By Bruce Ueno
Is there anything worse than watching your home languish on the market, especially if you must relocate quickly? If you are buying a home soon, the longer your existing home sits on the market, the greater the change that you will face the nightmare of paying two mortgages simultaneously.
Avoid this frightening
situation by doing everything you can to sell your home quickly. One of the
best ways to entice buyers is to have a dream kitchen. You don't have to
remodel your kitchen to woo buyers. Instead, you can use kitchen staging to
maximize your kitchen's dreaminess without breaking the bank. Here's how.
Walk in the buyers' shoes
Buyers walk through homes trying to imagine how they would fit in. If you stage your kitchen to make it a place that buyers can visualize themselves cooking, then you've succeeded. Therefore, remove personal items, especially refrigerator magnets and art. Your knickknacks and pictures can jolt buyers out of their fantasy. Start packing now. Each box you pack early is one more moving chore that you have completed.
Buyers walk through homes trying to imagine how they would fit in. If you stage your kitchen to make it a place that buyers can visualize themselves cooking, then you've succeeded. Therefore, remove personal items, especially refrigerator magnets and art. Your knickknacks and pictures can jolt buyers out of their fantasy. Start packing now. Each box you pack early is one more moving chore that you have completed.
Clean, clean, clean
Even if buyers aren't neat freaks themselves, they like to imagine that in a new home, organization and cleanliness will reign supreme. Clean the inside and outside of every appliance even if it doesn't convey. Clean baseboards, dark corners, and inside drawers and cabinets. Get on your hands and knees to clean the floor. You'll be surprised by what your mop has missed over the years. When staging a kitchen, make it model-home clean.
Eliminate unwelcome odors
Of all the senses, the sense of smell is the most closely linked to memory. Aromas can make or break a deal depending upon the images they evoke. One professional staging expert I know routinely warms a pan of ground cinnamon in the oven for a few minutes to simulate the aroma of freshly baked cookies! Because we quickly become desensitized to the odors within our own homes, it's a good idea to give your kitchen a "sniff test" from time to time. Walk in after having been outdoors for a while, close your eyes and take a whiff. Your kitchen should smell pleasant without greasy or foul smells. Air fresheners are okay, but they should not be overpowering, suggesting that you have something to hide. Keep the trash cans clean and empty. If the house will be vacant for a time, have someone run the water to keep the U-shaped trap beneath the sink full. The barrier of standing water is there to keep sewage gasses from entering your home and turning off potential buyers.
Even if buyers aren't neat freaks themselves, they like to imagine that in a new home, organization and cleanliness will reign supreme. Clean the inside and outside of every appliance even if it doesn't convey. Clean baseboards, dark corners, and inside drawers and cabinets. Get on your hands and knees to clean the floor. You'll be surprised by what your mop has missed over the years. When staging a kitchen, make it model-home clean.
Eliminate unwelcome odors
Of all the senses, the sense of smell is the most closely linked to memory. Aromas can make or break a deal depending upon the images they evoke. One professional staging expert I know routinely warms a pan of ground cinnamon in the oven for a few minutes to simulate the aroma of freshly baked cookies! Because we quickly become desensitized to the odors within our own homes, it's a good idea to give your kitchen a "sniff test" from time to time. Walk in after having been outdoors for a while, close your eyes and take a whiff. Your kitchen should smell pleasant without greasy or foul smells. Air fresheners are okay, but they should not be overpowering, suggesting that you have something to hide. Keep the trash cans clean and empty. If the house will be vacant for a time, have someone run the water to keep the U-shaped trap beneath the sink full. The barrier of standing water is there to keep sewage gasses from entering your home and turning off potential buyers.
Create counter space.
It's time to do some more packing. Entirely clean out one or two cabinets. This is your new space for small appliances. When you put clutter away, you send the message that your kitchen has loads of work space.
It's time to do some more packing. Entirely clean out one or two cabinets. This is your new space for small appliances. When you put clutter away, you send the message that your kitchen has loads of work space.
Improve the eating area
In the eating area, less is definitely more. Take any leaves out of your kitchen table, and store any extra chairs. If your table is large and doesn't have leaves, then consider storing it and replacing it with a smaller version. A little paint can revitalize an inexpensive thrift store find and turn a small table into a fantastic home staging tool.
In the eating area, less is definitely more. Take any leaves out of your kitchen table, and store any extra chairs. If your table is large and doesn't have leaves, then consider storing it and replacing it with a smaller version. A little paint can revitalize an inexpensive thrift store find and turn a small table into a fantastic home staging tool.
Lighten up
Light makes space appear larger. Under-cabinet lights are inexpensive and easy to install. Install enough lights to eliminate dark corners. Next, upgrade the bulbs in your existing lighting. This simple adjustment really makes a difference.
Light makes space appear larger. Under-cabinet lights are inexpensive and easy to install. Install enough lights to eliminate dark corners. Next, upgrade the bulbs in your existing lighting. This simple adjustment really makes a difference.
Remove extras
If you have a baker's rack that holds your cookbooks or a decorative cart that doubles as a place to store vases and baskets, you need to start packing. Store both the extra furniture and the items in it. When your kitchen has extra furniture, not only does it look small and cluttered, but the extra furniture also sends the message that your kitchen doesn't have enough storage.
If you have a baker's rack that holds your cookbooks or a decorative cart that doubles as a place to store vases and baskets, you need to start packing. Store both the extra furniture and the items in it. When your kitchen has extra furniture, not only does it look small and cluttered, but the extra furniture also sends the message that your kitchen doesn't have enough storage.
Hide pet supplies
Bowls for pets look sloppy. Remember, buyers are imagining a pristine cooking space. In addition, every reminder that you have pets invites worries about dander, odor, and fleas.
Bowls for pets look sloppy. Remember, buyers are imagining a pristine cooking space. In addition, every reminder that you have pets invites worries about dander, odor, and fleas.
Give your cabinets some love
A great way to spruce up your kitchen is to replace your pulls and hinges. If your cabinets are painted, then wash them until they shine. If they are made of wood, then clean them using an appropriate wood cleaner. Afterward, improve their richness by rubbing them with furniture polish or oil. Some companies, such as Old English, offer tinted oils that really improve the color.
A great way to spruce up your kitchen is to replace your pulls and hinges. If your cabinets are painted, then wash them until they shine. If they are made of wood, then clean them using an appropriate wood cleaner. Afterward, improve their richness by rubbing them with furniture polish or oil. Some companies, such as Old English, offer tinted oils that really improve the color.
Add warmth
That's right. You went to a lot of trouble to remove personal items. However, now it's kitchen staging time. Look at decorating magazines or catalogs from establishments, such as Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn. Here, you may find a picture of a kitchen with a lone bowl of fruit on the counter top. You may find that the table has a bouquet of fresh flowers. Sometimes a table is set with colorful place mats and candles. Copy this minimalist, but approachable, décor.
That's right. You went to a lot of trouble to remove personal items. However, now it's kitchen staging time. Look at decorating magazines or catalogs from establishments, such as Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn. Here, you may find a picture of a kitchen with a lone bowl of fruit on the counter top. You may find that the table has a bouquet of fresh flowers. Sometimes a table is set with colorful place mats and candles. Copy this minimalist, but approachable, décor.
The kitchen is arguably the
most valuable room in your home. When you take the time to stage it properly,
buyers will begin imagining themselves living here. They will visualize
themselves creating delicious meals and sharing warm family moments. Before
you know it, they will be selling themselves on your entire home. Perhaps a
contract will be coming soon.
Having a Real Estate Agent who's been through the paces will help ensure a successful sale. Selling a home in the Inland Empire? Contact me at (951) 310-0397.
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