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Staging? Can I Do it Myself? Yes You Can! – BY ZINA O’CALLAGHAN

Staging

Staging is an amazing and wonderfully transforming gift!

It can make small efforts turn into big payoff – literally!

When you finally make that decision to sell your home, you have to make the decision to view your home in the Eyes of the Buyer:

1) Welcome the Buyer to their new home with:

  • an Attractive Porch Light
  • a nice New Welcome Mat
  • a cobweb-free Front Entry Door
  • Fresh Annuals in your outdoor pots
  • a scent of cleanliness in your home

2) See like a Buyer! Put on different glasses. Put on the glasses of a BUYER!

Closets and Cabinets: If your closets and cabinets are crammed with stuff, a Buyer thinks ”there is not enough space for my life in here.”

  • Minimize what is in your closets and cabinets so a potential Buyer can see the space as their space
  • Take out half of the items in EVERY closet and cabinet (pack in boxes and put them out of view)
  • Your intention is to move! So start packing and make your home appeal to the future owner. This strategy will move you toward your next goal.

Evaluate your lighting

  • Update your lighting – inside and out
  • Use the same type of light bulbs in a ceiling light fixture
  • Replace those curly unattractive light bulbs with ones that make your room look nice
  • Replace dim bulbs with lighting that makes your rooms look nice and sunny!
  • Make sure basement spaces are well lit

Neutralize the bedding in every bedroom

  • Investing in a White/Cream Duvet Cover and Matching Pillow Cases will go a long way

3) Think like a Buyer.

Who is the potential Buyer for your home? You probably have a good idea… Is it a young family starting out just as was your story? Or is it a retiree? An empty-nester? Think of what may be important to your future Buyer and plan accordingly.

4) Smell like a Buyer.

  • Hire a Professional cleaner to give your home a thorough cleaning. This includes outside and inside all kitchen and bathroom drawers and cabinets.
  • Put in a new neutral shower curtain and liner.

5) Take down all personal pictures, trophies, memorabilia.

  • You want the new owner to envision themselves in their new home, not your old home.

6) Hire a Professional Painter

Many Buyers get turned off quickly by old scuffed walls and colors that do not appeal to their taste.

  • Invest in neutralizing your walls with colors that appeal to a variety of Buyers. Your goal is for them to envision their furniture in their new home. The cost of a professional paint application far outweighs the time a home may sit on the market because some Buyers “didn’t like the bedroom/kitchen color”.

7) Remember that the first showing of your home is the photographs viewed on the internet.

  • Make sure rooms are clean and uncluttered.
  • Hire a REALTOR® who is knowledgeable and invests in properly marketing your home.

Zina O’Callaghan is a Certified Staging Consultant, Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist
a Licensed REALTOR® in Illinois and Wisconsin, and
owner of St Joseph Group powered by Keller Williams Thrive!
Contact Zina today at 847.975.9425 or Zina(at)gotoSTJOSEPH(dotted)com
for more tips on getting your home SALE READY!

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