Home Selling Tips

Staging in the Spring

Any professional home stager will tell you that the basic principals remain the same throughout the year—keep things clean, clutter-free and colorful. But springtime has its own special set of rules. There are a number of things you can do both inside and out to take advantage of the beautiful weather:

-Add splashes of color to your porch with potted flowers. Larger pots filled with tulips or daisies and accented with greenery make a nice touch. By introducing seasonal colors to the outside, your home becomes very attractive to prospective home buyers.

-Bring spring colors into a home with accessories like throw pillows, area rugs, artwork, towels and bedspreads. If you change accessories, the whole house changes.

-Use decorative knickknacks that speak of spring, such as pears, eggs, and seashells. Add leafy patterns in fabrics and wicker. Use real leather and rusted metal as contrasts.

-Replace the drapery panels in a home or office.

All rooms are important. There are ways to liven up each as the spring season blooms. You want the buyer to absorb the whole house, not just one or two staged rooms, so it’s important to create a cohesive design.

And how about the great outdoors?

-Remove fallen leaves and dead plants.

-Add bright, new plants where you can.

-Trim bushes and hedges.

-Scour outdoor furniture.

-Sweep porches and patios.

Indeed, spring brings more buyers, so take advantage of all that the season has to offer. 

What Is A Takeaway?

Consumers frequently base buying decisions on emotion. They then use logic to rationalize those emotional decisions. Homesellers, working closely with their real estate agents, prepare their homes to evoke positive and personal emotions. An important tactic is to create “takeaways” to keep those fond memories resonating in prospective buyers.

The Letter:

Consider writing a personal letter from you describing your experience of falling in love with the home when you were the buyer. The letter could describe the warm friendships you’ve established in the neighborhood. Or it could recall joyous holidays around the home with pictures taken during special times.

Recall a memorable moment of coming home after the birth of a child or after a vacation. Buyers can relate to these things emotionally. They reinforce positive feelings buyers experienced in your home. To satisfy their logic, describe the loving care you’ve given the home.

First touch upon the emotions, then appeal to buyer’s rationality.

List remodels, updates or upgrades you’ve done and include anything that gives buyers a sense of confidence in your home’s current condition. Be sure to mention any pricey features you’ve added.

The Brochure:

Another effective takeaway is a brochure using high-quality color photographs of your home’s interior and exterior. Add captions or short descriptions that help buyers remember. Again, appeal to the buyer’s logic—a descriptive sentence followed by a list of key marketing details and the tender loving care you’ve given as owner.

If you’re good at writing warm personal letters or if you have the ability to create a professional-looking brochure, it’s quite acceptable to save money by doing it yourself. If not, turn to professionals to create compelling takeaways that ensure a lasting emotional connection with buyers.

Find more ideas and information at www.ClevelansRealEstateSource.Info and keep up with local market trends and www.HomeValuesInLakewood.Info. 

Chris Bergin is a licensed real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lucien Realty in Lakewood and can be reached at Chris@ChrisBergin.com.

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Volume 12, Issue 9, Posted 3:24 PM, 04.26.2016