Send Your Home on a "Date"

by Jay Myers on July 12, 2009

A Note from Jay Myers — I was fortunate enough to receive a phone call from Clara Caussey this week offering her Home Staging Services free of charge to my next new listing. Appreciating her offer, and respecting her initiative to acquire a new relationship in real estate I asked her to become a Guest Contributor here at My Denton County Real Estate. She has graciously accepted and the following is her first — I hope of many — articles she has written to share with the visitors of this site looking to buy or sell real estate in DFW. Regardless if your are currently listed with another real estate agent, or are a REALTOR in the area I would encourage you to contact Clara and take advantage of her training and experience. Thanks again Clara!

First impressions are important. Think about the last time you went on a first date.

Preparing for a first date is unlike anything else. For first dates, we shave, iron, do our hair, put on cologne or perfume, and dress to the nines. On a first date, we do everything we can to make sure that the relationship isn’t doomed before it begins.

Selling a home is like that. When you sell your home, you should dress it so that it looks its best and so that buyers fall in love with it.

That’s what home staging is all about, sending your home on a date that will lead to a lasting relationship with a buyer. Here are some simple rules that home stagers use to get a home ready for its first date.

Fireplace Before and After Staging

Rules for Dating (Buyers)

Clean up.

Just as we go the extra mile when cleaning up for a first date, sellers must go the extra mile when cleaning up their homes. Buyers are aware of every imperfection, so extra “stuff” shoved in a closet will say the same thing to buyers as a baseball cap over messy hair: the owner doesn’t take care of the place and/or the owner doesn’t care. Don’t let clutter keep your house from having a long, happy relationship with a buyer.

Smell good (but not too good).

A dab will do when it comes to cologne and perfume, right? The same goes for houses. Homes should smell good, but the smell should not be overwhelming. And, as a shower does more for the making the body smell good than cologne, completing Rule #1 to eliminate any pet or offensive odors is essential before you plug in the Glade.

Make sure you match (but don’t be too matchy).

A no brainer, right, but the second half of this rule is the hardest part. The colors, textures and fabrics of your home should harmonize, but they don’t have to and should not match exactly. A girl on a first date with an argyle skirt, sweatervest, and hair ribbon is just as much of a turn off as a bedroom with a flower print bedspread, curtains, and wall paper. When staging your home, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Don’t talk about yourself too much.

This one is a bit of a stretch when it comes to actual dating, but it’s vital when it comes to staging your house for buyers. The buyers should walk through your home looking at its architectural features, the beautiful floors, the large rooms, and the great backyard. Leaving all your family photos, nicknacks, and other accessories out is like talking about yourself for the whole evening. You want the buyer to remember your house, not your stuff.

Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.

Let’s face it; a first date is uncomfortable, but no relationship can develop without one. Sometimes, staging your home can get uncomfortable, too. Your furniture may be rearranged to create a floor plan that flows, your personal items may be put away in an effort to de-clutter, and your favorite red wall may be painted to neutralize your dining room. Breaking out of your comfort zone and making these changes, however, is what lets a buyer see your home’s relationship potential.

Sticking to these five basic rules of home “dating” statistically leads to a quicker and more profitable sale. For more home staging tips, or for an opportunity to have your home staged for FREE, contact Clara Caussey at claracaussey@yahoo.com.