St. Bethlehem Office:
931-503-8000

Ft. Campbell Office:
931-647-8342

SMS Text Messaging:
931-320-0875

Main Office Fax:
931-503-9000

Email:
relo@prudentialclarksville.com

The Importance of Home Staging

There is no question that in many parts of the country, houses are currently on the market a little longer. As a seller, this slow-down means there is more competition for a limited pool of potential buyers. Therefore, it becomes important to set your home apart. How can you do this? One way is through home staging.

Homes staging is important because most potential buyers are looking for a house they can move right into and enjoy immediately. The percentage of buyers looking for ‘fixer-uppers’ is small, so little improvements can go a long way towards making a good impression. The first impression is always the most important, and a potential buyer will typically make a judgment in the first 8 seconds of a home tour.

Because of this, it’s vital to create curb appeal, which is part of home staging. If the outside of the property doesn’t create interest or appear well-maintained, a buyer may choose to not even come inside the home. So, make sure that your walkway is clear, the paint on your front door looks fresh and not cracked, the grass is mowed, and the windows are washed. The inside of the home also needs to be uncluttered. You want the home to seem warm and cozy, but not overly decorated. You want to balance making the home too personal and too empty. By leaving the décor in your home neutral the buyer can imagine their furniture in the home. By keeping counters, coffee tables, and the fronts of refrigerators uncluttered buyers will be able to actually see and take in the characteristics that make your home unique, instead of being distracted by magazines and magnets. You also want to make sure all cabinet and closet doors are closed, the bed is made, and laundry is put away so that the home appears tidy.

In creating a good impression for potential buyers you want to engage all of their senses, and this includes smell. If your home is for sale you want to make sure to do a sniff test every day before you leave. Sometimes we can become immune to certain smells, for instance if you smoke in your home or have a pet, but buyers will smell them instantly. Keep an inexpensive package of cookie dough in the fridge and bake a few in the morning before you leave for the day. You can also pop a stick of cinnamon in a pot with a lemon slice and a little water. These smells create a pleasant atmosphere and can remind potential buyers of their own homes.

Whenever you are staging your home, make sure to always look at things through a buyer’s point of view. Drive past your home, what’s the first thing you notice? Walk through the front door, what do you smell? Look around the main rooms, are they cluttered or is the décor distracting? Home staging is all about making the potential buyer feel at home in your home, so keep these tips in mind when you are preparing to sell your home.

The Clarksville, TN real estate market consists of 54,000 single family homes and over 2,000 condos and town homes. Ft. Campbell real estate is affordable to most military ranks and located mostly on the north side of Clarksville. To learn more about Ft. Campbell properties, click here.