Mini Staging Lesson Three
Knowing where to begin

One of the puzzling things about preparing a home for the market is deciding what to do first. But it’s actually very simple. Start where buyers start, at the curb.

The longer you can keep buyers engaged in your house before they encounter problems the more likely they will be to buy it. If buyers like what they see when they pull up to the curb they’ll be more interested in seeing the interior of your home. Likewise, if they like the first rooms they enter, they’ll be eager to view the rest of your home.

However if you lose them at the start of the showing it’s very difficult to get them back. A weedy front yard, trim that needs painting, or torn screens will immediately reduce your chance of a sale by curbing buyers’ enthusiasm to see the interior. You want your dingy, living room walls that buyers see as soon as they enter your home, are much more of a problem than a spare room that needs painting and a kitchen that’s caught in a 50’s time warp is more important than the paneling lining the basement stairs. In other words, prioritize your projects according to what your perspective buyers will see first.

My advice—start by making the changes that are quickly and easily done, that way your sense of accomplishment will carry you through the more difficult tasks that remain. Then, starting with the front yard, work your way through your house doing the 3rs in the order you think the house will be shown. That way if you have showings at any point before you’ve finished your preparations, you’ll show potential buyers the best your home has to offer. The time, money, and effort you spend making a good first impression will increase your chances for sale.

Diane Keyes
This Sold House