Everyone loves a show.

In Vegas, on TV, at the Blaisdell, or in the cafeteria of your kid’s school, we all understand the use of props, lighting, music to showing a different side of life, a brighter side. There's something very elemental in our need to alter reality, even if just on the surface, for just a few hours or days. Ancient cultures used dance, drums, costumes, and masks to stir the imagination. If you want to sell your home, you can use "staging" to get buyers excited enough to buy that really big ticket item.

Is Reality Irrelevant?
A successful home sale is a bit like putting on a show. Have you ever spiffed up your house or apartment because your mother-in-law was coming to stay for a week?  Home staging is a lot like that – showing your home's better side, maybe with a little theatrics to spin reality in your favor. An old marketing slogan says it best: "Reality is Nothing, Perception is Everything." That's not to say you should conceal defects or misrepresent the facts - that's another matter entirely, and absolutely forbidden. It's more like dressing up for a first date - at the very least, you bathe, iron your clothes, and put on cologne. If you want serious results, you will crank it up a notch!

Basics of Staging
Much like a picture benefits from a beautiful frame, your home can be framed for maximum impact. Staging is what separates the merchandise in a designer boutique from a garage sale junk pile - even if it's the identical item. Proper staging will make you stand out from the crowd and help you sell your home faster, at the best possible price. To get some great ideas, visit a few Model Homes at any of the new-home communities. Read some design magazines. After you have done the hard work of cleaning and de-cluttering the fun can begin. You will be amazed at what can be done with a simple boxy room to add sparkle and appeal.

First Impressions Count
Buyers will decide within the first 30 seconds whether or not they are interested in your home. What could they possibly be looking for that can be revealed in so short a time? Clearly they have not had the chance to test the plumbing or measure the size of the bedrooms. It’s because the emotions will light that initial spark, not the brain.

Home buyers are emotionally involved in the decisions to buy a home. This is the place where their dreams will unfold, and their families will thrive and friends will congregate. It goes beyond the appearance of your home, and includes the sounds and smells that create the whole multi-sensory experience. If you can harness this power, you will be amazed at the response. You can take your home from "weak" to "WOW!" in the buyer's eye. It can be fun and profitable, too if you do it right.

You Need Help!
Work out a plan with your real estate professional before you buy items to stage your home - unless you are a professional.  For example, you might want to fill your home up with artificial flowers and plants that will actually cheapen the appearance of your home rather than enhance it. Are you aware that Craftsmanship and Simplicity are important new design trends? It’s a waste of money to purchase new cabinets, in a color or finish that is out of style. You should first to learn what will help the sale and increase your home's marketability based current buyer’s preferences. Many real estate agents offer free home staging service to their own clients. Some homes, especially luxury homes, can benefit from the professional advice of an interior designer who specializes in home staging.

How's your "curb appeal?"
Unless your home looks great from the street, don't expect many people to come inside. A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch is welcoming. Consider painting your front door, even if your home was painted in the past 3 or 4 years. Pressure washing the exterior also works wonders especially if you live in a "red dirt" area. Place a few bright pots of flowers near the entry - this adds $$$ onto your selling price! If you have a carport, get rid of any untidy visible junk. Garage doors should remain closed, hoses coiled up, trash cans put away. 

For condominiums, it begins just inside the door. Greet buyers with a live green plants or a blooming orchid. Express a comfortable style that will attract buyers to your home. Some people choose to use the principals of feng-shui, the ancient Chinese art of placing objects in harmony with the flow of energy in your environment.

Ditch the Clutter
Clutter is a big problem in many homes, and it kills more home sales than you can imagine. If you have possessions packed into every closet, corner, and cranny, it gives out the message "this house is too small". Solution: rent a storage unit nearby, and fill it with the things you can do without until you get to your next home. This may force you to make difficult decisions but now is the time. Why let is drag down your sale - and price?

Put away all the items that accumulate on kitchen and bath counters. Piles of bills and bottles of pills should be out of sight. They are very personal reminders of unpleasant realities and will shatter the mood. Likewise, cans and boxes of food should be in the cupboard, not on the counter. Put dishes, pots, and pans away in the kitchen cabinets.

Out of Sight
These items should not be seen when showing and selling your home:

• refrigerator magnets –eliminate or minimize
• personal financial items like bills & statements
• the dish drainer
• kitchen trash cans
• dish cloths& sponges
• brooms &  vacuums
• cleaning products
• toiletries and medicines
• cute signs and talking trout plaques (you know who you are)
• OK to keep out attractive bottles of lotions and soaps etc purchased for staging
• personal photos and certificates can be very distracting

Squeaky Clean Sells!
It sounds so obvious, but it can't be overstated. Focus first on the bathrooms and the kitchen. Everything must be immaculately clean looking and fresh-smelling. Deep cleaning and professional carpet cleaning makes a big difference. Hire a professional if it seems overwhelming.  

It is also smart to hire someone to clean all the windows and screens - especially the hard to reach ones. This makes a huge difference and is a bigger job than most of us can accomplish on our own. Once it's clean, keep it clean on a daily basis as much as possible. Involve kids in keeping their own rooms tidy and clean - or else! Once you have a clean slate, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains. If you don't have just the right ones, it is a small investment to buy matching new ones to use specifically for this purpose.

Paint + Carpet = $$$$$
Next, if your woodwork is scuffed or it's been a few years since you have painted & carpeted, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh interior paint will add value to your property far above the cost. If your flooring is ready for replacing, now is the time. As inconvenient as it is, you will make back more than the cost if you replace worn out carpet and any other beat up or outdated flooring now.

It is a common misconception that buyers want to select their own flooring, paint, and other finishes. Wrong! Many buyers have no vision whatsoever, or no time or money after the purchase. They would rather see how great your home looks right now than guess how it could look "with a little work." They will overestimate the cost of redecorating and deduct that from their offer price, assuming the highest possible cost to renovate.

Accessories are Key
It’s what separates us from the lower animals – the ability to accessorize - so don’t underestimate it. Colorful accessories are the rage, as are "theme" decorating schemes, just don't get too extreme or too cutesy. Some of the many styles to choose from include earthy and serene Balinese flavor, beachy Hawaiian themes, retro Plantation style, ultra contemporary viewpoint, or some sort of eclectic blend of your own. It can be fun and easy to find inexpensive items to add pizzazz and enhance your chosen image. You could also stick with a clean and simple look as another alternative especially if your basic home is in great shape and needs only a few classy touches. Or if your home is in the million- plus range, you could hire an interior designer to give it that professional touch to make it stand out.

Lights! Action! Camera!
Rooms look bigger and better with the lights on even in the daytime. While you are at it, consider replacing any dim or burnt out light bulbs with the clear unfrosted type. They give more sparkly bright light without having to up the wattage of the bulbs. New light fixtures are one of the best values to give a fresh, up to date appearance and provide better lighting to dark corners. Choose something with a little style that goes with the flavor of the home. Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is. Involve kids in keeping their rooms clean, too.

No-Nos 

• DON'T have the TV on - ever - while your home is being shown. When it's time to show your home, if you want background music turn the music on low with classical or cool jazz to add atmosphere that whispers - not shouts - "buy me today".
• DON'T have food cooking in the oven or on the stove if it's smell can be detected. It is distracting at best. Possible exceptions are the irresistible smell of baking cookies or bread - as long as you have samples available!
• DON'T hang around during showings or Open Houses. Take the dog on a walk or run an errand when the buyers arrive to see your home.
• DON'T let pets sabotage your sale. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot and can cause allergic reactions. So do everybody a favor: Keep them out of sight or take them out for showings. And pet odors are a "no-no" so be sure rugs and litter box are 100% fresh.
• A Big DO: Keep your home in showing condition at all times, and try to accommodate prospective buyers when they want to see your home. It can be inconvenient at times but your home will sell quicker if you are flexible.

Showtime!
Now your home is ready to be photographed for marketing flyers, virtual tours, Internet web sites such as realtor.com, and in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It's best to use a wide-angle lens to capture the rooms from wall-to-wall. It may be worthwhile to hire a professional photographer, which I usually do as a part of my service. You will have a powerful image online, and you can proudly show your "production" in person to buyers and their Realtors at Open Houses and private showings.

These general suggestions are meant to help you see what staging means, and how it can help you. The right staging is the first step to marketing your home to sell. It makes all the difference in the sale price and how long it will take to sell your home. Let your real estate professional give you specific suggestions tailored to your home and the current real estate market. If you are not sure if your agent is a good stager or marketer, ask to see photos of staged properties, and examples of the marketing flyers, internet sites, and photos used. I would be happy to answer your specific questions about staging and marketing, just email me directly at mailto:stephanieg@remax.net so that I can give you a personal response. 

Article © 2011 Stephanie Gieseler Honolulu, Hawaii. All rights reserved.