Tips on Preparing a Home for Sale and Staging a Home for Sale

"Realizing that you only have one opportunity to make a 'good first impression' in today's over-supplied real estate market is a compelling reason for home owners to properly clean, paint, de-clutter, and stage their single greatest financial investment for introduction to the marketplace. In this market, buyers have many choices and are the engine driving the real estate train. Sellers must look at their property through the eyes of prospective buyers, see the shortcomings, and correct as much as possible as quickly as possible. In this way, sellers will ensure their home is prepared for introduction into a real estate market that is not as favorable to them as it once was.

Here are some specific suggestions on preparing a home for sale:

• Minimize furnishings and accessories to showcase the size of the home.


• Wash all windows (inside and out) to let as much sunshine in as possible.


• Remove old carpeting and shine up those hardwood floors.


• Scrub the tub and replace loose caulking and grout.


• Invest in paint! Buyers today don't appreciate wallpapered walls.


• Sweat equity is now the responsibility of the seller -- not the buyer!


• Perhaps re-purposing some furnishings to different rooms will give a fresh look.


• If you aren't Martha Stewart inspired, contact a staging specialist to get the job done.


• Make certain all systems are in good repair.


• If the seller isn't the best dressed for the ball, they'll end up the wallflower!

Remember ... the presentation of the property is something that you can control. Take charge and invest some effort and a bit of capital. You will increase your dividends many times over!"

Mary Ellen Galaris
Web Site: www.megsteam.com
Email: maryellen@MegsTeam.com
Phone: (978) 882-4464

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"In this new market, it is important than ever to make sure your home shows nicely so it will sell quickly. These are the helpful hints that I tell sellers that they need to do to make their home show well and sell:

1. If your home is decorated in dark or unusual colors, you will need to paint it neutral colors.


2. Clean or paint appliances. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house.


3. Paint the front door and make sure you have a nice pot of flowers near the entryway, especially if spring is in the air.


4. Make sure there is no clutter in the home. Make sure the closets are organized.


5. Have a garage sale, or start packing unwanted items to make the home feel spacious.


6. Clean all windows so that they sparkle.


7. When showing your home, if you have curtains or drapes that are closed for privacy, make sure they are pulled back to let in light.


8. If your home has any history or some unique features, write them down, and also tell us about the neighborhood. This creates an image in the buyer's mind of how it would be to live in your home.


9. If you have furry family members, make sure they are out of the way when a buyer is looking at your home. Even if the buyer is an animal lover, it might take away from showing your home.


10. Make sure that your home is priced correctly in this market. Buyers are very educated today with prices of homes for sale, and if you are overpriced you will only help sell your competition.


11. Help the buyer with some closing costs. That will make your home stand out.


12. In the warmer weather, make sure your lawn is green and the yard is not full with clutter, and if your shrubs are overgrown, cut them back to feature the home.

The most important principle to understand about selling your home is that 'presentation is everything.'"

Sean K Connelly
Web Site: www.MoveInNewEngland.com
Email: sean@seankconnelly.com
Phone: 781-479-4479

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"I consistently give sellers this advice on preparing a home for sale:

Don't put your house on the market until it is 'show ready.' To me this means: take care of those repairs you never got around to, make sure the furnace has been serviced recently, that the dripping faucet has been fixed, that the yard is weeded, and free of junk. De-clutter!

I usually bring in an interior designer who will walk around with the homeowner and make suggestions on what should stay and what should go, maybe re-arrange some of the furniture, and suggest paint colors if painting is recommended.

Sometimes I will suggest a pre-sale inspection if the house is old or in poor shape. This pre-sale inspection would be so that we know what the issues are and the homeowner can make repairs or price the house accordingly.

Also, de-personalize the house, which may mean putting away a lot of those family photos or personal collections. Buyers want to visualize themselves in the space, which is hard to do with too many reminders of the current occupants.

Finally, clean! Make it shine. The reason we call it 'staging' is because your house is 'on stage' - competing with other homes for the hearts and minds of the potential buyers. All that work up front will put you in the best position for a successful sale."

Tina McManus
Web Site: www.YourNorthShoreHome.com
Email: TinaMcManus@Remax.net
Phone: 978-882-4387

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"Here are some tips for preparing a home for sale that we tell our sellers:

• Decluttering is the most important.


• Kitchen counters should be clear of everything.


• Basements, garages and attics should be cleaned out and items condensed.


• Store away most personal belongings ie photos, toys, knick knacks.


• Clean out closets and arrange them in an orderly fashion.


• Clean the carpets and windows.


• Keep the paint colors neutral and touch up any areas.


• Yard should be mowed and shrubs trimmed.


• Keep animal scents under control."

Jennifer Anderson and Ron Goulart
Web Site:www.jenandron.com
Email:jen@jenandron.com
Phone:978-281-1260

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