We live in our homes very differently then when we try to sell them. Ensuring your home appeals to the broadest of audiences, is critical in getting the maximum dollar value possible. We have all walked into a show home and fallen in love. Ever wonder why? One reason is that developers spend a great deal of time and effort to ensure the home shows well. That is the same sense we want to convey to a buyer when they walk into your home, “Wow this place shows so well!”

So how do we do that? Decluttering and depersonalizing goes a long way to achieve this goal. Decluttering helps make the rooms feel bigger and look “clean.”

For example, removing all the little appliances and the dish rack from the kitchen counters helps to show how much counter space there is. If the counters looked cluttered, it will be difficult for the potential buyer to get a sense of how much counter space there is. They may think, “It seems like these sellers are running out of space, will we have enough space for our stuff?” This is one of the last things you want a buyer to think.

Staging is not only about renting or buying furniture, rather, re-arranging what FAMILY you already have to “show-off” the room. This is where a professional stager can really add some value. You might not like where they suggest the couch goes and it might not even be functional, but it makes the room look bigger and that is the objective. Highlighting your home in the best possible way. ■

“As appeared in the winter 2019/20 edition of Experience Tri-Cities magazine.”

Provided by: Hafez Panju