HGTV originally launched in 1994, but the popularity of the shows related to selling Real Estate is a newer phenomenon. WHY are these shows so popular, and if you are a home seller, do you have anything to learn from them? Yes you do! People love to look at homes, whether they are buying or not. What does this mean? If they are looking to buy a home, they have seen various levels of perfection in decor already! You have to meet their expectations!

Here are the top 5 ‘Takeaways’ for Home Sellers:

• Buyers like to envision themselves living in the home. If your decor is very dramatic or personal, that can prevent the buyer from seeing themselves in your home. Each home will require the opinion of a professional who has seen competing listings, but there are some general guidelines for helping the buyers see this vision: Remove personalized photos and replace with artwork or photographs of nature – Box up clutter and store it somewhere – Clear your kitchen counter tops of appliances and leave room for the bare minimum – Sparking bathrooms, with minimal content. You could pull that off in a weekend!

• The first impression is the most important impression! Buyer’s perception of your home is dependent on what they think when they first pull up, and when they are opening the front door. Look at your exterior through a stranger’s eyes – is it kept up? Is there anything that appears old or disheveled? Sometimes replacing an old door bell, getting a new welcome mat, and wiping down your front door is all it takes. You may have to paint a bit, trim a bit, and of course shovel that walk way in the winter time!

• Buyers like bright and open. Keep your blinds open during the day if you are not home. If there is a dark section of your home, leave the light on so it does not appear so gloomy. Buyers have trouble picturing themselves living in a dark home.

• Space, Space, and more space. They will be opening cabinets, closets, and pantries. This is your opportunity to de-clutter and showcase the storage spaces your home has to offer. We call this step ‘Become a Minimalist!’.

• Odors – keep them neutral and pleasant. There are several ways you can achieve this, but be careful. Everyone’s sense of smell is different, so if you choose something powerful like Glade Plug Ins, it could turn a buyer off. We recommend the gentle reed diffusers from Pier One. This line is gentle on the nose, but fragrant enough to give the area a pleasant scent. Stick with neutral scents: Vanilla, Linen, and scents related to comfort food like sugar cookie, cinnamon spice, can be nice as well.

If you would like personalized Staging information, please contact Mark directly for a referral to a stager with proven results.