DO IT YOURSELF HOME STAGING TIPS FOR BARRIE ONTARIO HOMES
You want your home to sell quickly, for the right price, but
it’s hard to stand out in a buyer’s market. Home staging is an increasingly
popular, cost-effective way to give your home the punch it needs to catch a
buyer’s eye. One survey by the International Association of Home Staging
Professionals even claims an 83 percent reduction in time on market for staged versus non-staged homes.
Even a fraction of that could more than pay for the cost of home
staging, but why throw away money if you don’t need to? Here are four tips to
follow before you bring in a home stager to make sure your staging experience
is as inexpensive and productive as possible when selling your home in Barrie
Ontario.
DIY First
When selling your home in Barrie Ontario, Before
they build up, home stagers need to tear down. To become the roomy, airy canvas
a home stager requires, your house needs to be thoroughly cleaned and
decluttered. The more of this you do beforehand, the faster and less expensive
your staging will be. And if your house is on the market, you really should
think abbot packing, anyway. Later, when you do your initial walk-through with
the stager, ask which pieces of decor and furniture should stay, and sell or
pack as much as you can of the rest.
Avoid “Junk Drawers”
Open houses are invasive, and you can’t expect to hide much from
a prospective buyer. Don’t declutter your living areas by cluttering sheds,
garages, and closets. If you hide it, someone will find it, and all of your junk
won’t leave room for the buyer’s dreams. Look into self-storage units and
portable storage nits that can be dropped back at your house after the open
house–or delivered directly to your new home.
Hit the Cheap Fixes
Inside or out, paint is the single easiest, cheapest way to
freshen up your home. Just exercise some restraint. Stick to neutral colors,
classic colors and let your decor do the talking instead. Art, lighting, and
furniture are all far less permanent ways to make an impression, and can be changed
by a buyer without any hassle.
Another low-cost fix is as simple as opening the curtains.
Letting natural light into your home makes it appear larger and more inviting.
Tie back drapes, and consider removing heavier, more oppressive window
treatments altogether. And don’t forget to trim back trees and bushes that
might be obscuring natural light. Your stager may suggest alternate window
dressings, as well.
Get References
A good home stager will cost you, beginning with the initial
consultation. As a result, it’s important to get as many references as possible
before beginning. The best place to start is your REALTOR®, who can offer the
names of home stagers who have proven useful, personable, and worth the
investment. Next, get referrals from the prospective stager. These will be
overwhelmingly positive, but you can pick up some interesting tidbits (like the
names of other stagers the homeowner considered) along the way.