When your home is staged to sell you will have a home that is transformed to show off its best features. After it has been staged, you may not be sure if you can move anything. What if there is something in your home you just can’t live with? What do you do? That is why our Anne Winch Ottawa Real Estate and Staging Team can help you through any questions you may have when your home is staged with our Team.
A home is staged ultimately to create a certain vision that is captured through professional photography and is the buyers first look at your home. You need this vision to entice buyers to see what your house has to offer so that traffic will ultimately travel through your home and in the end a “sold” sign will be on your front lawn. Here are some tips for you to live as a family and still have your home staged.
Keep it tidy
The number one rule is you want your home to be tidy both inside and out. You need to be ready for any showings you will have while your home is selling. When you house is clean it delivers the message of pride of ownership.
Bring in the light
Make sure that blinds or drapes are open and lights are on for any showings. It is hard to see the features of a home if it looks too dark. If your home is too dark often buyers are turned off or think you are hiding something.
Furniture groupings
Although furniture groupings may not be conducive to some family living, it is there to show the size of the rooms. Not all furniture needs to be positioned against the wall. It is best if your home is staged with furniture groupings to leave it as such if at all possible. There is a reason your home stager decided on this look.
Stuffing clutter away
Buyers do open closets! So, if you think you can stuff clutter away in your closets, it can be very detrimental for the sale of your home. Use pouches or totes that can quickly be put away for areas like in bathrooms or bedrooms. If your cupboards or shelving is overcrowded you may be giving a red flag that you lack storage space. A simple solution for this is to allow them to be filled just half full. This goes for kitchen, bedroom or linen closets. If you have overcrowding you just scream lack of space.
Pets
Make sure that you tidy up any pet droppings both indoors and outdoors. Keep litter boxes clean and tidy and stored out of site if possible. If you have multiple pets inside, you may not be aware of their odors so make sure your home is clean smelling. Some buyers may have allergies or may be frightened by certain pets, therefore it is best to take your pets with you, if possible.
Living in a staged home is not always easy. You need to be organized and keep on top of any clutter. However, if we have staged your home and there are certain staging accessories that you just can’t live with, let us know. We are sure to find something that suits the ambience of your home and makes you happy too. Personal pictures or other personal items should be tucked away but if you feel that they are important for you to have visible, we will always work around what makes you feel comfortable. After all this is still your home.
Let us know how we can be of help to list, stage or sell your home. If you have any questions on how home staging works, give us a call. We definitely want to be your real estate and home staging team of choice!