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Setting the stage for selling

Buyers dream of their perfect home. That’s why it’s important for them to be able to visualize themselves in your home with their belongings. Are there piles of collectibles filling your rooms? Your home will seem small. Is there orange shag carpeting covering the floors? Your home may not appeal to all buyers. Do you see dust on the furniture and untended flowerbeds? Your home will feel cold and unwelcoming.

Your REALTOR® knows how important it is to showcase your home to its best advantage. Here are some helpful hints to get you started.

De-clutter. Start by getting rid of clutter in all areas, even closets and cupboards. Don’t hang on to things that haven’t seen the light of day in ten years; don’t keep things that you’ve only used once and aren’t likely to use again. Toss them. Clutter can be off-putting and can make your home feel cramped and crowded.

Clean, clean, clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, or rent a steam cleaner yourself. Scour the bathroom and kitchen. Wash the windows and take down the dusty curtains. Polish your furniture. Scrub the floors. Drag out your ladder and dust off ceiling fans. If you want your home to shine, you’ve got to use a little elbow grease.

Glorious gardens. Or ones that are neat and tidy. Landscaping should enhance your home, not hide it. Trim any shrubs that have grown wild and prune any out of control tree branches. Plant some flowers. Peonies and periwinkles are a good choice as they brighten up any area and will last the entire growing season. Large clay pots filled with colourful blooms can be placed on either side of your front door to spruce up your entry.

Light it up. You’ve cleaned and de-cluttered and maybe even re-painted. Now it’s time to show it off. The best way to do this is to make sure your home is lit properly. Stage your lamps so they light your home to its best advantage and buy more if you don’t have enough. Make sure they’re turned on. Even if it’s bright daylight, open up the blinds and turn on the lights. Nothing is as welcoming as the glow of a comfortable room.

The trick is to look at your home through objective eyes. If you were seeing it for the first time, would you fall in love? Ask your REALTOR® for help. Most REALTORS® know how to make your home look its best and will offer tips and a list of other professionals you might call upon. And remember the old cliché, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” So make it count.