Case in point:
\nMost of us have been on a date before. In the hope of making that date a success (and I\u2019ll let you decide upon which outcome that date can be perceived as a success or a failure) one most likely will make the effort to be at least presentable. A shower, fresh breath, clean clothes? (That\u2019s just a bare minimum by the way, not the guarantee for success!) <\/p>\n
Well, crazy as it may sound, that bare minimum, that attempt at creating desire, known in real estate as staging, is far too often seen as unnecessary by sellers entering the market.<\/p>\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1465802419-woman-in-messy-bedroom.jpg\")
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The end result is always the same. The property either does not sell, or ultimately goes for a far lower price than it should have, always to the benefit of the buyer.<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHAP<\/a>) claims that a properly staged home will sell up to 30 time faster and for up to 20% more than the market standard. And according to Wikipedia, \u201c The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n Yet, most sellers refuse to consider home staging because it requires spending money. Spending is not the proper term. Home Staging is about investing. The kind of investment that potentially brings high monetary returns. But, as with all investments, finding the perfect equity for maximum return is key. Understand how much is needed versus overkill. ” Home staging techniques focus on improving a property\u2019s appeal by insuring it is a welcoming, attractive product that any buyer can see themselves living in and, thus, desire to purchase.\u201d Wikipedia<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Every home is different and so is the market it sits in. As such, there is no one solution fits all. Also, the level you are ready to invest will greatly influence what can be done. – Almost too obvious to be mentioned, yet so often forgotten. Now, it doesn\u2019t mean redoing everything, like installing a new kitchen or bathroom. We\u2019re not flipping<\/a> the place, just staging. But investing on judicious repairs can help justify the asking price. <\/ol>\n <\/p>\n As famous realtor Josh Altman<\/a> of Million Dollar listing Los Angeles will tell you, \u201cFirst impressions matter.\u201d<\/em> See the entrance as the opening of the show, not the cloakroom! <\/p>\n – Get rid of everything that lives on the counter. Just as in the kitchen, get rid of everything. <\/p>\n We mention dining, yet it is sad to see how often dining spaces have not been implemented in modern home design by promoters. They give you immense kitchen, but no place to eat. I digress!<\/p>\n If you are lucky enough to have a proper dining space, set it up as if you were about to host a diner with friends. People see living rooms as a social status. Hardly used but here to impress. So, spacious spacious, spacious !<\/p>\n
\nTo those sellers, it is up to the buyer to imagine what the property potential could be, as opposed to them having to spend to show the buyer. What numbers have shown, is that counting of someone imagination is never a good financial strategy.<\/p>\nSo, what are the home staging techniques for success?<\/h4>\n
\nYet, basic home staging strategies and common sense can get you a long way.
\nIn the following paragraphs we will lay out proven concepts that can be implemented to every home, regardless of its size or value, before digging deeper in more specific room by room scenarios. <\/p>\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/GettyImages-1372762679-2000-4c9e128f8b31413cb71ce9b00e87aa0f-1024x689.jpg\")
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\n– We\u2019re talking real cleaning here, not just wiping a table cloth and a vacuum run.
\n– The devil is in the details, time to have them shine.<\/ol>\n\nFixing the minor defects of a place goes a long way. A broken cabinet door, light fixtures, broken glass, a squeaking hinge\u2026 Anything that would give a buyer an impression of a poorly kept place, creating a negative feeling, and a reason to knock the price down.<\/p>\n
\nA two bedrooms home, should be staged as a true two bedrooms. Not a room and an office, or a room and a gym.
\nMost people visiting a two bedrooms home are looking for two real bedrooms.<\/ol>\nAs a rule, the more junk clutters a room, the smaller the room feels. And no-one wants to pay big money for tiny. Being able to circulate at ease through the space is better than being stuck on the edge of a room afraid to even enter.
\nAll unnecessary items should be placed in a storage before putting the home on the market.<\/ol>\nAsk any real estate agent what people look for in a place, the answer is always \u2013 Kitchen, Bathroom & Storage<\/strong>. Usually the three most deficient assets of older properties on the market any given day.
\nNothing screams \u201cnot enough storage\u201d to a buyer than extra non built-in cabinets all over the place.
\nWalk-in closets should be empty and all extra free standing units removed.<\/ol>\nIt\u2019s no longer your home. It ain\u2019t sold yet, but act as if Elvis had already left the building! Potential buyers visiting the property must envision themselves creating their own stories in their future home, not peaking through yours.
\nRemove all personal items; photos, religious artifacts, personal collections, etc\u2026\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nNow that we have the basics out of the way, let\u2019s go over each room and see how simple staging concepts can help a home stand out.<\/h4>\n
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\nHe mentions in one of his best-selling books, The Altman Close<\/a>, how a recent study by the Society for Personal and Social Psychology, showed how first impressions happen in less than a second, and are based on appearances over facts. Your entry is your chance at a first impression.<\/p>\n![\"Staging](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Staging-entrance-foyer-1.jpg\")
– No clothes, no shoes, no keys, no mail, no boxes, no utility units\u2026
\n– Nothing but space, art and flowers ! <\/ol>\n
\nUtility companies have the unfortunate tendency to make their hardware overly visible so their employees can find them easily. Understandable, yet Not Chic. <\/p>\n – Have a cabinet maker build a small unit to hide them if not done already.\n<\/ol>\n
\nAs mentioned above, kitchen and bathrooms are what sells a home. This is where cleaning requested the most efforts. (In order to do so, everything inside the kitchen should have been removed. We will see what can be put back in a minute.)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Gallery-of-Orleans-Merrylees-Architecture-Media-6-1024x768.jpg\")
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\n– Apply a fresh coat of satin paint on all walls and ceiling.
\n– White or off white is best as it not only makes the room brighter, but as a result larger.\n<\/ol>\n\n– Open all curtains, blinds, etc.
\n– Invest in proper lighting, select white bulbs over warm yellow.\n<\/ol>\n\n– It goes without saying, that by cleaning the cabinets we meant inside out!
\n– If passed their prime, have someone either paint or stain them back to new.
\n– Fix any broken door or handle.
\n– Organize your cabinets in a spacious manner. You want to give people the impression that there is plenty of room in the kitchen, not the opposite.
\n– Take a good look at all the plates, glass, silverware, etc, you own. Pick the best matching set and replace it in the cupboard. If you don\u2019t have one, invest in a proper one. (you\u2019ll take it with you once the home is sold)\n<\/ol>\n\n– Fix any broken appliance, replace them if they stand out in a wrong way.
\n– Remove all magnets and pictures from the fridge.\n<\/ol>\n
\n– Just leave a few decorative items \u2013 one , two or three depending on the size of the kitchen. Like a bowl of fresh fruits, a white orchid, a decorative silver plate, etc\u2026<\/p>\n\n– Always have the trash empty. Smelly trash is not a selling point !\n<\/ol>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n
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![\"Home](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Modern-contemporary-interior-bathroom-with-two-sinks-and-large-mirror-1024x768.jpg\")
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\n– Did we mention the importance of cleaning ? We meant to say scrubbing !\n<\/ol>\n
\n– Repaint the walls and ceiling. Again, neutral bright colors are best.
\n– The tiles look dated, paint them too.
\n– Redo the joints everywhere. Nothing will kill staging efforts like black stains around a tub or sink.\n<\/ol>\n– There should only be a glass with your toothbrush and paste, and a bottle of Tom Ford parfum on the counter.
\n– A fresh new set of towels hanging on a proper wall rack.
\n– Orchid by the window optional.
\n– Change the shower curtain to a new one.
\n– Change the water appliances if they look dated or altered by limestone residue.\n<\/ol>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n\n
![\"Home](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Capture-decran-2023-03-30-a-17.26.48-1024x366.png\")
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\n– Repaint the walls and ceiling. Again, neutral bright colors are best.
\n– Make it gender neutral. It means plain curtains and bed covers in tones matching the paint.
\n– Neither too feminine or screaming bachelor den.\n<\/ol>\n\n– Empty all closets and only keep the strict minimum.
\n– Have it hanging on a matching set of wooden hangers.
\n– Have lavender pouches in to make it smell nice.\n<\/ol>\n\n– A bed that fits the scale of the room. No point of a king size if you can\u2019t walk around it.
\n– Plain and neutral ironed sheets and decorative pillows.
\n– A night stand with a reading light.
\n– A side chair left empty !
\n– A rug is always a plus.
\n– No TV, after all there are so much better things to do in bed than watch television !\n<\/ol>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n\n
![\"Proper](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ia-how-to-set-a-table-1.jpeg\")
\nUse a proper matching set of plate, glasses, silver ware and linens, just as you would have for a special occasion.
\nIt is always a plus in the buyer\u2019s mind to know they will be able to entertain.<\/p>\n![\"Home](\"https:\/\/paulrobida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/edc-atraform-studios-04-15-20220327-v2qc-1665005918-1024x679.jpg\")
\n– Like for every other room have it painted a bright neutral color. White is always the best canvas to showcase furniture and objects. <\/p>\n