George Kachulis, Broker
Royal LePage Team Realty, Brokerage

 Royal LePage REALTORS® bearing the e-agent® or e-broker® designation have completed various technology courses and maintain their own websites.

What is STAGING?


Staging is the process of preparing any home for sale, regardless of price or location. Using a proven set of guidelines, your house is inspected for compliance with proven standards and any necessary modifications are made. Once this process is complete, the home is ‘Staged’ and ‘Ready For Sale’. Often in Staging, less is more! Get a head start on moving, start packing by removing clutter!

Tip#1: “Get Ready To Move — Start Packing Your Clutter”

Try looking at your house “THROUGH THE BUYER’S EYES” as though you’ve never seen it or been there before. Any time or money invested on the following will bring back more money in return, and hopefully a faster sale.

A PROPERLY STAGED HOME, SELLS FASTER! SELLS FOR MORE!

Why is "Preparing your Home for Sale'' so important?

Today's buyer is busy. They need to find a suitable home quickly and get on with their lives. The buyer is interested in moving into a home that does not require any "move in" repairs. They do not want to patch or paint the inside or do landscaping on the outside. They want to walk into a house and say, "I can live here without doing a thing". Furthermore, most people are visually oriented and cannot mentally remodel a home in their heads. They want to see homes that are ready to move into - now. Sometimes all it takes is a few small changes, which may not transform your home, but can make a dramatic impact on buyers. The ultimate goal is to place the home in its best showcase condition - your home should be displayed like a model home. The intention is to create a visual impression that is instantly appealing and presents a lifestyle that captures prospective buyers' hearts. A series of first impressions that showcase your home's best features help the buyer emotionally connect with the home and in turn able to visualize living there.

The recommended changes could be as simple as which pieces of furniture to move, which accessories to keep and which to pack away, and if there are any minor repairs that should be fixed.

4 Key areas will be given priority:

  • Foyer
  • Living room
  • Kitchen
  • Master Bedroom


    INSIDE:

    1-Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items.

    2-Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops, including appliances. If it hasn’t been used for three months... put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.)

    3-In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops. Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes, perfumes etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels to one or two colours only.

    4-Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary. As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room. This is wonderful for our own personal enjoyment, but when it comes to selling we need to thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger. Your favourite ottoman or footstool is a good place to start.

    5-Take down or rearrange certain pictures or objects on walls. Keep family and personal pictures to a minimal amount, buyers can’t imagine living in your home, especially if you keep reminding them that ‘it is your home’. Patch and paint if necessary.

    6-Your collection of porcelain dolls might be your pride and joy, but to a buyer, it may be clutter.

    7-If it is something shiny that you desire to display, why not replace all of your door knobs with ‘brass’ or ‘brass look’ knobs, they do add a touch of class.

    8-Review the inside of the house room by room, and

  • Paint any room needing paint.
  • Clean carpets or drapes that need it.
  • Clean windows.
  • If you need room to store extra possessions use the garage or rent a storage unit.
  • Lighting is crucial. Open all drapes and blinds to allow as much natural light in as possible. During “showings” turn on all lights and lamps. Use lighting to ‘set the mood’ in the evening. Turn on all exterior lights just before dusk so that your home appears inviting and stands out. Potpourri candles that are well placed can help with pet odours or enhance the atmosphere.
  • Have stereo FM on during the day for all viewings.


    OUTSIDE:

    1-Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage.

    2-Check gutters for roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

    3-Look at all plants... prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. Plants are like children — they grow so fast!! “YOU CAN’T SELL A HOUSE IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT.”

    4-Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove and dead plants or shrubs. Plant brightly coloured flowers in the front yard. Winter time, keep driveway shovelled, and walks free of ice and snow.

    5-Clear patios or decks of all small items. such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys. etc. (Put them in the garage or a storage unit.)

    6-Check foundation perimeter for drainage problems, cracks in parging, or other signs of potential problems that a house inspector will surely notice; repair as needed.

    7-Check paint condition of the house — especially the front door and trim. Buyers can sometimes make up their mind about a house before even walking in the front door. An investment in a shiny new brass door knocker, kick plate, or door knob mechanism can pay off huge returns.

    “CURB APPEAL REALLY WORKS!”


    OTHER TIPS:

  • fix all of those little repairs you have been putting off, no drippy faucets
  • keep your home extra clean, shiny faucets and door knobs
  • all dishes washed and put away before leaving your home every day
  • reorganize kitchen cupboards so that they appear roomy (store pots and pans if you must)
  • linen closets are always jam packed, take half of your towels and linens out, pack early!
  • main entrance and bedroom closets must be only half full, to allow for that spacious effect
  • kitchen pantry should seem stocked and organized
  • all toilets, bathtubs, and shower floors should be clean and stain free
  • check your yard (especially in winter) for signs that Rover was there
  • mail and flyers should be removed daily from your mailbox or doorstep
  • your storage area in the basement should be well organized, and not overflowing
  • all windows and doors should be opening and closing well; a stiff front door mechanism gives the impression of a house not looked after
  • sagging interlock by the front door implies a drainage problem
  • wood windows? paint those peeling exterior windows, clean the sills, and remove the bugs from in between the windows
  • older home? Hardwood a plus, but not if it is dull and in need of refinishing…. Make it shine!
  • do you own a smoker’s home? Steam clean carpets & furniture, paint complete interior, have ventilation systems chemically cleaned...
  • …the list goes on

    As your Realtor®, I will guide and assist you in making your home…

    READY FOR SALE!