The Morning Call (Sunday)

The power staging can have on selling your home

- By Cathy Hobbs |

Staging is a longtime secret weapon relating to selling a house. Ask any savvy real estate agent and they will likely admit that home staging is one of the key tools in their marketing toolbox. Why? Most potential buyers understand the reality of what a space looks like now, as opposed to what the space could be.

Here’s how to maximize your staging potential.

Stage primary rooms: Living rooms and primary bedrooms are two of the most important rooms in a home. Living rooms are often one of the first rooms to enter and are the main space for entertaini­ng, so it is important to make an impact. Primary bedrooms are considered sanctuarie­s and often have great importance and appeal.

Let furniture placement take center

stage: In many instances, occupied listings have an overabunda­nce of furniture. When it comes to home selling, less is more. The goal is to allow potential buyers to be able to see the space, as opposed to focus on the stuff.

Getting started: Start with foundation pieces and end with the details. In other words, start big and end small. Begin with large items such as sofas and area rugs, then focus on complement­ary elements such as artwork and end with details such as toss pillows, throws and accessorie­s.

Stay neutral: Neutral color palettes are ideal for staging. Not only do they blend with other colors, but they also create a soothing environmen­t. Gray and off-white work well.

Stage it, sell it: When a property goes on the market, it is no longer a seller’s home. Instead it is a product for sale that will be compared with others. Most buyers will visit more than one house, comparing and contrastin­g features as far as the positives and negatives. A staged home conveys one that is move-in ready, which is the desire of most buyers.

 ?? COURTESY ?? This living space has been staged and styled.
COURTESY This living space has been staged and styled.

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