Let’s take a break from finances and talk about another important — and easier to understand — aspect of selling a home: STAGING!
In a recent Realtor.org newsletter, expert stagers shared their top four staging challenges. Let’s address them.

• “I don’t want to change my decor.” The important thing for sellers to keep in mind is that the house is no longer an expression of you. Lori Matzke of Center Stage Home in Minneapolis says, “I tell [my sellers] I’d also have to remove art from my house to sell it so that the listing would appeal to the masses.”
• A confused layout makes the home seem cramped and unlivable. Multi-function rooms can seem confusing, especially when vacant. Kala Callahan of Addressed to Sell in Wilmette, Illinois says, “People wonder, ‘where is my couch supposed to go?’”  Give each room a clear purpose, and remove excess furniture to make the home seem bigger.
• A vacant home seems cold and uninviting. It’s important to warm up an empty home, Callahan says. You don’t need to buy new furniture, but could rent or borrow a few pieces to give your rooms meaning. “You’re selling the home, not the furniture,” she says.
• The listing has languished on the market for months before the owner or salesperson calls a stager. “Stage the house right before it’s listed,” Matzke says. Otherwise, it may lose its selling momentum. However, it’s never too late to stage a home and update your listing with fresh photos.

Sabrina Soto hosts Get It Sold on Home and Garden Television (HGTV). Check out her list of tips for easy home staging and prepping to get your house market ready. If you are in need of a professional stager, ask me! There are people in the Cincinnati area who can help you with these projects.

Related...

• January 4, 2011 -- Our Favorite Blogs of 2010
• October 18, 2010 -- How to “Bake” A Home for Today’s Market
• April 22, 2010 -- The AmyBSells Team Pleases Another Client
• March 3, 2010 -- DIY Staging Checklist