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First
impressions make a significant impact on a
buyer's decision-making process!
Once your home goes on the market, it becomes a
product. Home Styling or Staging
simply allows you to highlight the best of your
home and de-emphasize its flaws. It's not about
decorating, but actually turning your home into
a model, to appeal to the broadest range of
prospective buyers. The goal is to make people
feel like they could live there, and the best
way to do this is to "neutralize" the
surroundings.
Try out these helpful styling tips taken from
Setting the Stage - REALTOR® Magazine Online.
They've compiled the best tips from stagers and
real estate pros—things you can do for little or
no expense—to put a home in prime showing shape.
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Clear out closets and clutter—sellers can give
away or pack up toys, linens, and small
kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers
are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly
tucked away in a garage or basement.
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Focus most on the most visible areas—the
foyer, kitchen, living room, master bedroom,
and family room.
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De-personalize the home by removing photos,
mementos, and dated items.
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Use plants in colorful pots or inexpensive
wicker baskets to fill in empty spaces.
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Look to home catalogs for little details on
beautifying the home. For instance, group
books, pictures, and objects d’art appealingly
on bookcases.
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Try angling one or two pieces of furniture
slightly and move furniture 4 inches to 6
inches from the wall to create more
interesting room spaces.
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Put away large collections— porcelains,
plates, and so on.
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Remove valuables, prescription medicine,
collectibles, and breakables.
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Trim trees, prune shrubs, and make sure the
lawn is mowed and watered regularly.
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In summer, turn on the sprinklers for five
minutes, 30 minutes before the open house. It
makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
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Refrain from cooking anything that leaves a
distinctive odor, such as fish, garlic, or
cabbage.
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Hire a professional service to clean the home,
including the carpets and the windows.
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Set the dining room table with attractive
linens, dishes, and stemware.
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Arrange fresh or silk flowers throughout the
home.
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Light a fire in the fireplace in fall and
winter.
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A mirror in a pretty frame can make a small
room feel more open.
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Use as much natural light as possible. Add
extra lamps in dark rooms or corners.
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Make functional repairs—fix dripping faucets,
sticking doors, and broken fences.
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Bring in another pair of eyes—even if it’s not
a professional stylist. The person may see
problems you and have missed.
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