C&S Realty Network
(301)790-1810
(301)790-1810
Tips for Staging Your Home
Inside
- Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items.
- Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen counter-tops. If it hasn't been used for three months...put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.)
- In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from counter-tops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops. Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes, perfumes, etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels to one or two colors only.
- Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary. As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room. This is wonderful for our own personal enjoyment, but when it comes to selling, we need to think out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger.
- Take down, or rearrange certain pictures or objects on walls. Patch and paint if necessary.
- Review the house inside room by room, and:
- Paint any room needing paint.
- Clean carpets or drapes that need it.
- Clean windows.
- Don't worry about closets or garages in regard to being "too full." People expect that.
- Leave on certain lights during the day. (I'll show you which ones.) During "showings" turn on all lights and lamps.
- Have stereo FM on during the day for all viewings.
- Key Box- #1 importance: "If we don't have it, they won't show us!!
Outside
- Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage.
- Check gutters and/or roof for dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.
- Look at all plants...prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. You can't sell a house if you can't see it.
- Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove any dead plants or shrubs.
- Clear patios or decks of all small items, such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys, etc. (Put them in garage.)
- Check paint condition of the house -- especially the front door and trim. Curb appeal really works!
Stress Management
What Is Real Estate Stress Management?
Real Estate Stress Management is an approach that takes the stress of both listing and purchasing a house, and gives that burden to me. There is stress in every real estate transaction and my goal as your agent is to, in essence, massage the deal so that together we move forward with as little stress to you as possible. I accomplish this through:
In real estate, as in any kind of work, surprises are what cause stress. For instance, if you travel to work everyday along a wide-open freeway, you experience stress when there is an unexpected accident. If you expect the everyday traffic--and you anticipate that it's going to be bumper to bumper--your experience is totally different when the traffic hits. It may be the same traffic, but foreseeing obstacles and preparing accordingly makes all the difference.
So How Do We Prepare For It?
When we expect the going to be rocky at times, we are equipped to handle it much better. I educate my clients by:
What Kinds Of Stresses Are We Talking About?
One of the most potentially stressful processes is the physical inspection of a property once in escrow. I remind my buyers and sellers that, in most cases, they are dealing with a “used property”. I let the seller know that the buyer will come in with a wish-list of things they want repaired or credited for repair. I tell the buyer that they're going to want certain things fixed as part of the transaction.
But with both buyer and seller I make sure that the things focused on are key elements to the integrity of the house. Stress begins when the buyer or seller begins focusing on the little things. I educate them to focus on the larger picture--and not get hung up on a noisy garbage disposal or pool filter.
Real Estate Stress Management is an approach that takes the stress of both listing and purchasing a house, and gives that burden to me. There is stress in every real estate transaction and my goal as your agent is to, in essence, massage the deal so that together we move forward with as little stress to you as possible. I accomplish this through:
- Education
- Communication
- Organization
In real estate, as in any kind of work, surprises are what cause stress. For instance, if you travel to work everyday along a wide-open freeway, you experience stress when there is an unexpected accident. If you expect the everyday traffic--and you anticipate that it's going to be bumper to bumper--your experience is totally different when the traffic hits. It may be the same traffic, but foreseeing obstacles and preparing accordingly makes all the difference.
So How Do We Prepare For It?
When we expect the going to be rocky at times, we are equipped to handle it much better. I educate my clients by:
- Discussing the issues
- Identifying any problem areas
- Rehearsing the rocky points ahead of time
What Kinds Of Stresses Are We Talking About?
One of the most potentially stressful processes is the physical inspection of a property once in escrow. I remind my buyers and sellers that, in most cases, they are dealing with a “used property”. I let the seller know that the buyer will come in with a wish-list of things they want repaired or credited for repair. I tell the buyer that they're going to want certain things fixed as part of the transaction.
But with both buyer and seller I make sure that the things focused on are key elements to the integrity of the house. Stress begins when the buyer or seller begins focusing on the little things. I educate them to focus on the larger picture--and not get hung up on a noisy garbage disposal or pool filter.