by Shannon C

Happening Homes is brought to you by Yardley’s Drew Ferrara with RE/MAX TOTAL. Drew Ferrara has been Ranked #1 of all Bucks County’s RE/MAX Agents for 4 years running (2011 through 2014); has earned the distinction as one of the top 25% of the top 1% of all real estate agents in Bucks County; and even ranks among the local agents representing homes with the least active days on market (Source: Trend)!

Never settle for less than TOTAL!  Call Drew at 215.369.HOME or read more about his winning Bucks County real estate formula online at www.homesinbuckspa.com.

Listen up if you have a home in Bucks County that you are trying to sell!  These staging tips are so important not only in getting your home sold quickly, but also in getting the most money for it.  Proper staging will allow potential buyers to envision their life in their new home and as a result, feel the heat from other interested buyers! Bringing in professional stagers, though, can add up, especially at a time when expenses seem to be piling on. Here are some simple tips to staging success:

Clean Curb Appeal

While landscaping is great, not everyone can afford to have it professionally done.  At the bare minimum, the lawn should appear to be freshly mown with the leaves raked up and/or the snow shoveled.  Think about hanging a plant or putting one in a pot by the entrance to the home.  Make sure that all of the walkways, the deck, porch and driveway are swept and that the recycling and garbage are tucked away at the rear of the house.  Also, the steps, outside railings, porch and outside doors should all be scrubbed clan.  This is much cheaper than having them all repainted and will make a huge difference.  Once you have thoroughly cleaned the outside of the front of the house, you will be able to make the decision about whether finishings needs to be painted or not.

Declutter the Entire House

Choose one area or closet at a time so that this chore doesn’t overwhelm you.  Look at each and every single item with an eye that is extremely critical and ask yourself why you should keep it.  Aside from this making an amazing difference in the appearance of each room and space in the house, it will also make packing to move easier.

Keep in mind that living in your home looks different to what selling your home should look like.  Try to get that “show home” look as opposed to the “lived in” look. De-personalize your home by removing sentimental pieces and family photos. Struggling to let go? Think about it this way- the earlier you remove those personal touches, the faster you can unpack them in your new home!

Turn Your Extra Inventory Into Currency

If you happen to have a stockpile of items that you have never used – think craft supplies, house cleaning supplies, light bulbs, paper products and even canned foods – return them to the store where you bought them.  Even if you don’t have the receipt.  You won’t be able to get your cash back, but they will give you a store credit that you can use for a later purchase and this will also mean less stuff that you have to pack for the move.

Pay Attention to Small Details

There are fast and inexpensive ways to “fix” many of the small issues that are keeping your home shabby instead of fabby!  Walk through each hall, room, and space and make note of the things that catch your eye.  If it is chipped white paint, you can always use a bit of White Out® to fill it in.   Maybe there are some nail holes.  If so, hang a picture over them so that they are not overtly visible.  If you have wallpaper that is peeling, glue it back into place.  While these solutions will not completely cover the issues – and they shouldn’t, ethically speaking – they will serve to draw the eye away from the issues.

Then, finish it off with emotional cues that will help prospective buyers picture a serene and happy life in your home such as lit candles or flowers.

Air it Out

Open the windows and/or doors for a minimum of 10 minutes before each showing.  (Unless it is snowing or extremely cold that day).  There is nothing that is worse than going into a house that smells like pets, smoke or is just plain old stuffy! Let the sunshine fill your home by simply opening all of your blinds.

Happy selling, Bucks County!

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