ForeclosuresMass - ForeclosuresMass Monthly - Feature Article - Enhance Your Property's Value and Charm

Real estate staging, or home staging, is the art of preparing a home for market to give the best possible first impression to potential buyers, resulting in a quicker sale and usually a higher profit. Staging creates an inviting atmosphere for buyers and enables them to picture themselves living in that home.

If you're a real estate investor selling a property, you may think you can forego staging - especially after spending thousands of dollars in renovations. This is a huge mistake. Why? Not staging a property is akin to a Hollywood actress wearing the most beautiful designer dress to the Academy Awards - but forgetting to do her hair. No matter how stunning the dress (your property), people will only remember the hair (your property's imperfections).

Yes, you have invested your hard earned money into the property - and it looks great, especially because you know what it looked like "before." But when your buyers walk in, all they see are the flaws: the floor isn't level, the wall is not plumb, the light switch is in a weird location, the paint isn't perfect, etc.

Staging a property offers a multitude of advantages. As only 10% of the buying public can visualize a space, staging offers the other 90% of buyers a visual reference and an idea of what the room can hold. For example, using a queen-size bed in what may look like a small master bedroom will show the buyers a bed that size can indeed fit.

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Once your property is listed for sale, it becomes a marketable product with pros and cons, and of course competition. Like any other item for sale, it needs to be properly packaged to appeal to the broadest range of buyers. Staging is a marketing tool that allows you to accentuate the positive and downplay the negative - and it removes attention from the flaws and instead emphasizes a home's charm.

We have all seen model homes. The rooms are light, bright, and airy. Color schemes are generally neutral, and while the rooms are furnished, they are completely clutter free. And, most important, the model home is pristine - it looks, smells, and feels new, fresh, and clean.

Model homes are staged this way because real estate agents know that is what helps sell the property and because simple, yet tasteful furnishings appeal to a broad range of tastes.

You may be thinking, "I can't afford to buy the type of furnishings you find in model homes." The secret? Renting! Staging professionals work with specialty rental companies designed to provide furniture and accessories to real estate investors and builders.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, turns away buyers faster than dirt and grime. Even if you have renovated a property top to bottom, you still need to hire a professional cleaning service to clean everything - including the walls, floors, lights, inside of cabinets, windows, etc.

Most importantly, make sure the bathroom and kitchens are spotless. Chrome, stainless, brass, and glass should sparkle. Shower doors need to be clean and streak-free and fixtures should be free of water spots, rust, and hard water deposits.

Look for cobwebs high up in the corners, dust on top of door and window frames, and gunk lurking in the back corners of deep cabinets or closets. Electric outlet and switch covers need to be grime-free. If the outlets themselves are old and dirty, replace them.

Windows should be cleaned inside and out and should also be streak free. Window treatments, such as mini-blinds, should be absolutely dust-free. If necessary, replace dirty or worn shades and blinds. Make sure to open the windows and ensure dead bugs and dirt are not lurking at the window's bottom.

Potential home buyers will rely on their senses just as much as they do their hearts to make the decision to buy. Here are a few things you can do:

SIGHT: Let in as much light as possible by opening all curtains and blinds (unless the view is unsightly). Turn on every single light (no matter the time of day) to make the space feel more open and lived in. Replace light bulbs if necessary. Make sure the property is spotless (as stated above) and ensure driveways, walkways and paths are clear and free from debris and obstacles. Place a new welcome mat at the front door.

SMELL: Before showing a property, arrive early and open all the windows and doors in order to get fresh air moving through. If you have done renovations, you don't want buyers overwhelmed by paint or other fumes. Placing freshly cut flowers in the main rooms of the property will provide a beautiful visual and a pleasant scent.

TOUCH: Place clean, fresh towels in bathrooms and kitchen and make sure all surfaces the potential buyer will touch are sparkling clean and grime free: i.e. doorknobs, counters, hand rails, light switches, etc.

SOUND: Play easy listening or classical music at a low volume throughout the house. If the weather permits, and it's the right season, leave the windows open to allow buyers to hear the birds.

TASTE: Bake pre-made cookies before any showing or open house, and then leave them sitting on a plate for potential buyers. They will not only love the smell, but will appreciate the welcoming gesture.

4. Stage your property from curb to closets (and don't forget the back yard!).

Remember, people's first impression begins at the curb, so ensure that the outside of your property is just as pristine as the inside. The front yard should be perfectly manicured and fresh/colorful plantings added (pending the right time of year). Add pots of flowers at the front door, hang a seasonal wreath on the door, replace the worn welcome mat with a new one, and make sure the storm door glass is 100% smudge and fingerprint free! Also ensure the front door is welcoming and is freshly painted and clean.

If the property has a deck, rent patio furniture to give people an idea of what it's like to relax in the yard. Decks are a huge selling feature, so furniture, cushions, flowers, etc. will play up this extra "room." You'll also want to ensure the yard is freshly mowed and all trash removed.

If the property you're selling is not empty, you'll have to work a bit harder to stage it properly, although the rules are still the same, i.e., ensure the house is thoroughly cleaned top to bottom.

You want to remove all personal effects and clutter. This means you must remove clothes from closets in order to create the illusion of more storage space. If too many things are in the closet the buyer will think they can not fit their clothing. Pack up and remove all collections, including photos, sports memorabilia, figurines etc. In short, you want to remove all items that would give the prospective buyers the feeling they have walked into someone else's home.

In addition, if you have pets, have them stay somewhere else while the property is listed for sale or at the very least remove them whenever you have a showing. If rugs or carpeting has been damaged by animals, have them removed, or at the very least, professionally cleaned. Again, open all windows before a buyer comes through in order to remove all pet smells, vacuum up all pet hair, and dust. You'll also want to ditch the cat box in the garage (hide it in a bag or box). Even if the buyer is a pet lover, no one wants to walk into a house and smell Spot.

While staging sounds like a lot of work, the result is worth it. The ultimate goal of staging is make the buyers fall in love with your property with every step in and around the house - ensuring a quick and profitable sale. Should home staging be too much work or too time consuming, simply hire a certified home stager.

Erin Rhindress is the Principal Designer and Owner of Interiors by ELR Designs which specializes in real estate staging. Erin, who is based in Longmeadow, MA, can be reached by phone at 413-567-2415. For free advice and tips on how to stage your property, visit www.elrdesigns.com.