Mi Casa es Su Casa (My house is your house!)

Monday :: Mar 22, 2010

It’s interesting that even though the living room is often the first room that buyers see (besides the entryway), most people find it hard to do the staging necessary to make this room appealing to others. Homeowners usually leave this room too personal when showing and it hurts the sale of the house. Follow these simple tips to make this room appeal to your target buyer!

1. De-personalize! This can’t be stressed enough. Leaving up family pictures and mementoes from travels or collectibles is such a hindrance to selling a house. Buyers want to visualize themselves living there and your family photos and collectables are a distraction

2. Evaluate - Take a close look from floor to ceiling in the living room. Do you have wallpaper or outdated paint colour? Update it with a fresh neutral colour. Is the carpet worn or dated? Replace it. There are many easy and affordable options. Do you have heavy draperies on the windows? Remove them and pull up all blinds if you have a great view. This is a selling feature. Always keep in mind that a neutral decor and colour palate is the best choice when it comes to selling your house. 

3. Refresh - Eliminate old, stale smells by having your carpets cleaned and giving your house an overall scrub top to bottom. Don’t forget about what you are cooking. Avoid cooking foods that have a strong smell that will linger. By opening your windows an hour or two prior to a showing or open house will help to eliminate any remaining odors. Don’t forget about your pets…buyers do not want to smell your pets when they come into the house.