Page 153 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2017

BOSAR tricks of the trade STAGING HOMES
CAN HELP THEM SELL
story by Lynn Lofton
Minimize art & Decor
Set the table Clear Countertops
Neutral Toned Walls
Pops of Color
Asked if staging helps sell homes, Lynn Wade, broker agent with Coldwell Banker Smith Homes, answered, “Absolutely, most buyers can not see past ‘old stuff, clutter or dated things.’ The right staging can give a house new life and allow the buyers to see their ‘idea’ of the home.”
She says it’s a growing local trend.
“I have found in the past year more sellers are willing to do what is necessary to sell their houses in a more timely manner, and staging truly helps shorten the days on the market.”
Wade believes the most important staging points are cleanliness, less clutter, one main piece of furniture in bedrooms, and up-to-date colors. “The main trend right now is a very coastal look — light colors with maybe a small accent color; a real fresh look,” she said.
By de-cluttering, she means getting rid of personal stuff, including photos, knickknacks, and anything that is exclusively you.
OTHER TIPS INCLUDE:
Paint walls in neutral tones (such as the popular coastal colors).
Turn on all the lights. If you don’t have enough light, things can look drab and dreary, especially if you have showings on a gray day.
Set the table. A blank dining room table is boring. Instead, set it for a dinner party so there is a wow factor when buyers walk in and see your beautifully arranged table.
Add mirrors. Mirrors make rooms look larger.
Strategically placing a minimal amount of furniture in a small space works better than over crowding it with too much furniture.
Minimize art and decorations using paintings that are landscapes or abstract, or figurative art that brings out an accent color in the room without being too specific.
Turn your bathroom into a spa with solid white towels, rugs, and shower curtains.
Add pops of color. Now that you’ve painted the walls a neutral hue, think about adding pops of color. These could be colorful pillows on couches and beds, or a bowl of green Granny Smith apples in the kitchen.
Clean out and organize closets.
The experts at national real estate brokerage Redfin.com suggest making sure hangers are evenly spaced apart, and matching your shoes, purses, and accessories to give a color-coordinated, organized appearance inside your closet.
Clear off countertops. Get rid of all clutter in bathrooms and kitchens except for the bare necessities that “read” bathroom (soap dish and
a hand towel) or kitchen (coffee machine). Kitchens are often the number one priority on a buyer’s list, so make yours look as clean, open, and spacious as possible.
Don’t forget that while staging the inside of your home is important, the outside — the site of your curb appeal — is just as critical.
Keep furniture proportional to the
room.
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October 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 153
Homeowners trying to sell homes often use staging
to show a home in the best possible light and hopefully lead to a quick
sale. Sometimes professional
stagers are used
but there are some tricks any seller
can use.