Here's nine tips for staging your home, three cheap and easy things every seller should do, three "mid-sized" tasks that provide a good return, and three big projects that will maximize the value you get for your home.
Simple Staging
1. Clean up and de-clutter - If you are serious about selling your house, you are going to be packing soon anyway, so get an early start but putting away as much "stuff" as possible. There's nothing wrong with your stuff, except that its "yours." You want buyers to be able to focus on the house and envision their stuff in there. You don't want buyers to spend their time looking at your awesome vacation photos and miss seeing the house.
Quick tip: A mixture of one-part vinegar/one-part water for getting finger prints off of stainless steel appliances. Also, a mix of bleach and water is great for cleaning grout lines.
2. Touch-up the paint - Hopefully if you did any painting, you had some leftover you can use to touch up any scratches or dings on the wall. If you've personalized any rooms (very bright or very bold colors) repainting with a more neutral color will appeal to a broader range of buyers.
Quick tip: If you have one room that is a little too small, like a eat-in nook or family room, try painting it the same color as the adjacent room. Matching colors make the rooms flow together and make the smaller room appear larger.
3. Make luxurious bathrooms - some inexpensive bath soaps, candles, lotions placed on the bathroom counters will give your home a "high-end" feel that buyers like.
Mid-Sized Projects
1. Lay fresh mulch - If you are getting ready to sell immediately, it is probably too late to make drastic changes in the landscaping. But, putting down some fresh mulch will upgrade the curb appeal of your house instantly. Don't buy mulch from a big home store, though. You can save a lot of money purchasing from a wood recycling facility, like H&H in Vancouver or Compost Products in Portland.
Quick tip: Wood recyling places also except yard debris and wood scraps for a small fee, so if you have some shrubs that need major pruning you can drive in with a load of yard debris and drive out with some fresh mulch.
2. Update cabinet hardware - You can update kitchens and bathrooms just by adding new hardward to your cabinets and drawers. Replace brass knobs and pulls with more contemproary brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze pieces.
Quick tip: If you have wood cabinets that have seen better days, rub some orange oil over them to help return some of their lost luster and shine.
3. Purchase new towels or linens - Putting a contemporary comforter or new towels in a bedroom or bathroom will make draw buyers attention and make the home feel new, even if it is not. The best part is after your home sells, you will have already have new towels for your new home!
Big Projects
1. Update appliances - HGTV's staging experts say that most sellers get a dollar-for-dollar return when they purchase new appliances. Not only will they give your kitchen a newer feel, having the manufacurers warranty will give the buyers some extra piece of mind...just be sure to save all the purchase and warranty information to pass on to the buyers.
2. Re-finish cabinets - If your cabinets need a little more than new hardware and a coat of wood polish, but you don't want to purchase new ones, consider having the cabinets refinished. It's cheaper than replacing them but gives the appearance of a brand new kitchen.
3. Paint your trim - Repainting your baseboards, window, and door trim white will lighten up the entire house. It can be a time-consuming project, but will make your home stand out from the competition.
