Seasonal Staging Tips
If you are planning to sell your home this fall or winter, you may want to think twice before turning you front lawn into a Halloween graveyard or winter wonderland. According to Phil Dorner, president of the Ontario Real Estate Association, it is important to keep seasonal decorations to a minimum when opening your home up to potential buyers.
"Visitors need to be able to picture themselves living in the space," says Dorner. "An overly cluttered or decorated home will detract from their experience, Keep in mind not everyone celebrates the same holidays that you do or shares your taste in decor, so it's always best to follow the rule of less is more when showing your home around holidays."
If you choose to decorate your home during the selling process, make sure to follow these tips:
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Keep it clear. Decorations should not block hallways or prevent potential buyers from entering or exiting areas of your home.
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Engage the senses. Soft lighting and a nice aroma (like pumpkin or cinnamon) will welcome guests without being overpowering.
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Make it homey. Especially when selling in fall/winter, create the feeling of comfort by layering couches and beds with throws and cushions, for example.
Keep it functional. When decorated, living spaces should still look the part (i.e. a family room should not resemble Santa's workshop).
Some general staging tips:
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Make sure your home is spotless, especially the high traffic areas.
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Put away personal belongings like family photos.
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Make sure that closets, cupboards and drawers are organized to show maximum storage potential.
Create ambiance in certain rooms like bathrooms by laying out plush towels and candles without over cluttering the space.
Do not spend loads of money on staging. Keep it simple, take advice from your Realtor on what potential buyers are looking for and choose a full service Realtor that will cover this cost and assist you with the preparations.
For more information call for a no obligation Market and Home Evaluation and a preliminary staging critique.
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