Did you know 95 percent of staged homes sell on average in eleven days or less AND sell for 17 percent more than non-staged homes?1 With the Colorado Springs housing and real estate market exploding, our professional team at Woodleaf Realty wants to help you maximize the value of your home. With a combined 24 years experience in real estate, specifically in the Pikes Peak region, here are our favorite and most effective DIY staging tips for sellers:
De-Clutter
First and foremost, remove all personal items and clutter from your home. In the living room, pack away photo albums, worn novels, half-burnt candles, and that favorite (but very frayed) couch blanket. Stage shelves by organizing books by color and size. Create a high-end illusion by adding in decorative items such as a globe or vase of fresh flowers. Instead of personalizing your home to you, personalize it to Colorado Springs. Hang a map of the city or display local artwork. Adding a stack of books highlighting Colorado, Pikes Peak, and the Rocky Mountains will excite buyers—especially if moving from out of state.
In the bedrooms, remove all clothing from the closet and only display a few of your nicest pieces on wooden hangers. Arrange two to three pairs of shoes next to a nice bag or summer hat. You want potential buyers to picture themselves living in your space—a clean, organized, and depersonalized home encourages this.
Add Mirrors
Smaller homes can deter buyers, especially if they are not cleaned or staged to enhance the space. This can be a problem, especially with the smaller homes in Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. To make your home feel larger than it is, hang mirrors in place of artwork or family photos. Mirrors not only double the size of the room, but they can create a dramatic effect as well as reflect your home’s natural light. Check out this HGTV guide for tips on decorating with mirrors.
Stage Your Kitchen Counters
In the kitchen, remove 75 percent of your dishes—leave behind only a few nice bowls, wine glasses, and pots for display. Stage the space by organizing a stack of cookbooks on the counter and setting out an unopened bottle of Pikes Peak wine.
Furthermore, clean out the fridge, and wipe down all cabinets and drawers (buyers will look). Stage the kitchen table or eating nook with a glass bowl of fresh fruit and a jar of local Colorado Springs coffee beans.
Staging Company: Trove Collective Photographer: Briana Arlene
Hang White Towels
You know what we love most about fancy spas and hotel rooms? Crisp, white towels. Help potential buyers to envision their lives in your home by sprucing up the bathrooms (especially the master bath).
Begin by disinfecting, sanitizing, and removing all personal hygiene products from the space. Pick up a set of white towels at your favorite home good store, along with a fresh candle, bath salts, and a large bar of soap. Hang, roll, or fold the towels near the tub, and display the other items to create a spa ambiance. And if you really want to impress buyers, drape a white bathrobe and add a vase of fresh cut peonies to a windowsill or bathroom sink.
Curb Appeal
In our most recent post, we discuss the importance of curb appeal in real estate and how to quickly DIY update the patio of your home on a budget. The entrance to your home is the first impression for potential buyers so don’t cut corners when it comes to the exterior.
Mow the lawn and trim back any overgrown bushes or wilting flowers. If dated, change out the address numbers and mailbox. Windex all windows and touch up the paint on the front door. Most importantly, lay out a new welcome mat, as well as a fresh plant or flowers for a memorable first impression.
1http://www.stagedhomes.com/mediacenter/stagingstatistics.php