Live and Play Chicago - Fall/Winter 2009

Staging;Your
Home;for
Under;$500

Taking time to ensure that your home shows well before putting it on the market can really pay off – both in terms of a better price and a quicker sale. Best of all, you can see these benefits without the need to remodel bathrooms or pursue major renovations. Instead, there are simple, inexpensive steps you can take to optimize your home’s presentation.

Here are a few of the tips our Team gives clients when preparing their homes for sale:

STAGING

Closets

Most sellers don’t realize the importance of organizing all their closets. Buyers care about having ample storage, and overstuffed closets can give the impression that your storage is anything but “sufficient.” Before you put your home on the market, thoroughly clean out your closets and get rid of everything you no longer need.

rolled in baskets or neatly folded. Move all your shampoo bottles and personal care products out of sight. Cutting out and replacing old caulk and upgrading bath hardware or lighting can also make a significant difference. Finally, look at your colors. Out-of-date finishes like cultured marble are less noticeable when you put an appealing, contemporary color;on;the;walls.;Again,;Restoration;Hardware;and;Pottery Barn are good sources for design ideas.

Here are some simple ways to make your closets feel more spacious and inviting:

•;Remove;all;dry;cleaner;plastic.

•;Group;your;clothes;by;type;and;then;by;color.

•;Toss;out;your;old;hangers;and;replace;them;with;new, matching hangers. Bed Bath & Beyond sells ultra-slim, non-slip velvet covered hangers that are attractive and;inexpensive.;Generally,;avoid;wood;hangers;(they are expensive and bulky), except for with men’s suits.

•;Use;matching;clear;plastic;boxes;to;organize;your accessories.

•;Move;everything;off;the;floor;and;onto;shoe;racks, shelving or hangers.

Lighting Most people don’t give much thought to their lighting, yet it is critical to a home’s presentation. A dull, poorly lit home is much harder to sell than a crisp, brightly lit one.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: TONY SOLURI

Bedding Upgrading your bedding is a great way to help your home feel new and fresh, and you can use them in your new home! Simply get rid of your old linens and start from scratch. Before shopping, look online at the bedding collections at www.restorationhardware.com. Note how they furnish their beds with well-pressed sheets, a stylish blanket tucked in tight around the mattress, lots of pillows, and comforters;folded;down;at;the;foot;of;the;bed.;Regardless of where you shop, your objective should be for your beds to present a look of refinement and coordination.

Bathrooms
Imagine the pinnacle of luxurious hotel baths. A set of fluffy
new white towels and a crisp new cotton or linen shower
curtain can go a long way toward creating that feeling in
your own home. Also, consider displaying extra towels

Here are some easy suggestions to improve illumination:

•;Put;away;your;new;fluorescent;and;low-energy light bulbs and save them for your next home.

•;Install;halogen;floodlights;in;all;your;recessed;ceiling fixtures. Halogen gives off a brighter, cooler light and is used to illuminate the merchandise in upscale retail stores.

•;Install;clear;incandescent;bulbs;in;light;fixtures;where you see the bulb, like bath sconces.

•;Do;not;rely;solely;on;overhead;lighting,;and;especial-ly not on a single overhead source like a ceiling fan or center fixture. Lamps are a must in bedrooms, your home office, etc.

•;Make;sure;all;your;bulbs;in;a;single;fixture,;like;a chandelier or bath strip light, are of the same wattage.

•;If;your;bath;fan;and;light;are;on;the;same;switch, consider getting an electrician to “split” the switch so they can be controlled separately. There is nothing worse than showing a bath to a potential buyer and having to speak up over the sound of a noisy exhaust fan.

If you have questions about preparing your home for sale, feel free to call us at (877) 440-3760. We provide a complimentary evaluation for our clients. More often than not, our clients have only one complaint after they finish staging their home for sale – they regret not doing it sooner.