clean every nook and cranny yourself, hire professionals. This is money well spent.

IN SOME CASES, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL STAGER

For less expensive homes a staging consultation may be all you need. A staging professional can provide some easy solutions that will help make your home appeal to a broader audience. Tips may include re-arranging furniture or changing the paint color in a room.

If you have a more expensive home, a professional stager who brings in specific furniture and does a more thorough makeover may be the wise choice to set your home apart and maximize profit.

<< Back to Tools & Tips