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Real EstateWeekly NORTH SHORE
Thursday, September 1, 2011 17
Serving the North Shore for over 35 years
Open Homes Index page 19 Op
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Is “staging” my home for resale worth the effort and cost? A: REALTORS® suggest that staged homes spend less time on the market and sell for more than their un-staged counterparts. Staging is more than just cleaning up: it is what you do after you’ve cleaned, painted and repaired. When you think of staging think theatre: presentation, impressions, engagement. “Staging for resale gives your property a huge competitive edge, a marketing boost that shows your home in a positive way that buyers can relate to”, says Toni Lindsay of RE/MAX Masters Realty. With your REALTOR®, Toni advises, first decide what segment of the market to appeal to and then work to towards “wowing” the largest possible segment of that market. The basic effort means that your home inside and out should be spotless and I mean toothbrush-in-the-corners spotless. Paint should be fresh and simple, windows sparkling clean. Remove torn or worn furniture, junk in the yard, personal photos and busy nickknacks on bookcases – de-clutter. Remove items that will distract from the space: that giant collection of Star Wars figurines in the living room, for example. Be creative with furnishings, art, fresh unused towels, and even iron the bedding and empty the garage keeping the spaces simple yet inviting makes a huge impression. Every detail inside and out should be on your potential hit-list and staging professionals can help you with creative planning, purchasing or renting. They can simply consult or they can do the work for you. Remember, the idea of setting the stage for a quick and profitable home sale is to put your potential buyer’s needs and desires first. It is a small investment with a huge return. Ruth Mason
Your home. Your way. Distinctive interior design solutions.
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