Seattle Real Estate News

Here are some staging secrets for a successful sale: 

1. Research. One of the biggest mistakes home sellers make is underestimating their competition. Ask yourself. "Who will buy this house?" From here, it is important to present your home in its best possible light. Once a property is placed on the market, it is no longer your home but a product that will be compared with others on the market. 

2. Paint. If you do nothing else to your home to prepare it for sale, be sure to paint. From painting walls a neutral color to covering up marks and scuffs, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way. 

3. Repair. From re-caulking a bathroom to repairing a broken railing or step even small repairs are important. Not fixing your home's flaws can trigger a potential buyer to believe that it is in poor condition. 

4. Purge. The first step in preparing a property for sale should be to to the removal of all excess, from furniture to clothing. Now is the time to make your home feel as spacious as possible. De-cluttering is another simple way to get buyers  to focus on the bones of the house. Clearing kitchen and bathroom counter-top. Pack them in boxes and neatly stack them in corner of the garage. Anything extra should go in a small storage unit.

5. A seller may need their real estate agent's help creating a basic marketing plan. The goal is to decide who your target buyer is as in some cases this may influence the staging process. 

6. De-personalize. When a potential buyer walks into a property, it is important for them to feel that it could be their home. Packing away your personal stuff such as pictures, sports memorabilia and even religious items if one the easiest things you can to stage your house. You want to depersonalize your home because you want buyers to view it as their potential home.

7. Neutralize. Even something as simple as repainting or replacing carpeting can be a deterrent for potential buyers if it's the wrong color. Taupes and grays are ideal colors to create a neutral soothing color palette. 

8. Back to its roots. Return all rooms to their intended uses. For example, a bedroom that's being used as a home office must be staged and styled as a bedroom. 

9. Create timeline. When you place your property on the market can be critical in capturing the most amount of potential buyers. Earlier in the selling season is the best. 

10. Hire a pro. You may prefer to pass the staying of your home along to a professional. The Real Estate Stagers Association is a great place. 

11. Don't forget to beautify the exterior too. Replacing the front door and your garage doors and adding stone veneer to the exterior have the highest return on investment. A fresh coat of paint, freshening up the landscaping including adding greenery and flowers.

12. Rearrange rooms and give them purpose. Rearrange the rooms in your home and make sure each room has a distinct purpose. Tour model homes to see how the rooms are furnished.

13. Scrub and deodorize. No one wants to visit a dirty house especially prospective buyers so make sure your house is squeaky clean. Have the house professionally cleaned so that everything is spotless, windows, sliding glass door tracks, garage, basement, ceiling fans etc. You can base cookies in the over, bringing cinnamon sticks to a slow boil in a port of water or using air freshener before each showing.

14. Enhance curb appeal. Curb appeal is just as important as cleaning the inside of your house. Mow the lawn, make sure the sidewalk and driveway are free of clutter and debris and make sure the house number is easy to see. Pressure-clean your driveway and sidewalk.

Posted by Sam Kader on May 21st, 2023 9:51 PM

  1. Please open curtains and turn all lights prior to showing.
  2. Please hide all prescription drugs, valuables and firearms.
  3. Ventilate if you must but the house must be odor free.
  4. The first offering is usually the best since they are motivated. Negotiate if you dislike it but do not turn it down.
  5. Accept all requests for showing.
  6. Always consult with your real estate broker for all showings.
  7. Please maintain your house in showroom conditions at all times.
  8. You shall not have any contact with prospective buyers or their realtor.
  9. You must not be present for showings.
  10. Removed pets for showings. 

Here are seven things that might offend buyers and result in fewer offers (no matter how hot the market is):

  1. Please keep any live animals potentially dangerous animals with you and away from home during open houses (along with food bowls, litter boxes, play toys and the like).
  2. Animal-head trophies. Dead animals can be problematic because it offends too many people.
  3. Flags. Avoid controversial Nazi, flag, white supremacist flag or even Confederate flag.
  4. Sports memorabilia. Having your house decked out in your team might not offent buyers but will color the way they think about that house. Buyers do not want to walk into a house that's berating their team.
  5. Nudity. Whether it's baby pictures, artwork or pornography makes some buyers uncomfortable.
  6. Mystery rooms. Buyers want to see the whole house in its entirety that makes a locked room a big turnoff.
  7. Drugs. Even though marijuana is legal in some states, presence or evidence of use including odors in a home can deter buyers. 

Posted by Sam Kader on March 12th, 2017 3:41 PM

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