A place for everything and everything it it's place
That's what perspective buyers want to see in your house. Home staging is more than just redecorating; it's a way to help potential buyers feel like your house could be their next home. Staging doesn't have to be expensive or overwhelming. The "3 Steps to Sold" DVD I provide to my sellers before listing their home for sale offers several simple tips on how to prepare their home to maximize sale price and minimize time on market. Here are three easy ways to lose (or disguise) the clutter in your home:
1. Is that a cow in your entry way? Hopefully that is not the case, but if your entry is not clutter free, then there may as well be a bovine greeting potential buyers. Ditch the coat rack. As handy as coat racks are in our entry or hallway, they may be sending the message to potential buyers that you don't have a coat closet or adequate storage. Put coat racks away while you're showing your home, and clean out your coat closet while you're at it (and take the cow back to the barn for showings!)
2. Manage the magazine madness! Having a few magazines around can make a home look inviting and lived in. Having a few years' worth makes you look like an eccentric pack rat! People will wonder what else you've been hoarding! Have a few inoffensive magazines (home and garden publications are good; they make you look like you care) on your coffee table or in a nice magazine rack, and box or recycle the rest of them.
3. Box up your bookshelves. When it comes to bookshelves, less is best as a general rule. If you can't see any of the wall behind a shelf, it's loaded with too much stuff. Pack up the dozens of framed photos weighing down the shelves and display a simple collection of a few baskets and art. Try painting the wall behind the shelves to help them become a focal point. If the room is lacking natural light, try putting mirrors behind the shelves to brighten up the space and make it feel larger.