| The buzzword today with residential real estate | | | | don't have enough storage space. Ditto closets. Budget |
| agents is staging. Staging a home can change a | | | | to keep a variety of fresh fruit in a glass bowl on the |
| homes atmosphere that appeals to homebuyers and | | | | counter. Edit family bulletin boards. Remove old curtains |
| which may bring a higher price and accelerate market | | | | and install new wood blinds on windows. |
| time. By adding small decorative touches, rearranging | | | | -Spend time on sleeping and bathing spaces. Often |
| or deleting furniture or creating vignettes a home can | | | | over looked in the frenzy to get a home on market, |
| look like a professional stager was hired. | | | | these spaces can make or break a home. Buy a set |
| Mark Nash author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a | | | | that consists of a matching bed skirt, bed spread, pillow |
| Home has seen the best and worst in home staging | | | | covers and blinds to match. Buy a new shower curtain |
| as a real estate broker in Chicago and he shares | | | | and separate liner. Wash the liner often if mold |
| some do's and don'ts for home sellers that want to try | | | | develops. Add complete sets of towels that |
| to stage their home. | | | | coordinate with your new shower curtain. Clear all |
| Do's | | | | cosmetics off vanity. If you have an over-the-toilet |
| -Pick-up recent home decorating magazines. If your | | | | cabinet consider removing and place a piece of |
| not up to speed on current decorating trends it will help | | | | artwork in its place. Remember to keep items in the |
| familiarize yourself with how interior design is being | | | | "too much information" category, out of view. If you |
| marketed. Tab pages with low-cost ideas that which | | | | have a king-size bed in a small room, you'll pay to have |
| will make your home say today. | | | | buyers over come this negative, so get rid of it now. |
| -Invite a friend or real estate agent over. A second or | | | | Clear off dresser and nightstands of excess. Make |
| third pair of eyes will help you accent the best and edit | | | | sure the bedroom receives the maximum natural light. |
| the worst in your home. Be prepared for some | | | | Install closet organizers in closets. Eliminate wall and |
| constructive criticism. You want to hear it before you | | | | door hooks for clothes. People might look under your |
| put your home on market, not as feedback from | | | | bed, no surprises please. |
| prospective buyers. Go room-by-room with a | | | | -Remember first impressions in entries. A simple consol |
| worksheet so you can take notes. Depending on how | | | | table with mirror over makes a nice entranceway. |
| much time you have available for an update or a | | | | Make sure this space is well lit day or night. Place |
| makeover, you will need to prioritize and figure out | | | | adhesive under rugs so buyers don't trip or slide. |
| what will give you the biggest return. Do this at least | | | | Don'ts |
| two months before you put your house on market. | | | | -Use inexpensive silk flowers. Nothing distracts buyers |
| -Stage a home office if you don't have one. They're | | | | more that silk flowers that are past their time, |
| not a trend; they're required for homebuyers in 2006. | | | | inappropriate for the season or thrown together. |
| Many homebuyers today work from home part or | | | | Throw them out, now. |
| full-time or want a space where they can organize | | | | -Forget to upgrade Fido's bowl. I've experienced more |
| their life and park a computer. Find an extra bedroom, | | | | unhealthy pet food bowls, watering stations and litter |
| walk-in closet or an unused corner and convert into a | | | | boxes than I care to remember. We know you love |
| home office. Make sure there is a convenient electric, | | | | your pet, but prove it to homebuyers. |
| telephone and cable supply. | | | | -Overlook window coverings. Buyers today think less |
| -Focus on living spaces. These areas are where the | | | | is more in window fashion. They want the most light |
| majority of homebuyers will spend their time. Place a | | | | and the least embellishment on windows. And no |
| side table and a floor lamp next to a comfortable chair | | | | layered treatments with sheer panels please. |
| as a reading corner. Float sofas and coffee tables | | | | -Use low wattage light bulbs. Dark, dim rooms are |
| away from walls for a designer look. Use area rugs to | | | | unappealing to homebuyers. They want to see what |
| anchor furniture groupings on bare tile and wood floors. | | | | they might buy. Replace bulbs with manufacture |
| Living spaces must have matching table lamps. | | | | recommended wattages and especially the burned out |
| Streamline family photos and place green plants in | | | | ones. The newer low-energy bulbs don't cast home or |
| room. Fireplaces should always be operable and on in | | | | people in flattering light. |
| season. Place groupings of candles and clear glass | | | | -Think that everyone loves wallpaper. No two people |
| bowls filled with natural potpourri on side and coffee | | | | have the same taste in this instant decorator finishes. If |
| tables. Substantial wicker baskets can organize | | | | it's more than three years old, take it down and paint in |
| magazines, remote controls and toys. Limit | | | | a neutral color. And wallpaper boarders are out. |
| knick-knacks to make room for staging materials. | | | | -Paint with commitment colors. If you've determined |
| -Give attention to Kitchens. Put away in a handy | | | | that you need to paint, stay away from bold or as I call |
| drawer all dish towels and rags. Reduce recipe boxes, | | | | them commitment colors. Commitment colors are |
| barrels of cooking utensils, excess-cooking machines, | | | | those buyers either love or hate. It can be difficult for |
| and cookbooks by two-thirds to open up counter | | | | buyers to overlay their style on them. As one client |
| spaces. For a quick update put new hardware on | | | | said to me " I don't live in a magazine." |
| cabinets. Find an out-of-the-way place for a portable | | | | -Think cleaning is a part of staging. Cleaning is what |
| dishwasher. Clean off everything on the refrigerator | | | | you do before staging. Everything should shimmer and |
| door. Omit throw rugs scattered around the kitchen. | | | | shine. Don't forget the windows. |
| Clean off windowsills to open up exterior views. | | | | Use these do-it-yourself tips to place your home on |
| Organize cabinets with clear containers. If you can't | | | | the stage of your local home sale theater. |
| see the back wall of a cabinet, buyers will think you | | | | |