Getting your home ready to list on the market for sale can be an overwhelming task, especially with a struggling economy to weather. Preparing your house to sell is all about your ability to stage your space accurately and efficiently.
Staging your living room starts by taking a step back from your home and looking at it with neutral impartial eyes. You are planning to list your house for sale in a housing market where there are quite a few homes for sale and not as many potential buyers. As a result, your living room has to make a big statement in order to stand out from the rest. Take into consideration these few simple tips and you will have a home that is ready to sell in no time at all.
Clean Homes Speak Volumes to Potential Buyers
If you have ever entered a living room only to find that there is a layer of dust on everything, the windows are dirty and spotted, and the carpet looks dull and grimy, then you know how unappealing a dirty home can be. Before you even consider listing your house for sale, you should do a deep home cleaning. It must be a sincere and full-fledged cleaning effort. A potential buyer has no history with your house, so he or she must evaluate your home based on first impressions. A few important deep cleaning tips that are often overlooked in a living room include dusting the baseboards, cleaning the interior and exterior of appliances, dusting the ceiling fans and light fixtures, and washing dingy throw rugs and window treatments.
Eliminate Old Odors and Add Fresh Scents
It is so easy to get used to the odors in your home that you might not even realize that they could be offensive to someone else. Pet odor and cigarette smoke are two of the most common reasons why a house won’t sell. Remarkably, changing the carpet in the living room where your pet typically resides, or where you are most likely to smoke, will usually take care of the problem. In addition, make sure that you properly ventilate your home before you begin to show it to potential buyers. You might think your favorite recipe smells delicious, but a potential homebuyer could have a varying opinion.
After you have adequately ridded your living room of unpleasant odors, you can purchase a few plug in scent rings or a couple of candles to freshen up your home. A couple of the most favorable scents for a home include fresh linen and vanilla. It is best to steer clear of scents that are too powerful or overly fragrant.
Organize and Simplify Your Furniture and Accessories
In general, it is best to de-clutter your living room before attempting to list it on the market. When you prepare to sell your house, and as you begin the staging process, remind yourself that not all pieces of furniture and not all home accents add to the value of your home. You want your living room to look organized and simple so potential buyers can visibly imagine their personal belongings in the space. You don’t want your living areas to look crowded or cluttered.
Some practical tips for reducing clutter include putting away small knickknacks, eliminating stacked books or magazines, storing shoes and clothes in a closet, putting away family photos, and reducing the number of accessories on your living room accent tables.
author, Kristine Tucker.