All the world is a Stage

Is there anyone who does not love looking at model homes? A good model home will subtly fill you with the feeling of freshness, of moments waiting to happen, of possibility.  Maybe it is the soft nursery that has you longing for baby cuddles, the sleek office space that empowers you to pursue your career goals with gusto, or the kitchen, ready for fresh lemonade or a dinner party. Every space in a successful model home is designed with intention, and the intention is to make you connect with some part of the home. This connection causes you to unconsciously imagine how perfect life would be if you lived there.

Designers, psychologists, and developers spend a lot of time and money staging homes, and research shows that it is money well spent.  Data suggest that staged homes sell for 1% to 6% higher and two to three times faster than homes that are not staged (https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/profile-of-home-staging).  

If you are trying to sell your home, staging can be just the thing that puts it on the top of buyer’s lists.  But the truth is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your home a more memorable, inviting space. Here are a few tips that every seller should know:

• Mentally turn your HOME into a HOUSE!

This process involves taking an emotional step back.  Mental distancing can be difficult to do if you raised a family in the home or have a special fondness for it.  But you need to see your house the way a stranger would see it, without the emotional ties. Viewing the house without emotion will enable you to see things that you might need to freshen up, repair, or remove from the space

• Limit or remove anything that distracts a buyer from imagining they live there.

Every moment your potential buyer is picturing you in the house, they are not picturing themselves there. Some common distractions are personal photographs; pet water and food bowls, toys, and beds; unmade beds; medication; and personal grooming items like toothbrushes, combs, etc. You want potential buyers to imagine living there, not think about you. If they feel like they are invading your personal space, they will spend less time in the house, and that is never a good thing. Little touches like lowering toilet seats or putting your clothes away can make a subtle, yet impactful difference on the looker’s experience.

• Create intentional memory-making spaces in the “high value” parts of your home.

Some examples would be a cute coffee cup and a book in a reading nook, wine glasses on the veranda, a chess game tucked away on a small table, or rolled beach towels next to the pool.  The possibilities are endless!

• De-clutter.

Then go back and de-clutter again. Remember: You do not want anything that will distract your buyer. Less is always more when selling a property.

For more creative tips on how to sell your property faster, please contact me at Kenda@TheAgencyLosCabos.com

Saludos