If you're considering selling your home in Woodbridge, Westville or New Haven Connecticut, you need to look at your home as potential buyers will see it.

Turning your home into a show home may seem impossible. However, if you really want to make some changes you can do so with the following home staging tips. It is really easier than you think to turn your ok home into a show home with just a little bit of work. Plus, the effort you put forth will more than likely result in a higher selling price for your home so it is really worth it!

Tip #1 Organize
When we live in our homes we begin to accumulate clutter.  Soon it doesn’t look unorganized to us, the clutter is just part of the overall design. However, the clutter is obvious to everyone else and does not lend itself to a show home atmosphere. So, if you really want to make changes, you will need to get organized. The best way to do this is make a schedule and start with one room and then move on to the next. Pack, pack and pack your going to be moving anyway so get a head start and box your "stuff" up.  If you don't have enough storage room on hand consider renting storage space.   

 Organize your closet, then your cabinets and drawers, followed by shelves, and the like. Throw everything out that is not important (be careful here if your anything like me you can throw valuable things away.  I tossed out a whole gym bag of my husbands full of baseball cards that he and his grandfather had collected - I had no idea they were worth anything). Magazines, mail, old receipts, and things you just don’t need should be tossed. Be critical and toss everything that is not essential. Your home will look better for it and really you will feel better as well.

Tip #2 Landscaping
The first impression potential buyers will have of your home is the landscaping. Just like a first immpression when meeting someone appearances count!  So, you want to make sure the lawn and outside areas are neat and clean, use the garden hose aggressively and clean everything, especially your front entance and sidewalk. If you can afford professional landscaping then it is worthwhile because it will increase the selling price of your home. If not, then make sure the lawn is freshly cut, flowers are planted, and the external areas are just as clean and appealing as possible. When potential buyers arrive, they will immediately have a positive impression of the home.

Tip #3 Repairs
If you want to sell your home you probably don’t want to invest much more money before doing so. However, a small investment of time and money can really pay off. For example, a fresh coat of paint can really freshen up the walls and make the home more inviting.  Again going with the first immpression make sure your front entrance is sprakling clean, and paint the front door and trim.  Fill in any cracks or holes in the wall with spackle and re-paste peeling wallpaper. Basically, any small repair you can make will make your home look better and it won’t give a bad first impression. Have a friend’s critical eye help you identify what repairs should be made to help your home sell faster and for a better price.  Ok, better yet call Kim and Donna over becasue we are very good at this and have creative ideas that can inexpensively help to showcase your home.

Tip #4 Clean
Above all, staging your home to sell involves cleaning and more cleaning. Scrubbing floors to make them shine, cleaning cabinets, dusting, and simply making every part of the home shine will impress potential buyers because they can see the home as they want it to look, rather than trying to see in their mind’s eye what it would look like if it were clean. Cleaning will more than likely increase your selling price and it only takes a couple of days for a really good cleaning!

There are many other staging tips that can help you sell your home.  As an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), I help stage the homes of my clients who are selling their homes. But, if you don't have any help, then simply follow the steps listed above, and you will see a major difference in no time!

Ask us about Home Staging in Woodbridge and New Haven CT and the surrounding areas, and how we can help you get the most for your home by helping you stage and market it effectively!