Page 46 - Selling secrets 5 18 2023

Learn to strike a balance between staging and living in your
home. You can seasonally decorate your home without
dashing your appeal. The main goal is to keep your home
clean and free of clutter that distracts would-be buyers.
Even simple things can make a big impact on the final sale
price of a home. Staging done well is one of those things!
You have two options for staging a home: do it yourself or
hire a professional home stager. If you are considering
hiring someone, I can provide recommendations.

TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY?

Home sellers often ask whether they should stay in their
home while it is on the market, or go. There are pros and
cons to both and factors that can tip the scale to one side. If
the seller has engaged a real estate agent, the burden of
showing the home is virtually eliminated. The agent will
field all calls, set appointments, and show the home.
Chances are that a buyer’s real estate agent will show your
home to his or her clients. Busy schedules often cause
agents, as with anyone, to take the path of least resistance.
If the agent has 15 homes to show and 3 are occupied, he or
she may show the vacant homes first because they’re
an easier option. The agent doesn’t need to make an
appointment ahead of time and can simply use the lock box.

If the seller is gone, he or she is not under constant pressure
to keep the home in immaculate showing condition. If
you’re unwilling to keep the home in turnkey condition for
showing purposes, consider vacating before putting the
home on the market. In some situations, it’s almost essential
to vacate the home during the selling period—especially
if the sellers’ home is simply too messy to show while the
sellers live there.

36