Some things are meant to be indulged in. Think extra saucy wings, sunshine, chocolate cake, and laughter. But, like most things in life, it’s important to ensure that your indulgences are balanced, and in some cases, are enjoyed only in moderation.
We take a similar approach when preparing a home for sale. It’s important to showcase the home’s greatest features, and this often means sprucing things up through updates, repairs, and of course, stylish décor. However, if we over-indulge, we could end up taking the focus away from what we are truly selling, which is the house itself.
The Goldilocks Rule to preparing your home for sale is about finding that delicate balance between too much, and too little, in order to get it just right to engage your homebuyers from the first moment that they view your property.
Here are some tips to help you to get it just right:
PROFITABLE UPATES AND UPGRADES
While each home is unique, there are some standard rules that you can follow when it comes to updates and upgrades:
If it’s broken, fix it.
Focus on move-in ready renovations – these will provide the greatest return on investment. “Move-in ready” means that the new buyers may choose to do some updates themselves at a later date, but that the house is in a state that is comfortable for an immediate move-in.
Paint is money in a can – some of the most valuable renovations can be achieved simply with a can of paint, be it freshening up the walls, a bathroom vanity, kitchen cabinets, or a brick fireplace. Paint can give the home an immediate update, without a significant investment.
Low-cost updates can go a long way – items such as current light fixtures, new cabinetry hardware, and updated door hardware and hinges are just a few areas where swapping out some old finishes for new will add value to the home.
Prioritize above-grade areas of the home – a nice basement is exactly that – it’s nice to have but updates to this area generally won’t add much in the way of overall resale value.
DECORATING VS STAGING
In home staging, our focus is on marketing the features of the home. This means decorating with purpose, ensuring that every item added to the space enhances it, without taking the focus away from the details of the home. Too much (i.e. over-decorating) will distract buyers from the home itself and its features and will draw too much attention to the “stuff” that has been placed in the home.
Items should be placed and arranged strategically, in such a way that it naturally draws the eye around the room to the various features it contains.
Key elements such as fireplaces, window views, quality upgrades, and architectural details should be highlighted by the staging, not overshadowed by it.
The staging should flow from the floor to the ceiling and include all corners, to create a complete look.
Surfaces should not be left empty but should hold accessory groupings of no more than 3 items.
Textures and layers, when done in moderation, can help to add interest to a room without overpowering it.
NEUTRALIZE, DON’T STERILIZE
Preparing a home for sale often entails some editing of personal items and reducing the visibility of everyday items, replacing these with neutral, decorative pieces. This will help to neutralize the space, but how do you remove personal items without removing the home’s personality altogether?
Too little (or under-decorating) will make the home feel sterile and will fail to create the emotional connection that buyers need.
Remove personal photos, collections, certificates, awards, and diplomas. Anything that has a personal name on it should also be removed.
Remove everyday functional items from view, such as toothbrushes, dish racks, and shoe mats. As a general rule, if a functional item does not contribute to the overall aesthetics of the room, it should be placed out of sight.
Once items have been effectively removed, add some interest with some decorative items that properly showcase the home’s features.
The key with all aspects of creating the right look is not to skimp but to avoid getting carried away as well.
If you are preparing your home for sale, just remember the “Goldilocks Rule”. Too much will distract from the home itself. Too little misses the mark by not creating the emotional response that inspires buyers to buy. Our custom staging plans create a complete look for every space of the house, ensuring that we are showcasing the home’s features and selling the experience of living there.
