As a designer and home stager, I am constantly giving advice and feedback to clients on how they can improve the appearance of their home before they put it on the market. Most of these tips I learned in school, from reading interior design blogs, or from just plain experience. But recently, I listed my own home for sale, and this gave me a whole new perspective. I thought more about the psychology of the buyer and items that I may have overlooked and I went over every detail of the home. If I had to compile a home staging report as I do for my clients, it would have been 10 pages long and it would go beyond mentioning just simple aesthetics. It would include small renovations or alterations as well as exterior landscaping and ideas on how to how to increase the homes curb appeal. What I realized when I decided to sell my own home is that the buyers interest or disinterest starts before they even get out of their car. And items you may overlook may turn them off before they even walk in the door. Simple things such as tarnished door hardware or a dirty mat, can make a bad impression. So, I wanted to share with you a few items that I (surprisingly) overlooked that could have cost me a sale.
1. Stage Your Cabinets and Closets
This one may seem unnecessary since these areas are not visible, but buyers who are really interested in your home will be looking in these areas. So, it is important to make them as attractive as the rest of the home. Start by removing at least half of the contents and packing them away. Next, clean, organize and beautify the items as if they were all on display. You will be amazed how much more attractive your clothes closet becomes with half the amount of clothes. Take it a step further, and update all of your hangers so they match. It’s all about the psychology of the buyer–everyone wants to live in a well organized house.
2. Update Your House Numbers
Have you ever spent 20 min looking for an address? This type of situation can really be frustrating and can pretty much set the mood before a buyer even arrives. Or even worse–potential buyers may even give up entirely and move on to the next house. So, make sure your house numbers are visible from the street. Are they more than ten years old? Maybe it’s time to invest in some brand new ones. Small details like this can make a big difference.
3. Repair the Driveway
The driveway can be an important feature of a home for some buyers. A dirty, cracked, damaged driveway can be a real turnoff. If you can’t replace it, then at least power wash it or re-seal it.
4. Remove the TV from the Master Bedroom
The master bedroom should be a peaceful sanctuary where buyers can imagine themselves escaping from the world. When there is a visible TV in the room, it becomes difficult to envision such a sanctuary. So, put it away in storage until the home sells.
5. Bring in Some Uplighting
If you have rooms with dark areas or florescent overhead lights that are too bright, purchase a few accent uplights. These can be easily purchased at most hardware stores and cost between $10 and $20, and they make such a huge difference. They work especially well behind plants and furniture, giving the room a soft glow.
6. Give the Home Some Curb Appeal
The exterior of a home is the first thing potential buyers see so it is important that it looks its best. Walk across the street and look at your home from a distance. Is there anything that stands out? When I did this with my own house, I saw an old satellite dish that needed to be removed, gutters that needed to be replaced, a rusty electrical pipe that needed to be painted, and some trees that needed to be trimmed. This allowed me to eliminate any negative aspects that may turn off buyers.