Many home sellers seem to think that staging a home is only necessary for high end homes in Honolulu luxury markets The truth is that any home, even the most humble one, can benefit from staging techniques. Presenting a home in its best possible light can help it sell more quickly-and for a higher price. So staging is something that every homeowner should do before putting his or her home on the market.
Many people also think that staging their home will cost a lot of money, but the truth is many of the most successful staging techniques are also the least expensive. You do not have to hire a professional landscaper or repaint the entire home to benefit from the advantages of home staging. Taking simple and low cost steps like mowing the lawn, pulling the weeds, scrubbing the front porch and filling in cracks in the paint can have a dramatic impact on the home's appearance.
One of the most difficult parts of staging a home is knowing where to start. In some cases there will be obvious things that need to be fixed, but in other homes it can be hard to know what potential buyers will focus on. One great way to determine where to focus your efforts is to walk through the home as if you were a buyer. If you have a hard time being objective about your own home you may want to have a family member or friend do it for you.
As you walk down the hallways and enter each room think about where your eyes are being drawn. Does the eye automatically go to that chipped piece of plaster near the ceiling? If so, be sure to patch it up. Do you notice the unsightly holes on the walls where pictures once hung? Be sure to patch those holes before the first showing. Are you drawn to that comer where the wallpaper has started to peel? Be sure to glue those trouble spots back in place and make sure the finished product has a uniform appearance. If the problem cannot be solved without completely redoing the wallpaper you can draw attention away from problem areas with a strategically hung picture or piece of artwork.
As you (or your friend) continue the walk around the home, be sure to open and close all the cabinets and doors are on the lookout for squeaks, sticks and misaligned drawers. If any problems are found be sure to get them fixed promptly. You can be sure that potential buyers will check the cabinetry and doors for any problems if they find issues they may make the assumption that the home is in poor condition.
