Archive for the ‘Staged to Sell’ Category

Here are some of the factors that appraisers Joni L. Herndon of Real Property Analysts/Gulf Coast in Tampa, Fla., and John A. Hillas of Hulbert & Associates Inc. in Modesto, Calif., say they consider when determining value.

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Mold is a type of fungus made up of tiny microscopic organisms that can grow practically anywhere, such as on ceiling tiles, wallpaper, wood, paints, carpet, and insulation. It multiplies via spores and shows itself in a variety of colors, from greens to browns to pinks, grays, blacks, and yellows. The most common mold growth area in the house is the bathroom, since mold grows on moist materials.

If you spot mold in one of your listings, you’ll first want to size up the problem, and then create a plan for safe and complete removal.

If the mold is found in a small area, less than 10 square feet, removal can be a do-it-yourself project. Here’s how:

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Selling a home that is vacant can be harder than selling a lived-in home, experts say. Here are some ideas from Pam and Dave Pettigrew, certified residential specialists with Prudential Rocky Mountain in Fort Collins, Colo., on what practitioners and sellers should consider to protect an empty property and get it sold.

Source: Coloradoan, Pam and Dave Pettigrew (04/12/09)

Staging a yard can give a home the all-important, buyer-pleasing curb appeal. Here are some suggestions that are both inexpensive and easy.

• Make it green. Balancing the pH level and feeding the lawn lots of nutrients will give it a lush and healthy look.
• Trim trees and shrubbery. Overgrown branches hide a home’s good looks.
• Mulch everything. Mulch gives flowerbeds visual appeal.
• Edge the beds. Edging makes everything look neat.
• Powerwash the siding, sidewalks and patios. Power washing gets rid of all the winter grunge.
• Plant annuals. Lots of geraniums, impatiens and petunias brighten up the look.
• Plant a garden. If the Obama’s can do it, so can everyone else.
• Hang a hammock. It suggests life is easy.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, June Fletcher (04/03/2009)

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Model homes are important tools for builders because they help buyers fall in love with a home.

Phyllis Ryan, president of the model-home division of Interior Concepts, a Maryland design firm that specializes in furnishing new homes, has some tips that might benefit anyone who is selling a home.

• A stylish kitchen appeals to many buyers.   If a sellers has upgraded cabinets and granite countertops, that’s good. If they don’t, it may help to display some stylish touches like an espresso machine, a retro toaster or just some luscious fruit.

• Lots of light makes spaces feel larger. Turn on all the lights even during the day and add a few extra lights if necessary.

• The master bedroom should seduce a Buyer. Play soft jazz, pile the bed high with a cushy comforter and pillows. Stack plush towels in the bathroom.

• Add drama to a bottleneck or a dead end space. Prop an oversize mirror against the wall. It visually ops a space and adds drama.

Source: Washington Post, Elizabeth Razzi (03/14/2009)

Downsizing is a fact of life for many people these days. If you are facing what can be a traumatic situation, here’s some advice from Jim Henderson, president of William C. Huff Co., a moving and storage company that specializes in affluent home owners.

• Start early. Once home owners have made the decision to sell, they should start the weeding and moving process. A side benefit is that this winnowing of belongings will make their home more attractive to buyers.

• Begin by eliminating things that aren’t used frequently. Belongings that have been relegated to the basement, the garage or the attic are good candidates for sale or donation.

• Get the whole family involved. Asking grown children to take what they want can painlessly remove a significant portion of belongings.

• Digitize photos and other paper. Storing memories online can keep them safer longer as well as eliminate clutter.

• Suggest to sellers that they consider including the furniture in the sale. This can expedite the transaction for both buyer and seller.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, June Fletcher (01/29/2009)

The home is a pigsty and potential buyers are arriving within the hour. Here’s what home owners can do to turn chaos into order, says Julie Edelman, author of The Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a Clean-Enough House.

• Target the bathroom. Wipe down the sink, toilet, mirror and floor with disinfectant wipes. Empty the trash. No toilet bowl cleaner? Drop in denture cleaner, let it fizz for 20 minutes and flush.
• Salvage the kitchen. Clear the countertops. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Spray down the counter with a clean-smelling multipurpose spray.
• Pick up debris. Concentrate on getting rid of clutter in the living room. Put it in a bag and hide it in a bedroom closet.
• Vacuum everywhere.

Source: Chicago Tribune, Emilie Le Beau (12/21/2008)

Simple fixes and staging practices can focus buyers’ attention in the right places and keep them from getting sidetracked by personal items in the home.

Here are some staging suggestions from Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Staging Plus in Tampa, Fla., Handyman Matters, and HGTV’s The Stagers.

• Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious.
• Pack up the too-personal. Don’t leave toiletries on the counter. Stash family photos.
• Be prepared for snoops. Prospective buyers pull open drawers, look in closets and peek behind the shower curtain.
• Make sure things work. Dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs, and squeaking hinges detract from the home’s appeal.
• Think “white-glove clean.” Mop, dust, vacuum, clean baseboards, wash windows. Make sure the house looks fresh and smells neutral.
• Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways.
• Store furniture that makes rooms feel crowded.
• Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you’ve turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs.

Source: The Dallas Morning News (09/05/2008)