Alliteration may be good for catching the eye, (did you notice all those letter S’s in today’s title?) but there’s nothing like a good song to really seal the deal.
Let’s jump onboard the Paul Simon bandwagon and his 1976 hit, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, with our next installment of home staging. Hey, why create a list when you can get your 70s groove back on?
*As a refresher, here’s the definition of home staging again:
The act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace by focusing on improving a property’s appeal by transforming it into a welcoming, attractive product that anyone might want.
Let me tell you a little story. One day, a client of mine was worried about selling her home. The problem is all inside your head, I said. In fact, there are easily 50 ways to use Home Staging. In an effort to keep this article short, let’s just keep it to 7: (cue background music)
- You just slip out the back, Jack – Remember the importance of curb appeal and first impressions. Take a walk around the perimeter of your house and do some sprucing.
- Make a new plan, Stan – Your new plan should be: DECLUTTER and CLEAN like a fiend; focus on bathrooms and kitchen. Use a white glove if you have one!
- You don’t need to be coy, Roy – Funky/trendy needs to go. In terms of paint and carpet, think… the opposite of coy: demure, reserved, sedate… beige.
- Just get yourself free – Free of PETS. Fido may be listed in your will, but non-dog lovers (yes, they do exist) won’t be feeling the love if they rub up against pet hair (or worse yet, pet poop stains on the carpet). If possible, exile dogs and cats to the backyard or—even better—a nearby pet babysitter.
- Hop on the bus, Gus – If you’re not handy, track down your nearest fix-it person and take care of all those leaky faucets, loose trim boards, and scratched up front doors (see #4).
- You don’t need to discuss much – You don’t need to decorate much either, just a teensy bit of oomph here and there, a vase of flowers, a colorful throw blanket, and you’re good to go.
- Just drop off the key, Lee - Literally, hand over the key to your trusty real estate pro to do the selling. Buyers like the objectivity of a real estate agent to answer their questions and show them around.
…And get yourself free – home free, that is. If you are looking for more groovy tips on how to sell your home, I’m a real estate agent specializing in Snohomish County. I also remember when Paul Simon had hair.
Call me, Joni Kerley, with Century21 Real Estate Center at 425-343-4545, www.EverettAreaRealEstate.com.
