Specific marketing campaigns are no longer
just for automobiles and designer clothes.
Targeted marketing techniques are now applied
to houses that are for sale. Decorating
your house in a specific manner to facilitate
the selling of it is an important aspect
of selling and marketing your home; this
type of decorating is called home staging.
The goal of this type of decorating
is to strategically style to address the
psychological needs of the buyer. The
buyer has three major needs when they
look at the house.
1. Can I imagine myself (my family)
living here? 2. Is this an easy, carefree
house to live in? 3. Is this a good value
for my money?
All décor choices you make to sell
the house will reflect those needs of
the buyer. The most important tip to keep
in mind at all times is that first impressions
are critical in every area. The first
feeling a potential buyer sees this house
is curb appeal. That first glance they
get as they step in the house can sell
the house. First impression will happen
in each and every room; make those impressions
awesome!
1. Remove: This area of staging is very
difficult for some homeowners because
it involves decorating as a marketable
house not as a beloved home. You do not
want anything personal on display. This
includes removing all family photographs,
all toiletries, mail/bill piles, and all
special collectibles. All bathroom and
kitchen counters need to be cleared expect
for only one or two decorative objects.
Generally speaking, remove all wallpaper
and paint all rooms a neutral ivory color.
This meets the need of being able to imagine
living there (and not being distracted
by who lives there now)
2. Clean: The house needs to be absolutely
sparkling clean. This includes washing
windows inside and out, shining the kitchen
sink, dusting baseboards, bleaching grout
around tiles. It also needs to smell clean
and fresh. The house can not smell of
animals or cooking. Do not have daily
housekeeping supplies visible to potential
buyers. This includes laundry baskets
and dish drainers - nothing to remind
people that there will be work to do in
this house. You want to meet their psychological
need of living in an easy, carefree house.
3. Reduce: This area of staging® is
the most over looked area by the do-it-yourself
home seller. All closets of any kind -
(foyer closets, master bedroom closets,
linen closet, pantry etc) must only be
half full. And that does really mean only
½ full. Also consider taking out the
extra living room chair or extra dresser
in the bedroom. Pack up items you can
do without for the next couple months.
You want to show that the house has lots
of space and room to grow. This meets
the needs of good value for the money.
These three simple but effective decorating
techniques can help you market and sell
you home for what it is worth.
