These 15 Action Steps will help you to prepare your home and yourself:

1. Find your legal papers, such as the deed, insurance, mortgage documents, etc.
2. Call a title company and ask for a complementary title report to check for discrepancies that may be present.
3. Check your credit rating.
4. Speak to your bank about pre-approval whether you need a mortgage or not.
5. Have a look at other homes in your neighbourhood that are up for sale – how does your home compare?
6. Do an honest, reality check – make a list of areas that need upgrading, both minor and major.
7. Determine your budget for fixing and redesigning.
8. Consult with a professional who can advise you on the areas that will bring a real return for the money you will spend fixing.
9. Hire a staging consultant to prepare your home (statistics show that staged homes sell faster and for a higher price).
10. Hire a home inspector.
11. Check with family and friends for referrals, re a Real Estate Salesperson.
12. Interview at least three salespersons, then choose the one you find most compatible.
13. Be sure to ask for specific steps that will be taken to market your property.
14. Don’t sign a long term contract, make it three or four months, which will give you wiggle room.
15. Pay it forward, make a list of services available in your area for the new owner.

Prospective home buyers may not understand how much work went into preparing your home to make it as inviting as it now appears, but they feel comfortable and at home – so much so, that they are willing to purchase it. It pays to be proactive.

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As you could guess I obviously couldn’t keep up with the subscriptions. I never had time to read them so finally one day, I made a list of every magazine I was receiving and started cancelling them as the subscriptions expired. I can proudly say I’m a recovering magazine subscriber and only have two active subscriptions.

So, what did I do with all these publications? I actually used a lot of them for staging. Some of the higher end ones like Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and San Francisco were used as coffee table displays or in offices, and Wine Spectator was sometimes used in the kitchen, dining or bar areas.

We actually used quite a few of the magazines as art to stage bedrooms. Let me describe some examples.

You can easily tear fashion magazine covers off and place them in a frame and voila…instant art for the bedroom! Your selection can be tailored to showcase either a male or female room.

We also occasionally purchased magazines specifically for staging purposes like Cosmo Girl and Teen People to create custom frames in a teen-age girl’s room but bedrooms are by no means the only rooms you can use magazines as professional staging props.

A yoga room may be shown to advantage by using a Women’s Health magazine attractively displayed in a basket with rolled towels and a small spray of artificial flowers or there are more specific yoga magazines available for use also.

However, just as you can use a cookbook in a kitchen to build a theme, you can also create an excellent visual staging prop using a home style or gourmet cooking magazine. I can personally attest to the wide range available.

BONUS TIP: If you need to find a photo to place in a picture frame for a bedside table, desk or bookcase, flip through magazines for prop wedding, kids or pet photos. This way, you preserve your own privacy by not having to use personal photos for this purpose.

You just never know where you can find inspiration – take a look around, there are a lot of inexpensive options available.

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Here are some of the questions you are probably asking yourself:

* Take it off the market for awhile?
* Lower your price?
* List with another broker?
* Fix it up, and then relist it at a higher price?
* Pay to fix it up and leave it at the same price?

Several choices but which if any would be right for you? Of course it depends on your circumstances, but you should be aware that houses that sit on the market for a long period of time fall into two categories:

Stale: Having your house on the market for a long time puts it in a negative light; most people viewing it will believe that it has serious problems and that’s why it has not sold. Perception is not always reality, but the buyer looking at it again, after a few months will not know that.

Desperate: Some folk would take this opportunity to make you a low-ball offer, because they rationalize that by now you must be desperate to sell and they could get your house for a bargain basement price.

Suggestions to help you sell your home for a fair price:

* Delist – Remove your home from the market
* Re-evaluate – Is your home fairly priced
* Compare – yours to the competition
* Clean – entire house including windows and doors
* Fix – anything that needs fixing
* De-clutter – store unnecessary items

To get your house in pristine condition you may need to hire a professional stager or re-designer, who will not have any emotional blinders and will therefore see your house in a totally different light and easily prepare it to attract a wider range of buyers.

Here are some more suggestions to help you achieve the look and feel to get your home sold quickly:

Refresh – Maybe you only need to refreshyour home. The easiest and least expensive way to re-fresh your house would be with paint, light (fabric) curtains, and more lighting from different areas and sources.

Redesign – Discover how furniture placement, accessories, paintings and the strategic placement of objects can totally change a space and turn your house into your buyer’s dream home.

Renovate – If you want to renovate parts of your home, do not waste money on upgrades that will not give you a high return on your money, time and work. Find out which makeover projects will double the return on your money and which renovations you do not need to make.

After you get your house in a buyer – friendly condition, then and only then should you do the following:

Re-List – Put your house back on the market using a new agent or broker, this time list for only 3 to 4 months. A new listing with a different agent will attract more buyers.

Post pictures – Post good pictures of the changes that have been done. This will give you that extra edge that you need to get your house sold quickly.

Reap – The benefits of doing it right. Using a stager or re-designer will cost less than making a reduction on the price of your house.

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Here are the top 5 things to tell your sellers.

1. YOU DON’T LIVE IN YOUR HOME THE SAME WAY YOU SELL YOUR HOME – Many of the items that you showcase for the home you live in may need to be eliminated when your home is being shown to potential buyers. This does not mean that those items are not beautiful or important. It just means that they may be a deterrent to a buyer.

2. SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE – While you may need places for 6 family members to sit and watch television, having several extra chairs in a room may make it appear smaller. Therefore you may need to remove some of the extra furniture in a room.

3. YOU HOME MUST BE CLEAN – It is important for your home to be clean when you begin to bring in buyers. If you cannot do a thorough cleaning yourself, you may want to hire a professional cleaning company. Everything should be as clean as possible, including windows, ceiling fans, exhaust fans, floors, carpets, grout etc.

4. YOU ARE SETTING A “STAGE” – You want your home to be cozy, colorful & inviting. It’s the little things you do like adding decorative soaps in the bathroom, setting the dining room for a romantic dinner, or lighting candles. (only if someone will be there to blow them out!) These are some of the things that will make your house feel like a HOME.

5. MOVING DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER… START PACKING NOW! Many closets and cupboards are full of extra items. Start packing up those items now and put them in the storage, or in your garage. You want each closet, cupboard & countertop to appear spacious and uncluttered.

In addition to these 5 areas, there are some other very simple things a homeowner can do to add appeal to their home. Paint the front door and buy a new welcome mat. Pack away those worn tattered towels in the bath and replace with some new ones. Remove all personal photos from the home, especially from the refrigerator. Remove everything from the closet floors. Be sure the windows are sparkling clean.

Lastly, on the day of a showing open all blinds so the home is bright. Play some soft music. Turn on at least 1 light every room, including the closets, so there is a soft, warm glow throughout the home. If you must place air fresheners in every room be sure they are the same fragrance. Vacuum & dust before the showing if possible, so everything feels clean. If homeowners will just spend a little time preparing their homes for sale they will be amazed at the positive feedback they will receive. Hopefully, their extra time and effort will be reflected in a quicker sale and a large profit.

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1. Staging is always less than your first price reduction- The first price reduction can be $20,000 or more, depending on where you live. Staging a home can be a fraction of this figure. Consider this; you have reduced the price for your “empty” property and guess what? It’s still empty. Or imagine that you’ve reduced the price of your home, but the buyers still cannot see the positive features because you still have too much furniture and clutter. Staging your home will ensure that buyers are seeing all the amenities the home has to offer.

2. Your property will appeal to more buyers if it has been staged- Staging a home helps to remove the sellers imprint and allows a buyer to see themselves living in the home. By neutralizing the décor and eliminating the seller’s personality, you will increase the number of interested buyers. Give potential buyers permission to make your house their home.

3. Realtors will want to show your home- When Realtors know that a home has been staged by a professional stager, there are no surprises when they bring their clients to see your home. Homes that have been staged show better than homes that are not staged.

4. Your home will have a “WOW” factor that other homes in the area do not have- Staging will help create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, similar to a MODEL HOME. By staging a home you are creating a particular lifestyle, which helps to sell a home. Potential buyers will want to live the lifestyle you have created.

5. Helps reduce the stress regarding your upcoming move- Staging involves editing, eliminating and de-cluttering. By starting the process now, you will have less to sort, throw, pack and move when the big day comes. You may find out that LESS really is MORE!

So whether you are living in your home while it is on the market, or you have an empty home, Real Estate Staging is beneficial to all involved. Your goal is to sell your home quicker for a larger profit and staging is another tool to ensure that you reach that goal quickly.

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The WOW factor is priceless when it hits someone from curbside and that is exactly the appeal you want to accomplish when listing your home for sale. If you “don’t get them” at the curb, you may as well kiss your chances of seeing them walk through the door goodbye. A perspective buyer’s connection to your home can be rather immediate and if they don’t feel one with your home the competition in your neighborhood will be their next focus.

Creating curb appeal does not have to cost a fortune but it will take a little bit of planning on your part before you post that For Sale sign on your front lawn. Approach your home with the eye of a shopper. You may want to scope out those other homes in the general vicinity also up for sale and see how your home compares to them. Be honest, critical and leave your ego at the door. What makes them stand out? What can you do to compliment the outside look of your property?

It could be as simple as taking something away i.e. removing clutter, putting lawn equipment & tools in their proper places, pick up fallen tree limbs or removing those touching the roof, clean out your gutters, remove spider webs, rake away the leaves and excess grass after you mow the lawn and trim the walkways, power wash the siding and clean all the windows inside and out so they will sparkle in the sunshine. If your shrubs are overgrown, cut them back and weed out around them.

Low Cost Additions

- Fresh paint on outside trim & front door

- Replace old door hardware with something new

- Brighten up the front porch with large pots filled with a colorful arrangement of seasonal flowers and hanging planters or ferns

- Place window boxes in the front as a compliment

- Buyers also drive by after work and early evening which can change the outside “awe” of a home. You may want to also keep in mind the following:

- Is your entrance properly lighted? If not, add a decorative fixture or lamp/post. If you have already have a light post, surround it with an attractive bed of flowers including the color white as it shows up in dim light and reflects when the outside light is on.

- Set the stage and light sidewalks, along the drive way or highlight landscape elements with solar lighting you can find pretty inexpensively at your local discount stores.

- Make a landscape spot stand out with a spot light

- Open heavy drapes, shades, and blinds in the evening to let interior light out. Privacy sheers make buyers feel that your home offers privacy and at the same time present a gentle glow that looks attractive at night.

- If you can see a peek of your back yard, add gentle lighting to spark their imagination so they can envision it as space for entertaining guests.

Remember, buyers need to visualize in their minds eye what it would be like to occupy your home. You do not have to be a landscape designer to create a beautiful and captivating picture nor do you have to invest a lot of money to incite a “Wow Factor.”

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But guess what? In all that doom and gloom there is some good news for home owners trying to sell property in a buyers’ market. With these 10 no cost home staging tricks, you can add significant value to your ‘For Sale’ property and boost your property’s selling price.

The First Impression

Why?

Because chances are buyers will drive past the outside of your place before they inspect the inside. If they don’t like what they see, they won’t come back. Once buyers are ready to inspect the property, the look of the front yard will set the tone for the inside of the house.

What you can do:

Trim trees and shrubs, pull weeds, sweep pathways and porches, and keep your driveway clean and accessible on inspection days. Keep the front and clear of the kids’ toys, bikes etc and remove cobwebs from the eaves. Make sure your doorbell works and any paintwork is in good condition. Don’t leave a collection of shoes outside your doorway for buyers to stumble over.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Why?

It’s a no brainer. Everybody wants clean. Anything less is distracting to buyers who can’t get past it to see the home’s features. A property that’s anything less than clean inside and out, is a red flag to all but the most determined of buyers. Ignore this at your peril.

What you can do:

Clean everything! This means wash, scrub, mop and dust. You need to clean to a standard beyond what you’d normally do. You’ll need to scrub down behind the toilet, wipe out the oven after each use, while the home is on the market. Pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms. Dirt and grime in these two areas of a home will cost big bucks.

Basic Maintenance

Why?

If cleanliness is next to godliness, then the devil is in the details when it comes to home maintenance. A light that doesn’t work or a door that doesn’t close properly may be something you no longer notice. But your buyer will. If buyers notice basic maintenance problems they will suspect there is more that they can’t see. And you can bet that a buyer will take the cost (and then some) of doing those repairs, off your asking price.

What you can do:

Check everything. We’re talking every light, every hinge, every surface and every tap. Make sure every access point is that – accessible. If it involves electricity or water, get in a professional to repair it.

Start Packing

Why?:

Because you’re moving right? And besides that, the less of your stuff in the space – the bigger it’s going to seem. Buyers are not interested in your stuff. Yes, they do want to know what a room’s function is. But they aren’t interested in photos of you and your extended family. Or the mountain of toys the kids have. Warning: don’t strip your house bare. Otherwise you’ll leave it feeling cold and unwelcoming.

What you can do:

Start packing up anything you aren’t using on a day to day basis. Do this job early, so it doesn’t overwhelm you, and then get the whole family involved. Avoid storing excess gear in the garage if you can. A better option is a storage facility. Some storage companies even bring the storage to you so you can load it, they’ll store it, then deliver it to your new place when needed.

Define the Space

Why?:

Frankly it sells. This is what buyers want. So the more spacious and usable a space is the more sellable. All buyers need to know that a home fulfils the basics. A place to eat, bath, sleep and play. A home gym instead of a bedroom with cost you. If you aren’t using a bedroom as a bedroom for example, it may make a buyer wonder why that is. Is it because a bed doesn’t fit? All of a sudden your home is less sellable because it can’t cover a buyer’s basic need.

What you can do:

If you’re using a bedroom as a home office, turn it back into a bedroom. If you’ve made the garage a home theatre, go back to the original use. Haven’t got a place for a dining table to eat a meal at? Best create one. You don’t need to host a banquet in it. It can be small. It just needs to be there.

Play up the Kitchen

Why?:

Kitchens are one of the two most valuable spaces a property has. Here’s the thing. It’s not uncommon for a kitchen to make or break the sale of a property, so you need to do what you can to make it an asset to your home. The key is to make it look spacious, with plenty of storage and usable work space.

What you can do:

At the very least it needs to be sparkling clean and tidy. Check the oven, stove top, sink and benches. And let there be light. The more natural light, the better. Keep window coverings open or remove altogether if possible. Keep your bench tops clear of general kitchen clutter and limit bench top appliances to no more than two. They are big space suckers.

And the Bathroom

Why?:

Along with Kitchens, bathrooms are another of the most valuable spaces in a house. This is because if a buyer doesn’t like what they see, and they want or need to make any changes, it seems like an expensive and time consuming project to take on after the home’s purchase.

What you can do:

Again we’re talking clean, clean, clean. Toilet, sink, bath. Don’t forget the tiles and the grout. A good scrub with a small scrubbing brush brings them up looking near new. Put your toiletries away and then get your mirrors looking sparkly. Dynamize it with new and co-ordinating towels.

The Living Room

Why?:

This is an important gathering space for most people. They relax and entertain. So, it needs to look like it can fulfil that purpose with ease.

What you can do:

Keep it tidy and add in plenty of light. Don’t over furnish otherwise it’s hard for buyers to move around without running into furniture. Keep most surfaces clear. Leave a few pieces for a decorative touch.

The Main Bedroom

Why?:

The person buying the house will sleep here. So make them feel like this is a place they can retreat to when they need to.

What you can do:

The bed should fit the space, so make sure that it’s easy to move around the bed. If it’s a double size room play that up with a double bed. Unless it’s built into the bed, televisions don’t belong in bedrooms. Nor for that matter do computers. Keep the bed made at all times with fresh, clean linens. Make sure that there is plenty of natural light so buyers can take in features of the space. Keep closets tidy by packing away out of season clothing.

Create a Property Profile Pack

Why?:

This helps buyers see all the features your property and the neighbourhood has to offer. It’s a hard copy of what makes your house the best on the block.

What you can do:

There’s plenty of information you could add to a pack like this. Basic stuff includes photos of your property, information about the house and land size, the year the house was built, any special information relating to the structure. You can mention any changes you would like to have made, like putting in a pool or adding on an extra bedroom for example. If you have gotten quotes for this type of thing, include it. Add information about your neighbourhood. Things like available transport, schools, parks, shops. You can also add in any information you have about approved future development for your area that add to the neighbourhood’s quality of life.

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The technique is called staging and it’s all about presenting your home as a product on the market. There is a distinct difference between the way you live in a home and the way you should stage it to appeal to potential buyers.

Here are some staging tips that will help you sell your home for top dollar:

Detailing Your Home

If you planned to sell your car, you would detail it inside and out. You would polish all the chrome and wax the paint so it sparkled. You’d touch up any chips in the paint job and also make sure the interior was clean and neat and garbage free.

When it comes to selling your home, you should detail your house inside and out as well. This means going beyond basic cleaning and making sure your home sparkles.

Be sure your yards are neat and free of weeds. Sweep the sidewalk and powerwash the driveway to remove any stains. Get a broom into every corner and sweep away cobwebs.

Put the lids on toilet seats down and be sure to remove from sight any personal hygiene products or hygiene accessories from your bathroom.

De-Clutter

People who buy homes want to be able to imagine their own furniture in each room and picture their own family living in a new home. This means you should strive to make your house as free of your own personal touches as possible.

Removing any objects or items that clutter up corners, walls or shelves can actually make each room appear larger and give an appearance of space. Take down any family pictures or trophies and put them in boxes. If you sell your home you’re going to be moving anyway, so you’re getting a head start on your packing. The same rule applies to figurines, knick-knacks, ornaments and any other item that clutters up your rooms.

Look critically at each room in your house and remove any item that threatens to make your rooms look overcrowded. If the kid’s rooms have toys in each corner, put those into boxes too.

Neutral Territory

While brightly colored feature walls might look wonderful with your custom-made sofa, home buyers want to imagine their own furniture in a home they intend to buy. The small expense of repainting your walls in a light, neutral shade can help make each room appear lighter and larger.

It may feel as though you’re turning your home into a blank canvas, but this is exactly what a potential buyer is looking for.

Window Coverings

If you currently have heavy, dark colored window dressings or curtains, try to replace them with light, airy colored coverings. These can make your rooms appear lighter and more open and can also make your windows into a feature.

Added Space

So many homes are beautifully presented through the living areas and yet there will be nothing but storage in the basement or attic spaces. Make the most of the room you have by presenting any available space as potential added living areas.

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Curb Appeal

Look at other properties for sale in your area then look at yours as you remember to think like a Buyer. Is there anything you could do to make your property stand out? A few dollars spent in landscaping or simply taking the time to manicure and add some color with flowers may be all that is needed.

Home Staging

Remove personal items, family pictures, knick-knacks, and clutter. Take everything stuck on or sitting on the refrigerator off. Clear off the counters, especially in the kitchen, but do not forget the bathroom counters.

If you have a microwave sitting on the kitchen counter or taking up space somewhere else and you have a vent hood over your stove now is the time to spend a few hundred dollars by installing a vent type microwave over the stove. Several square feet of usable space could get you much more then you have spent.

Pack up those toys and just leave a few favorites that can be stored neatly when your house is being shown. The same is true for any pet toys, plus do not forget to put their food dishes out-of-sight during showings. If you have pets and you think there may be times that you will not be available when your house is shown, you really need to consider a cage just for those scheduled showings (Remember some people are afraid of dogs; allergic to cats or dogs; and you do not want to limit potential buyers).

Go through every room, closet, cabinet, and the garage and pack up every item you do not absolutely need. After packing all the items mentioned, find somewhere away from your home to store them. If that is not possible put them where they are completely out of the way and hopefully out of sight.

Now start cleaning or hire a cleaning service.

Make Minor Repairs

Walk through the inside of your house slowly opening doors and drawers as you go. With paper and pencil in hand make a list of anything that needs repair.

Repair those holes, even tiny, and dings on walls. Check under sinks and around all water sources for leaks. Repair, replace and/or clean flooring. If you have wallpaper check seams (there are products to reglue them). It is always a good idea to repaint as many rooms as possible but if you are unable to repaint just make sure all rooms are a nuteral color. You may love those dark colors but again you are limiting potential buyers. Even people who know it’s only paint, know to change it they have to paint.

Lighting

Open drapes, curtains and blinds. The more natural light the better. Replace any burned out light bulbs and in rooms without tons of natural light, leave on the light fixtures if possible.

Smells

We become used to smells in our home. Ask someone who will be honest with you to come take a sniff of your house. Sounds silly but it could make your house win over another.

Don’t Over Stage

There are ways to make a home look lived-in without making mistakes as mentioned above. If you need help there are people that specialize in Staging. Also many Realtors are great Stagers and they know what people are look for when they view a home.

Helpful Tips

You can use Olive Oil to clean those stainless steel appliances.

If you run out of spackle while filling those nail holes you can use white tooth paste.

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The staging process starts when you search for a qualified listing agent by asking the questions regarding staging and preparing your home for sale. Some Real Estate Sales Professionals are had earned an ASP RE Certification which is an Accredited Staging Professional for Realtors designation. Other Real Estate Professionals will have a certified ASP Staging Professional on retainer or on staff.

According to statistics, 94.6% of ASP Staged homes sell within 35 days. Additionally, the cost of staging a home can have a 300% return on that investment during the sales process. Using a Realtor that has these resources for you will reduce the days your home is on the market and get you a much better price for your home.

The “Seven C’s Of Home Staging” include clean, clutter free, color, compromise, creativity, commitment and communicate. Remember that the investment of staging your home is far less expensive that the possible price reductions on your home may incur during it’s time on the market. If your take just one price reduction in 45 days of listing your home, you could have saved probably half of that money staging your home.

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