ShareBy Patti Stern, PJ & Co. Home Styling
Fifteen seconds. That’s how long a home for sale has to make a good first impression. And, that’s if you can get today's sophisticated buyers off their mobile device and to the front door. More than 90 percent of home buyers search for a home online, making it more important than ever for a home’s listing photos alone to capture buyer interest.
Home owners who have finally made a decision to sell their home may not be thinking about updating and remodeling. But staging -- coupled with remodeling -- are important considerations in a home selling strategy and an investment in getting top dollar for a home.
Even modest updates preserve the equity a family has built in their home. Ultimately, the cost to update something in their home before it goes on the market will be less than the price reduction buyers will expect as compensation for out-of-date rooms.
Older homes, in particular, may require improvements in key rooms such as kitchens or baths to meet today's buyer demand for a move-in ready home.
We transformed this bathroom ...
We painted the walls and vanity and also added a new light fixture and mirror. Updated accessories complete the new, more modern design.
Here are some additional staging and remodeling tips home owners may want to consider to meet buyer’s high demand for move-in condition homes.
- Make necessary repairs and complete unfinished projects.
- Replace and refresh outdated accessories, fixtures, and furnishings.
- Freshen up your color palette with neutral colors.
- Declutter and open up the space.
- Expose or add hardwood floors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patti Stern is a principal and interior decorator and accredited home stager with PJ & Co. Home Styling LLC. PJ & Company Home Styling, LLC , offers decorating and home staging services for individuals, real estate professionals, builders, and others in the industry.