Emil Khattab - Exceeding Expectations - One Property at a time

Home Staging For Success

 

First impressions count and the key to making your home as appealing as possible is Home Staging. The right approach can helpto sell your home faster and for more.  Home staging is about creating an illusion. A properly staged home can actually look larger, brighter, cleaner and warmer. It entices the buyer to want it.

 

Look at your home as though you’re seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, heating and A/C vents and light fixtures. Pay special attention to your bathroom and kitchen – make sure that tile grout is mildew free and baseboards scrubbed. Clean the refrigerator and stove as well as the washer and dryer (inside and out). And, don’t forget about the windows! Make sure that all windowpanes, ledges and blinds are spick and span.

 

Lose The Clutter
I offer a room-by-room analysis offering advice on how I can make your home show its best. Too much clutter? Have a yard sale or take old furniture, clothing and knick-knacks to Goodwill. Organize shelves, put away items and purge your home of unnecessary items. Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom counters are free of small appliances and personal effects.

 

De-Personalize Your Home
I will show you how to make your home “anonymous,” so that buyers can envision it as their potential home, not yours. Put away any family photos, sports trophies, collectibles, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. This will also help to remove clutter and create more space.

 

Freshen-Up
Adding a fresh coat of paint is a cheap yet effective way to clean and brighten up your home. I will let you know if the colors that your family enjoys are colors that will interest the vast majority of purchasers. Applying light neutral colors throughout your home bring rooms to life and make them appear more expansive. If you choose to wallpaper, make sure that the paper is properly applied, your color choice is neutral and patterns are kept to a minimum.

 

First Impression Count
Like a first date or job interview, the first impression of your home is the most important. Walking into a home with fingerprinted windows or cluttered entranceways, can influence the potential homebuyer’s decisions. Likewise, strong odors can ruin a sale, so pay close attention to pet, cooking and cigarette smells in your home. Light delicately scented candles or perhaps a few sprays of Febreze will do. Fresh flowers, especially in the spring and winter, can help to brighten and energize your home.

 

Curb Appeal
Homebuyers decide whether or not to look inside a house by the appearance of your home’s exterior. Paint or wash the outside of your home. Check your gutters and chimney and make necessary repairs. Keep your lawns trimmed and flower beds weeded. Clear the driveway and yard of any basketball nets, children’s toys and store away unsightly trashcans. Replace any broken or dated light fixtures and wash windows and ledges. If you have a garage, make certain that it is neat and clutter-free. I can offer sound advice on how to maximize your homes curb appeal, and can provide contacts for many reputable and proven contractors such as landscapers and painters.

 

Create The Illusion of Space
To make your home seem more spacious, it is crucial to de-clutter and re-organize. I will show you how to optimize your homes space by rearranging your furniture and interior in such a manner that highlights your homes best features creating a series of great first impressions. A great start is removing excess furniture to make rooms feel more open and replacing any items that are not appropriately sized for the room. For example, oversized couches, while comfortable, can make a room seem smaller than it actually is. Clean and organize your closets and remove excess clutter from all areas of your home. Store unnecessary items in and out of the way or rent a temporary storage unit. Strategically placed mirrors can also help to create the illusion of more depth and space.

 

Modern Choices
Ensure that the décor of your home is modern and tasteful. Replace outdated furniture, wall coverings and window treatments. Use neutral tones on your walls and floors and add color with removable items such as throw pillows or bedding. Steer away from too many personal touches to create a minimalist and contemporary space.

 

Doggie Don’ts
“Love me, love my pets,” doesn’t apply when selling your home. Take your pets with you when your house is being shown, or at least keep them outside. Pets under foot will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive showing. While making sure that your house is odor-free and spotless applies to everyone, pet owners need to take special care. Be sure to empty and hide unsightly kitty litter, lint brush your furniture and put your furry friend’s toys, dishes and scratching posts away during showings.

 

Beautify Your Yards
Don’t forget about your front and backyards. A house showing doesn’t always start at the frontdoor end at the backdoor. Beyond size and layout, potential buyers can also be influenced by the state of your yards. I can offer sound advice as to how a well-maintained landscape attracts the eye and adds to your property value. Primary tips for success include keeping your lawn, hedges and flowerbeds manicured. I can show you how to extend the living area of your home by recreating outdoor entertaining areas by sweeping decks, cleaning and setting-up patio furniture and removing torn BBQ covers. Buy exterior storage containers to hide gardening tools, kids toys and pool supplies. If you have a pool, ensure that the cover is pulled back, that the water is inviting and the lining algae-free. Lastly, interested buyers may decide to look inside your shed, so make sure that it is organized and clean. I can provide you with an array of professional landscaping companies with crews that get to know you and your property providing a first-rate client experience through extraordinary design, horticultural knowledge, installation and maintenance services.

 

Statistics show that on average its takes only 90 seconds for a Buyer to decide if they like your house.According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the benefit of proper staging generates an 8-10% return. The Buyer makes a purchase decision based on an emotional and intellectual response. Through a series of properly executed staging techniques I can show you how I combine decorating, marketing, and psychology to create a level of trust and emotional connection with your home, enabling potential buyers to visualize themselves living in your home. Contact me today for your complementary room-by-room staging review.