Well in the last two months right here in Regent Park at 1 and 25 Cole St. there were 5 , 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom sold ranging from $350K to $399K. The one that sold the quickest, which was 2 days and the for the most amount of money, was the unit that was tastefully furnished with the right amount of furniture and accessories, minimum clutter and most importantly spotless, meaning cleaned by a professional cleaner. The one that sold for the least amount and was on the market for the longest time had a full family always home during showings ,with tons of furniture and knick-knacks (nice way of saying junk) everywhere, always smelt like they were deep frying something, and definitely was not clean.
Would you buy a dirty car? A car that had junk left in it with a dirty ashtray? Would you buy a bruised, dirty fruit? A wilted flower? Maybe!! But you would not pay the asking price and it definitely would not be your first pick. I can assure that.
So sellers, it’s not a scam, or something we try to “get” you to do, it’s just common sense. When you invite your friends and family to your home for a special occasion , don’t you clean extra and make everything look perfect? Well imagine that day and set up your home just like that so when people walk in they feel that great energy. The potential buyers feel that the owner really takes pride in their home. Home ownership is something to be very proud of.
Some Home Staging Tips:
- Depersonalize: Take down all the family pictures, sports posters, collections and fill in the holes or cover it with a piece of art. If you don’t have any, borrow some paintings from a friend even IKEA has prints for less than $10.
- Change bright painted walls to neutral colours.
- Make sure everything in the house is in top condition. No torn screens, cracked plaster or burnt out pot lights/bulbs. You may have gotten used to seeing them, and repair anything that needs it.
- A clean kitchen. Counters should be clear and clutter-free. A single bowl or vase holding cooking utensils is okay, but that’s about it. Store small appliances in cupboards. Clean inside drawers and cupboards, and organize them neatly. Buyers do open them .And let’s not forget the FRIDGE, keep it to the minimum items required, and ensure it is clean.
- Fresh linens and towels. Make sure any visible linens (tea towels, chair cushions, oven mitts, etc.) are brand new or at least look brand new or clean them and iron them.
- Hire a professional cleaner. They range from $75 for 3 hours up to $150 for 5 hours. No excuses.
- Plants. Add some new healthy plants.
These are just a few tips to get you thinking in the right direction.
So when you ask – to home stage or not to home stage – we think yes.
