STAGING YOUR HOME Staging Your Home for Sale . . . Puts MORE Money in YOUR pocket! Is it a pain? Yes. Is it inconvenient? Yes. Will it attract more buyers and higher offers? YES YES YES! Room by room . . . these are some basic tips that will work in any home. These ideas will simplify the look of your home- so buyers can see themselves and their own things in place - and hopefully the result will be OFFERS! The number one thing to remember . . . LESS is MORE when staging. FIRST IMPRESSION - YARD AND CURB APPEAL Unless the buyers arrive blind-folded, the first thing they will see is your yard and the front exterior of your house. • Keep the yard nicely manicured- grass cut, shrubs shaped and clipped. • Trim trees branches away that might be obstructing the view of your home. • Remove yard ornamentation and let plants make a statement instead. • Paint the front door - any color will work as long as it matches the trim. • Put out a new welcome mat - something neutral like "WELCOME." Nothing with   the family name or personal statements.   • If exterior paint needs touching up- this is the time to do it. • Wash windows and spray window screens down to remove dust and debris. INSIDE ENTRYWAY / FOYER The entryway to your home should be like the "walk to fame." It is like a preview of what is to come as buyers continue into the heart of your home. • Remove all shoes, jackets, bags etc . . . that   tend to accumulate in this area of the home.   • Keep entry rugs clean and use neutral colors   without patterns if possible.   • Hang a mirror in the entry - but remove all   personal photos. FAMILY ROOM Buyers are looking for SIZE in this room. They will be attempting to picture their own furniture placement when they look around in this space.   • Remove any heavy/opaque   draperies. Use sheers or blinds only on windows. Tilt blinds half-open in this room -but allow them to hang full length.   • Float furniture away from the walls if possible- and where possible. Showing a walk-   way around furniture pieces creates the look of more space -while showing a defined area in the room for seating.   • Remove extra pieces of furniture that are taking up space. Your Realtor can help you   determine which pieces to keep and which ones to remove.   • Remove ALL collectibles, personal photos, and nick-nacks. Pack them away -you are   moving anyway so this task will already be done. Buyers are looking for NEAT- CLEAN- UNCLUTTERED. It may pain you to do without your things for a few weeks- but it WILL make for a better showing and buyers will spend MORE time in your home looking.   • NO LACE, NO RUFFLES, if you decorate in this style- pack these items away and use   them in your new house.   • Dust furniture, blinds and ceiling fans.   • Wall color...neutral - but not white. Fresh paint in any room is a great way to bring   "newness" to the look.   • Clean floors - shampoo carpets.   • If you use air fresheners- keep the scent light and clean. Strong florals are a turn off   for most buyers. KITCHEN Simply put . . . Kitchens Sell Houses. This is one of . . if not THE most important room in your house when selling.   • REMOVE REMOVE REMOVE!   Clear your counter tops to the maximum you can stand. Put away decor- appliances and dishes. Yes it will look plain and empty- but trust me when I say...this is what buyers want to see.   • Keep this room in pristine condition...meaning CLEAN. You never know when I a buyer   may show up - and this room takes the longest to clean at the last minute.   • Remove clutter and decor from the tops of wall cabinets. • Remove ALL items from the outside of the refrigerator. All magnets, kids art,   notes . .  .etc . . . take them down.   • Keep sponges, rags, towels etc... under the sink- not on or in the sink. • Allow as much light as possible in this area. • If you have additional storage pieces in your kitchen that do not convey with the house   pack stored items away- and remove the storage piece. Keeping it for buyers to see only says "this house does not have enough storage space."   • Brighten up wood cabinetry with "Liquid Gold" or a fresh coat of paint. • If your cabinetry is dated- and you aren't replacing it for the sale- add a new updated   set of hardware for a more modern look.   • No rugs - and keep the floor in IMMACULATELY CLEAN condition. • Go easy on the wall decor in the kitchen - too much just creates a cluttered look. BATHROOMS Bathrooms are very important spaces that buyers are paying particular attention to when shopping. Space and convenience are big players when it comes to bathrooms. • Since bathrooms are the smallest rooms in the house...illusion often times creates the   look of more space. Use neutral colors for walls and accessories. The lighter the color- the bigger the room will appear.   • Display towels in a basket • Remove ALL items from the counter top. Store your personal items under the sink or   in drawers.   • Shower curtains should be a solid color and remain pulled closed. • This should go without saying- but keep the toilet CLEAN and the lid closed at all times. • Use high wattage light bulbs for maximum lighting • Use hampers with lids - or store dirty laundry elsewhere where it can not be seen. • Scrub tiles and grout for a new fresh look. • Most important- keep it neat. BEDROOMS Buyers are looking for one thing in a bedroom . . . space. Apply the "less is more" theory here.   • Remove unnecessary furniture   items in all bedrooms. Leave the bed, nightstand and maybe a dresser or chest.     • Use a bed skirt to hide the bed   frame and anything stored under the bed.   • Use solid color comforters and pillow shams OR simply use a solid crisp sheet tucked   under the mattress and solid/matching pillow cases.   • Clear nick-nacks and personal photos from dressers and nightstands. • Pull back drapes and/or open blinds to allow light into the room- this creates the look   of more space.   • Keep floor space clear of clutter - to show walk space and flow through room. MISCELLANEOUS As you can probably tell by now - the theme in staging your home is SIMPLIFY! If you need some inspiration - visit a few model homes in your area that have been staged by professionals. These homes will give you and idea of what buyers are attracted to- and then you can apply these ideas in your own home. Ask your Realtor for advice or consult with a designer for more ideas. And remember- the advice isn't to insult you - it is to HELP you make MORE MONEY on the sale of your home- and faster!! I have been a seller myself- and yes it is a pain to keep your home in pristine showing condition at all times- but it is a MUST when you make the commitment to put your home on the market. Everyone in the household can pitch in and help a little everyday. I can't tell you how many times I have walked into a cluttered -messy- over furnished home with my own buyers- and in 10 seconds they are ready to leave- and DO leave. Even when I knew what the house "could" be because I was familiar with the floorplan- the buyers weren't as open minded. Unless your house is the ONLY house on the market- you must make yours the BEST house on the market. All of the other "for sale" homes are your competition...if yours is the best- it will show and sell as such. I hope these tips and suggestions help you with staging your home for sale. If you decide to employ me as your Realtor in the Fort Hood area - my staging advice for your home is complementary! I will walk through each room of your home and together we will make a list of things to do that will make your home SHINE on the market!! Please let me know how I can assist you with your home for sale in the Killeen Texas market. Sincerely, Paula Raymond Realtor Paula Raymond OWNER / REALTOR Telephone 254.291.6826

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