From Foxnews.com:
If you are planning to put your house on the market this summer, it goes without saying that you are hoping to sell your home as quickly as possible and get your asking price. Set the stage for success with these 21 tips for styling and upgrading your home, and see results — fast.
1. Boost curb appeal.
This is something you always hear, and with very good reason. Many people thinking of touring your home will do a quick drive-by first, often deciding on the spot if it is even worth a look inside. Make sure your home is ready to lure in onlookers with these tips:
- Power wash siding and walkways
- Hang easy-to-read house numbers
- Plant blooming flowers and fresh greenery
- Mow lawn, and reseed or add fresh sod as needed
- Wash front windows
- Repaint or stain the porch floor as needed
2. Welcome visitors with an inviting porch.
Even if you have only a tiny stoop, make it say “welcome home” with a clean doormat, potted plants in bloom and — if you have room — one or two pieces of neat porch furniture.
Keep your porch lights on in the evenings, in case potential buyers drive by.
Illuminating the front walk with solar lights is a nice extra touch, especially if you will be showing the house during the evening.
3. Get your house sparkling clean.
From shining floors and gleaming windows to clean counters and scrubbed grout, every surface should sparkle.
This is the easiest (well, maybe not easiest, but certainly the cheapest) way to help your home put its best foot forward.
You may want to hire pros to do some of the really tough stuff, especially if you have a large house.
Don’t skimp — this step is key!
4. Clear away all clutter.
If you are serious about staging your home, all clutter must go, end of story.
It’s not easy, and it may even require utilizing offsite storage (or a nice relative’s garage) temporarily, but it is well worth the trouble.
Clean and clear surfaces, floors, cupboards, and closets equal more space in the eyes of potential buyers, so purge anything unnecessary or unsightly.
But it’s my style! Guess what? It may not be the style of those seeking to buy a house in your neighborhood. So even if you have an awesome vintage-chic look going on, rein it in for the sake of appealing to the most number of people. You can bring your personal style back into play in your new home.
5. Strike a balance between clean and lived-in.
Yes, I know I just said to get rid of all your clutter (and you deserve a big pat on the back if you did it), but now it’s time to judiciously bring back a few elements that will really make your home appealing.
Think vases of cut flowers, a basket of fresh farmer’s market produce on the kitchen counter, or a bowl of lemons beside the sink.
6. Style your dining room table.
The dining room is often a blind spot in decorating the home.
Between dinners, a large dining table can look bare and uninviting, so styling it up with visitors in mind can increase the appeal.
An oversize arrangement can look too stiff and formal, so try lining up a series of smaller vessels down the center of the table instead.
7. Take a good look at your floors.
At the bare minimum, give all floors a thorough cleaning (and steam clean carpets), but consider having wood floors refinished if they are in poor shape.
If you don’t want to invest in refinishing floors, the strategic placement of area rugs can go a long way.
8. Rearrange your furniture.
In the living room, symmetrical arrangements usually work well.
Pull your furniture off the walls and use pairs (of sofas, chairs, lamps) to create an inviting conversation area.
9. Choose sophisticated neutral colors.
Now is not the time to experiment with that “fun”-looking lime green. But that doesn’t mean you need to go all white, either.
Rich midtone neutrals like mocha and “greige” create a sophisticated backdrop that makes everything look more pulled together.
10. Create a gender-neutral master bedroom.
Appeal to everyone with a clean, tailored master bedroom, free of personal items, and clutter. You can’t go wrong with clean, crisp linens, tasteful artwork and a blanket folded at the foot of the bed.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/07/29/21-staging-tips-for-selling-your-home-fast/#ixzz2cWUNzx6M
When you’re ready to list, make sure you contact the Kendle Real Estate Team in New Albany and ask about our 1% listing fee.