“THINGS I WISH MY REALTOR
HAD TOLD ME”
MAKING YOUR PROPERTY
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD --
STAGE IT!
There's a way to sell your home faster and for more, and it's quickly making its way across the country.
Home staging, a practice started in California three decades ago, is relatively new to Florida.
And although it started on the west coast, home staging has become international, with professional stagers also working their magic in Europe and Asia. Home staging as a way to improve property appeal has shown up on popular television programs such as ABC’s “20/20,” NBC’s “The Today Show,” HGTV’s “Curb Appeal” and others.
Andrea Crilly, a full-time Realtor® who is also an ASP™ (a home staging professional accreditation), encourages all her sellers to stage their homes and has been a pioneer of the concept in the south Florida area. "How you live in (your home) is different from how you market it,” said Crilly in a recent article in The Miami Herald that featured her and homes in Miami Shores she staged and later sold.
Crilly has been getting the word out in the Miami area to help her real estate clients sell their properties more quickly and for top dollar.
The concept is closely tied to standard advice Realtors give sellers, such as “Please clean up and fix up,” but kicks it up a notch by adding in interior design concepts and some marketing savvy. Staging professionals help people prepare their homes for sale by de-cluttering, rearranging spaces to show rooms in the best light possible and making changes such as paint colors, furniture and décor and other inexpensive modifications. “Buyers need a ‘wow’ reaction in the first 15 seconds of seeing a home, and that is the goal that stagers try to go after,” Crilly adds.
Similar to detailing a car, home staging can improve a home's value by presenting it at its best. Sellers can use this Do-It-Yourself Home Staging Kit to get started with staging their property themselves.
 Why Is Staging Important?
When you get ready to place your home on the market for sale it becomes a product. Similar to a product on the shelf at a store, the product has features and benefits as well as drawbacks and minuses. Homes, like most products, also face competition from other products—in this case other sellers’ properties. To compete in the real estate marketplace, a seller’s property must be priced right and look better than other properties. Your home is no different, it is one of many for sale and you must present it to buyers in the best possible light.
Preparing Your Property For Sale… Going From Ho-Hum To WOW!
Many buyers peruse neighborhoods looking at listed properties from the outside before inquiring with the listing agent to show them the inside. The first impression they gain from the outside is hard to shake. If the prospect doesn't like the house from the outside, they probably won't inquire at all. To get them past that curb view, you need to add some curb appeal. This is an important concept that the following outdoor appearance considerations are aimed at delivering. Taking care of these items will definitely add curb appeal to your home:
General Exterior Tips Check the paint condition of your house, especially the front door and trim. Consider repainting the house if colors are too dark. Dark or bold colors tend to make a poor first impression—brighten the paint color (but use a neutral tone) to improve the first impression. Note that your personal taste is not a consideration here; go for lighter, neutral colors. Replace your house number and mailbox to match the style of the home. An old rusty mailbox or outdated numbers leave an outdated impression. Create interest to see the inside! Unless you believe you live in a completely unsafe neighborhood, remove the security bars/gates from all windows and doors. These serve only to give a buyer the wrong impression and look outdated. A security system is the way to go with a security sign out front. This is a tip that involves going with the standard in the neighborhood as well—if the great majority of homes have security bars, you should not remove them, but if your area has improved, go without to reinforce the “good neighborhood” appearance. Painting or replacing the front door is a cost-effective way to enhance a
home's curb appeal and add value. A study by Therma-Tru Doors
found that upgraded entrances can boost a residence's perceived value by
3.2 percent to 6.6 percent. Double-door entrances are gaining popularity, as are durable, lower-priced Fiberglass doors. When it comes to colors, reds,
charcoals, greens, browns and navy are favorites. Other than jazzing up
your front door with a new paint job, you also could also choose to refinish
your original wood door and bring out the natural wood grain with stain and polyurethane sealer. Move all garbage cans, garden tools, children’s toys (with the exception of fixed playsets of course), etc., into the garage or at least out of sight. Trim down your plant pots collection if you’re an avid gardener—reducing clutter and reinforcing the feeling of open yard space is what you’re going for. Check gutters for roof moss, leaves, tree fruit and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and clean, or at least not visibly clogged. Prune bushes, hedges and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. As professional stagers say: If you can't see it, you can't sell it! Weed and mulch all planting areas. Fresh mulch (or stones) are an absolute wonder to boost the attractiveness of landscaping areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove any dead plants or shrubs. Clear patios/decks of small items such as too many flower pots, BBQ charcoal, plastic toys and barbecue equipment. Most people may end up putting th
professionally staged is usually far less than the first home price reduction. Remember, you never get a second chance to make that first impression!
 SOME FINAL TIPS TO MAKE IT ALL EASIER
(Some of these apply BEFORE you decide to sell!)
- Maintenance begins when you move in.
- Fix any problem when you first see them.
- Look at home decorating magazines for trend updates
- Invite friends to critique your house. Have a thick skin.
Stage a home office: Use a walk-in closet or unused corner.
- Focus on space. Float furniture away from walls.
- Cut clutter on kitchen counter tops by two-thirds.
- Toss throw rugs and replace curtains/drapes with blinds.
- Match bedspreads, bed skirts and pillow covers.
- Buy a new shower curtain, coordinate towels.
- Replace the over-the-toilet cabinet with a piece of art.
- An entry-way table and mirror make a good impression.
- Buy a new mailbox, address numbers and welcome mat.
- De-clutter your house; put away personal knickknacks.
- Do not "decorate" with cheap silk flowers.
- Wash Fido's bowl and clean Fluffy's litter box.
- Do not overdo window coverings. Less means more… light.
- Do not use low wattage light bulbs.
- Wallpaper is rarely admired. Remove it and paint.
- Cleaning is what you do before staging.
- Everything should shimmer and shine.
- Don't forget the windows.
 It looks beautiful and you are now ready to go on the market…
but the key is keeping it Staged®.
The way you live in your home and the way you live in your h
towels are hung properly - Make sure all food and food debris are cleaned from eating areas and counter tops after meals
- Turn all lights on and have light music on during showings
- Don’t leave dirty clothes on the floor and put all your belongings away
- Keep all kitchen counter top items put away
Remember, it is only for a relatively short period of time that you will need to maintain your home in its Staged state and the rewards of doing so are considerable. Good luck in setting your stage!
You have now learned some of the basic concepts of Staging a home for sale. If you would like to sell faster and for more money please contact Andrea Crilly, your local Realtor, who has a passion for Home Staging and can to help you sell your property! Call Andrea at 305-333-5345 or email her at crilly.a@ewm.com for a consultation to discuss your real estate needs. Sellers who list with Andrea receive a FREE Home Staging consultation including recommendations that will minimize market time and lead to higher offers! ALSO: Visit “Great Listings” to preview currently listed and staged homes.
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