LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Putting your Home at Centre Stage

So you’ve decided to list your home. Maybe you’re downsizing and don’t need as much room as you did. Or your family has outgrown its space. Perhaps you’re moving because of a job transfer, or simply because you need a change.

Whatever the reason, selling your home is a big step – and as with all major life decisions, proper preparation is crucial. This is where home staging comes in.

“Staging” a residence means getting it ready to display to prospective purchasers. The reason for staging is to make a home  as visually pleasing as possible  in order to attract offers to purchase. The end goal: a fast sale for a good price.

There’s a distinction to be made here. Staging a home is not the same as decorating a home. To understand the difference, take a moment to read this article by Charlotte Skiba of Charlotte Interiors.

So how does a seller go about preparing a home for market? Here’s a checklist to help get the process started:

CLEAN:

A clean, bright kitchen (here at 14 Amirault Court) is a sign of a well-kept home.

 

• Clean your home from top to bottom, including windows, carpets and baseboards. Consider hiring a professional cleaner such as Lynn King to lend a hand – an entire residence is a big task!
• Have chimney and furnace professionally cleaned and inspected.
• Clean the air. Stale cigarette smoke is a potential deal breaker. Ditto for the smells that our furry family members can create. This helpful article sets out the house showing rules on pets.

DECLUTTER:

Clean lines and uncluttered surfaces at 1454 Dresden Row #303

 

• Pack what you need, purge what you don’t, using the 50% rule in closets.
• Clean out cupboards, cabinets, shelves and drawers, leaving lots of space – the 50% rule applies here too. By the way, Prep Home Staging‘s blog offers some fresh ideas on how to  style a bookcase.
• Edit your furniture and small appliances in each room. Remember, less is more – you want to create a feeling of space, so keep only what’s necessary and makes sense based on the intended function of each room. Many professional stagers such as WOW Home Staging carry an inventory of furniture and accessories for rent if you need to supplement what you’ve already got.
• Consider a storage locker rental if you have an overflow of items that you absolutely cannot part with, especially if your plans include moving to more spacious accommodations.

COMPLETE SMALL REPAIRS AND TOUCH-UPS:

Pristine tiles speak well for this listing at 62 Lawlor Crescent.

 

• Re-caulk bathrooms.
• Repair leaky faucets.
• Oil squeaky hinges.
• Repair or replace anything cracked or chipped (ceramic, glass, stone, brick).
• Thinking about removing or replacing worn carpeting? Now’s the time!

UPDATE:

A neutral palette with pops of colour at 45 Vimy Avenue #18

 

• Neutralize your home’s interior palette. The spicy red that you adore may be a turn-off to a potential buyer with more conservative tastes.
• Upgrade dated light fixtures and window treatments.
• Add to accentuate only when necessary, according to Joanne Abrahams of Rave Review Home Staging & Redesign.
• Paint! One coat goes a long way. Staged for Upsell offers these tips on painting your home so it sells.

ARRANGE THE FURNITURE:

A feeling of air and flow between living spaces at 2107 Poplar Street, courtesy of Rave Review Home Staging & Redesign.

 

• Arrange the furniture so that visitors experience a feeling of air and flow within each space and between rooms.
• Create sight lines that draw the eye to features you want noticed.
• Ensure each room offers the visitor an attractive scene that they can picture themselves in.
• Use accessories sparingly, to create atmosphere. Here too, less is more!
• Take a minute to read Revive Home Staging‘s excellent blog on arranging furniture to its maximum effect.

BOOST CURB APPEAL:

A bright red front door offers visitors a cheerful welcome at 5503 Atlantic Street.

 

• Mow lawn/shovel walks, steps and driveway.
• Trim shrubbery.
• Weed and mulch all plant beds.
• Consider landscaping with fresh gardens.
• Add pots of flowers, if and where appropriate.
• More paint! Tip: A bright, freshly painted front door is very welcoming (especially a RED one!)

LOOK IT OVER:

The whole picture: cohesion and harmony at 5959 Spring Garden Road #1207

 

• Inspect your property with an objective eye – maybe ask a friend to do it.
• An experienced REALTOR® can also give you valuable feedback in this area.
• This may be a good time to enlist the services of a professional Home Stager who will apply their expertise to ensure your home puts its best face forward.

Major life changes are always stressful and believe it or not, strategic home staging can help you feel more in control of the entire home selling process. Just take it one step at a time and don’t be afraid to enlist outside help. Organizer Andrea Josey (Happy 2 Organize) illustrates this point in her blog posting, “Preparing to Downsize or Move“.

Remember, you have 30 seconds to make a first impression – and so does your home.

*Opening Image: 7285 Highway 329, East River Point, Lunenburg County

***

Red Door Realty is a full service real estate company that exists to serve residential, multi-family, and commercial clients. To view more of our current listings, click here.