Home Staging: Where Real Estate and Interior Design Meet.
Alyna Compton
So this is an interior design blog right? I mean… I am an Interior Designer after all, but my knowledge and skills go beyond that now, as I am also a real estate agent! So how can these two fields work together? What could I possibly write about that would incorporate both areas? Let me start by saying, I am very passionate about design; all aspects of it fascinate me. The way the mind can create a vision, a dream, and then physically bring it to life is so amazing, and even though I have stepped into the role of Realtor, I can’t seem to turn off my eye for design (cheesy I know but bear with me). I understand the importance of good design, architectural statements, good spatial relationships, colors, textures, lighting etc… and now as a realtor, I understand even more the importance of these qualities, especially when it comes time to list your home for sale. This is where Real Estate and Interior Design blend together… HOME STAGING!!!! I’ve seen it time and time again, and I can’t emphasize enough how much home staging will increase your property’s marketability, help attract more buyers, and in the end, help to sell your home… for a price you can be proud of. SCORE!! Now some of you may not know where to start when going about this whole “home staging” thing. Don’t worry… I can help! Here are a few pointers when it comes to staging your home to sell:
1. Throw on a fresh coat of neutral colored paint… I repeat NEUTRAL COLORED PAINT!! I know you’ve probably heard this before but I really can’t emphasize it enough. The importance of a neutral color is so that anybody who walks into the home can envision themselves living there, with their décor and own unique style. Bright, crazy colors honestly scare people. Its hard for them to see passed the paint to the wonderful home that you are selling. Not to mention a light neutral color gives the home a fresh, new, and clean look. Who wouldn’t want that?? New paint really isn’t that expensive or time consuming, especially when you think about how much effect it will have on selling your home.
2. Tidy up everything! Shelves, countertops, walls, pretty much anywhere people can see… Organize and unclutter it! Remove all the nick knacks, pictures frames, all the stuff collecting dust, and leave a clean area with a few specific accent pieces that compliment the space. For example; on a coffee table… leave a plant, a couple of stacked books and a candle or just a large accent bowl. On the kitchen countertop… leave a bowl of fruit, a wine rack and an open cookbook. You wont believe how doing this will really clean up and open the space. Buyers will be able to picture themselves living there.
3. If your home still feels cluttered… you may want to remove some larger furniture pieces. Hey…. You’re selling your house and will be moving soon anyways right?? Removing furniture will instantly open the space and that’s what you want. Too many large furniture pieces can really make the space feel closed off and much smaller than it actually is. You want buyers to see just how much room the home has and trust me… they will already be trying to figure out the placement of their own furniture, so the less you have… the more imagining they can do, and the more imagining they can do… the more they will develop an emotional connection with the home. They envision themselves living there and it feels like home. I must clarify… this doesn’t mean take out all your furniture. You still live there after all!
Man! I could keep going forever; there are so many things you could do. Just remember, when staging your home to sell… think about the potential buyer. You want them to feel welcome and be able to have an emotional connection to your home by allowing them to easily visualize themselves living there. If you are still feeling a bit overwhelmed… you can always list with me and I would be more than happy to lend my design expertise. Cheers!
Alyna Compton
TREG INC., dba The Real Estate Group
BRE# 01929981
Cell: 530-945-6977
Mail To: acompton@tregonline.com