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HomeGain 2012 National Home Improvement Survey Results

HomeGain has released their 2012 National Home Improvement Survey Results. To get these results HomeGain surveyed 500 real estate agents nationwide. These real estate professionals determined the top 10 low cost, DIY improvements for preparing a home for the market.

The top 5 recommened improvents

Each of these improvements is essential when placing your home on the market. The one thing that I would like to point out is that as an Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM) I advise my clients on all of the above with the exception of repair electrical & plumbing. Electrical and plumbing should be inspected and repaired by professionals in those respected fields.

Cleaning & de-cluttering, lightening & brightening and landscaping are all part of the Home Staging Consultation. As a trained Home Staging Professional I can provide tips to my clients on

What to clean and what to pack up.
Cleaning windows inside and out. On which light fixtures to replace. I can even help them pick out light fixtures that will enhance the space.
Landscaping tips such as removing dead plants and weeds, planting fresh flowers and putting down fresh mulch. My tips for improving curb appeal.
Lastly, I can provide my clients with Home Staging tips as well as with hands on staging services.

Think that is all a trained Home Staging Professional can do? I can also advise my clients on items 6-10 on the survey.

The point of this is not to go against HomeGain’s survey because the information that it provides is very helpful. I even share HomeGain’s survey results with my clients. With that being said it is important that the public is educated on what Home Staging is. Home Staging is more than fresh flowers, cute pillows and playing soft music. Home Staging is the process of preparing a home for sell so that it appeals to the most amount of buyers, sells for the most money in the least amount of time. An experienced and trained Home Staging Professional will provide a Staging Plan that will outline everything necessary to get a home market ready. At the end of the day we have the same goal as the Seller and Realtor and that is to get the property SOLD!

Happy Selling, Happy Staging!

Home Staging Curb Appeal Tips

When a home is on the market it is very important that the home shows well inside and outside. Which brings me to the subject of Home Staging Curb Appeal. Curb appeal is the very first impression that a potential buyer will have of your home. Remember you can’t sell your home if you can’t get a buyer out of their car to come in and see your home! Here are some tips to help you improve your curb appeal.

1. Take a walk around the entire outside of the home and move all garbage cans, toys and miscellaneous clutter in the garage or store elsewhere.

2. Make a list of any items that need to be repaired or painted such as the siding, trim, roof or gutters. Have all items that need to be fixed professionally repaired.

3. Check your landscaping remove dead plants and weeds. Trim bushes and trees to keep them from blocking views of the house, front door and windows. Plant some seasonal flowers to add a touch of color and put down fresh mulch, top soil or rocks.

4. Keep your lawn mowed. Fertilize, feed and water your lawn as necessary.

5. Check your outdoor lights, address numbers, mailbox and front door. Do these items need to be replaced or repaired? Spray paint is a budget friendly solution to updating address plates, mail boxes, outdoor lights and even flower pots. You may be surprised by what a can of spray paint can do. Be sure to also give your front door a fresh coat of paint as well, this task may be better off being painted by hand.

6. Power wash concrete patio’s, stain decks and fences if necessary. Create a seating group on patios and decks’ keeping a less is more approach in mind.

7. Last but not least place a new welcome mat at your front door.

By completing these simple task you can ensure that potential buyers won’t pull up to your home take one look and high tail it out of there without ever viewing the inside of your home.

Happy Staging, Happy Selling!