St. Louis Real Estate - Home Staging - Top Ten Tips

TOP TEN STAGING TIPS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME FAST! By Interior Designer and home staging expert- Natalie Pinson

#10 CURB ENTHUSIASM - If your home doesn’t have curb appeal, buyers won’t want to go inside! Trim square bushes (these look too dated!) and create a more organic, flowing shape. Landscaping should be soft and layered- and a little mulch goes a long way too! Make sure your front door is painted and in good condition. Your front steps, porch and entrance should make a great first impression.

#9 MR. CLEAN - Nothing attracts buyers more than a clean house. Spend time and money to deep clean your investment! Scrub tubs, windows, floors and don’t forget those closets.

#8 BRIGHT WHITE & OUT OF SIGHT - A quick way to give your home an instant face-lift: paint trim and baseboards with white semi-gloss paint. Off white trim screams DIRTY NICOTINE even if that’s not the case! This is especially true in older homes; the older the house, the brighter the white should be. (Historic homes may vary with this rule!)

#7 CLUTTER CONTROL - Pack up the stacks! Any excess papers, books, clothes and toys should be packed up and placed in storage. You’ll have to do it eventually, so you might as well start now. Bookcases should follow the 2/3 rule. Two thirds should be filled with books, while the other third should be open. Avoid personal photos and memorabilia.

#6 LET THERE BE LIGHT - When at all possible, remove any dark window treatments. Your goal is to create light, open and airy spaces. Shades, heavy drapes, and outdated aluminum blinds should be discarded. Replace with sheers or color coordinated fabric panels. (Hint: Buy longer sheers and panels 90”-96” and hang it above the window frame. This will give the illusion of higher windows.)

#5 SAY YES TO COLOR - No wall should be left white! (Leave that for the trim.) To create warmth you must use color. Soft taupes, beiges, greens and golds provide a great backdrop for your home without being overpowering.

#4 FUN WITH FURNITURE - Staging a home always requires removal of some furniture. IMPORTANT: Select key pieces that are the right scale and décor for the home! Most people have excess furniture placed around their home. Scaling down furniture, as well as proper placement, will create a spacious feel while showcasing your home. Big screen TVs are best removed or placed in an area created especially for the TV (i.e. large basement.) Always make sure fireplaces and pathways to doors are not obstructed by furniture. Less is more!

#3 BATHROOM BASICS - Bathrooms can make or break a sale. If your main or master bathroom is truly outdated, consider a remodel. If that is not an option, make small changes that are cost effective. Nickel fixtures and a new shower curtain can go a long way. Unattractive tile walls? Prime and paint with a neutral epoxy paint especially made for tile.

#2 KILLER KITCHENS - The kitchen is the heart of any home and it must have a heartbeat! It should be functional and inviting. If the cabinets are dark, lighten them up with white enamel gloss paint and modern pulls. If it is an eat-in kitchen, make sure the table is the right size for the room. Lighting is very important in a kitchen- spend money to update your fixtures if needed.

#1 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - After painting, furniture editing and clutter removal it’s time to make your house somebody else’s home! The finishing touches are what make a space “homey.” Carefully placed furniture, accessories, mood lighting and good smells are all key to getting a contract quickly. Contact Natalie Pinson, your Interior Designer and home staging expert, to turn these tips into reality!

Natalie Pinson has a B.S. in Interior Design and has worked in the field for over 12 years. She has helped numerous home owners and Agents “showcase” their property while creating the “designer-look” that buyers want.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 at 5:20 pm and is filed under For Sellers, Unrepresented Seller(FSBO). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.