8 Steps to Turn Your House Into a Hot Property in a Slow Real Estate Market

Summary

The spring months are traditionally the busiest time of the year for residential real estate. Staging expert Debra Gould, also known as The Staging Diva® shares 8 tips to get a home to stand out from the competition from other houses for sale in a slow real estate market.

8 Steps to Turn Your House Into a Hot Property in a Slow Real Estate Market

On your mark, get set…SELL! Oh wait. It’s a buyer’s market. What can homeowners do to catch a buyer’s eye and get them to make an offer on their property?

How can a home stand out from the competition when there are several homes for sale at similar prices in the neighborhood, or worse on the same street? Consider these home staging tips for home sellers, provided by home staging expert Debra Gould, also known as The Staging Diva®:

1. Use higher-wattage bulbs.
Bright rooms appear larger and more inviting.

2. Avoid placing furniture close to doorways, which makes rooms feel cramped.
Less is more when decorating a house to sell, so move things around and get rid of extra furniture that may make a room appear small.

3. Decorate for the target market.
If you have three bedrooms and no kids, create a child room when it is time to sell. Borrow, buy or rent items like a few stuffed animals and youthful bedding to create the right atmosphere.

4. Spruce up kitchens and bathrooms with new cabinet hardware and paint.
You can even paint laminate counter tops using a high adhesion primer and melamine paint!

5. Buy fabulous bedding, shower curtains and towels.
They will enhance the perceived value of your home, and you can enjoy them once you move. When dressing the bed, take your cue from the way they do it at bedding stores.

6. Show ample space in rooms and closets.
Excess furniture, sports equipment, toys, clothing and clutter should be donated, discarded or stored off the premises before you list your home for sale.

7. Use fresh flowers in key rooms and planted urns beside the front door.
Flowers and plants provide an excellent accent to any decor, when not over-done. They will also distract the buyers from any less favorable aspects of the property.

8. Remove all photos, diplomas, guns, trophies and religious items.
They remind buyers it is your home, not theirs and some items will be offensive to others. The important thing is to draw buyers to your home, not advertise your religious or personal views (which they may not share).

As  a long-time homeowner, you may be getting complacent about your surroundings. Often we are so used to our own homes that we cannot see them through the eyes of a buyer. Before you lower your selling price, consider the far less costly option of staging the home for sale. “Staging” just means you’re decorating for the purpose of selling, which is always different than how you actually live in the home.

A professional home stager will motivate you to take care of all the details you’ve been putting off and keep you focused on the most important tasks that will transform your home.

You can do the rest of the work yourself following the stager’s advice, or have them take care of it all for you. For help finding someone in your area, check out the Staging Diva Directory of Home Stagers, which provides access to over 1000 stagers.

About the Author, Debra Gould

Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements and creator of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with over 1000 Graduates worldwide. To learn more visit StagingDiva.com.