STAGE YOUR HOME

How to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale

Potential buyers make their decision to purchase your home in the first 30 seconds upon entering. First impression is the key to selling your home fast and for top dollar.

What is your home saying to potential buyers?

Steps

1. De-Clutter, Clean, and/or Organize all rooms in the house - This should be your very 1st step.
2. Address any and all repairs that need attention. Inspect your house inside and out to search for cracks, etc. The small investment of time and money will mean a bigger return when it comes to the sale price.
3. De-Clutter, clean and organize kitchen countertops and cupboards. Countertops and shelves should not be filled with food and appliances. You want your kitchen space to appear large, clean and functional.
4. Keep the bathroom as bare as possible; never leave your personals in view when showing your home. In fact, de-personalizing your whole property is a powerful selling tip. Buyers will be more attracted to your house when they can imagine themselves living there. To make your house look lived-in without looking like anyone actually lives there, pack away into storage:
   • All family photos
   • Holiday souvenirs
   • Trophies & certificates
   • Collectible items
   • Children's artwork
   • Home Gyms that haven't been used in months
5. Ask your agent for some flyers and make sure they have details and photos of your house for prospective buyers to take away with them.
6. Know that an open house should appeal to all five of the senses:
   • Sight: Open the blinds and drapes to let in natural light. Keep clutter away and consider keeping your pet out of the home for that day.
   • Smell: Put out flowers and candles in the main rooms of the home and a colorful bowl of fruit on the dining table.
   • Taste: A hot pot of coffee helps with taste and smell also.
   • Hearing. Turn off the sound on all television sets and computers, and have some easy listening or jazz music playing in the background softly.
   • Touch. Have your guests sit on the softest couch, and make sure everything is clean and dust-free.
   • Space. Have a realtor show the property for you, perspective buyers tend to be uncomfortable when home owners are present and may cut their visit short. Perhaps missing out on the one feature they absolutely required in their dream home.

Are you still not sure on how to stage your home? Susan offers a free Ottawa home staging evaluation for all her clients.
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How to Prepare Your Kitchen to Sell Your Home Fast

A well presented kitchen will sell your house.

Below are the 8 top tips for presenting a kitchen that will help to sell your house quickly.

Steps

1. Understand that hygiene is king! - Buyers are more sensitive than mother-in-laws when it comes to cleanliness. Nothing kills a sale quicker than dirt and grease in the kitchen. Deep cleaning a kitchen is a chore but because it works, it's worth the effort.
   
   To get a "for sale" standard of cleanliness it's recommended you:
   • Wipe down all counter tops
   • Clean the sink & taps
   • Clean the floor
   • Clean the inside of the fridge
   • Clean the inside of the oven
   • Organize the contents of all cupboards
   • Empty the garbage
2. De-Clutter! - Concentrate on the counter tops because buyers like to see lots of clear workspace. Put away all appliances, dishes, cookbooks etc. Next, turn your attention to the fridge & the cupboards. Throw away as much as possible (or box it up for the move) and keep what's left neat & orderly.
3. Take a Critical Look at the Walls! - As with the rest of the house, a light neutral paint job is the safest & most effective option. However, totally neutral kitchens can sometimes look a little too bland. Two or three rows of quality tiles can double as a splash back and an effective way to add colour. If you already have wall tiles & they need replacing, don't hesitate just because it looks like a tricky job - 9/10 times new tiles are easy to apply straight over the old ones.
4. Take a Critical Look at the Cabinets! - If the doors are made of dark wood and make the room feel small and oppressive. Fix this by re-painting the doors in a light neutral color. Don't use brushes to paint trim, doors or cabinets use foam rollers. You can see the brush strokes when the paint is dry which to some people looks like a "patch job". take your time some cabinet finishes do not take paint very well or the paint will peel and chip very easily. Use a bit of sand paper to scuff the finish down before you paint. If there are too many cabinets and the room feels boxy and oppressive. Fix this by taking off one or two of the doors and convert the cupboard into open display shelves. This will give the room breathing space. If the doors are outdated or damaged, this is where the classic "Changing Rooms" trick works a treat. Why buy new cabinets when you can just buy new doors? Together with new door handles (simple stainless steel always looks good) it's one of the most cost-effective ways to modernize a dated kitchen.
5. Take a Critical Look at the Worktops! - If your worktops are battered, chipped, burnt or scratched, consider replacing. Laminate worktops are the cheapest option and in this day and age actually look rather good.
6. Create a Place to Eat! - living habits have changed over the years, today's buyers are looking for "flexible space". In a kitchen that just means finding space for a table & a couple of chairs. This shows that the room is more than just a space for food preparation. It makes the space more valuable in the eyes of your buyers.
7. Accessorize! - By now your kitchen will be looking fresh, clean and nearly ready to sell. You just need to give it that "show home" finish. This doesn't take much (in fact in a kitchen "less is more"), just a few artfully placed objects such as:
   • Leafy green plants in a modern vase or pot.
   • Designer kettle & toaster (buy them for your new house but put them on display now).
   • A stylish bowl filled with fresh fruit.
   • A display of designer Italian olive oil bottles.
   • Contemporary glass pasta jars.
8. Make sure the kitchen smells nice, though not too strongly. Some good ideas are freshly baked bread or cookies (buy some ready-made cookie dough if you can't make your own), or fresh herbs. That'll give the room a much nicer and more homely atmosphere than the smell of cleaning products.