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More About Preparing Your Home for Sale
Information for Sellers
Look at Things With a Professional's Eye
by Coral Nafie, interior decorator - About.com
Lori Matzke, Professional Home Stager and Founder of "Center Stage Home" says, "What most homeowners need to understand, is that the way a home should be presented for resale and the way you live in your home are two completely different things. Most of us don't actually live in our lives like a page torn out of House Beautiful.
"Keep in mind that what you are selling is the house -- not its contents," she adds. If you remove throw or area rugs, eliminate clutter and collections, and cut down on furniture and accessories, the room will appear to be more airy and spacious. "It's all about flow. The eye should move easily from room to room, reflecting on the best features of your home rather than on the possessions inside the home. You really have to completely detach yourself from your possessions and look at your home like you're seeing it for the first time." Look through the eyes of the buyer.
If you just can't see through all your things to the core of your home, consider hiring a professional.
Interview two or three home stagers at your home.
Find out what they will (and won't) do, how long it might take, what the fees are, and how soon they might be able to start. Ask for references from recent customers, see photos of their "before" and "after" homes, and get their opinion on what exactly needs to be done in your home. Also, be sure to clarify what items in the plan that you will be responsible for (perhaps moving clutter to the storage unit) vs. what they will handle for you.
"Often, a Professional Home Stager can advise you about small improvements that will improve your home's re-sale value," says Ms. Matzke. "Often times, things a homeowner may overlook, like adding fresh paint and replacing worn carpeting, can make a huge impact on a buyer's first impression of your home. And likewise, what a seller feels may be a big drawback may not be a factor at all in the overall appeal of the home." Ms. Matzke offers more information and a printable list of home staging tips on her website, Center Stage Home.
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