, the owner of Gracious Transformations has the background and experience to understand market trends, and knows what can bring you the most returns at sale. She can save you money by steering you away from projects that won’t make much difference to sellers, and focusing on the ones that will. She keeps abreast of changing trends, so she can advise you where to best focus your efforts. 

 


Cynthia's Top 5 Home Preparation Tips:

1. Cross the street and take pictures of your house, and your neighbor's.

It's easier to be objective looking at a photo of your house. You need to be able see your home through buyer's eyes, because it's now a product for sale. How does your house compare to your neighbors? Looking at these pictures, consider:How does the front yard look? Is it well pruned and edged, and can you see the house clearly? How does the entryway and front door look? Are the siding, roof and gutters clean and in good condition? First impressions are critical!

2. Make sure your house is clean, and we mean 'Q-tip' clean!

Nothing communicates deferred maintenance more quickly than crud and grime. While you already clean our home on a regular basis, if you’re like most people you probably sometimes miss the little details. Go through your house with a critical eye, because that's what potential buyers are doing. Things like cabinets, grout, moldings and baseboards, vent covers, window sills and window screens are places folks often overlook.

Outside, check the roof, siding and the windows and window frames. Pressure washing can work wonders on the driveway and walkways. Fortunately, investing in professional cleaning is one of the best investments you can make.

3. Don't forget to use your nose--and borrow  a friend's, too.

Odors are another factor that's often overlooked. Living at home day to day, any distinctive odors fade into the background. Things like pet odors, musty, smoky, or moldy smells are big turn-offs for buyers. To check, close your windows and come into your home on 'nose alert' after being gone for several hours. If you closed your eyes would you know there were pets, or that this was the work-out area? Do your bathrooms smell like bathrooms? (they shouldn’t) Sniff each room and see what you notice.

Better yet, ask a friend you trust to be frank with you to walk through your house as if they were buyers, and tell you what they smell--and see.

4. Paint in good condition and in desirable colors will more than pay for itself.

Any experienced real estate agent will tell you of buyers who decided not to buy a house simply because they didn't like the paint color. Don't let this be you! If you are unsure whether your current paint colors are an asset or not, take a look in quality home magazines. Go to new construction open houses to see what colors and materials predominate in the northwest marketplace. These people invest a lot of market research into what sells, so take advantage of this.

We can provide you with targeted recommendations specific to your property; sometimes just adding accent wall colors can make the difference.

5. De-clutter.

Plain and simple, clutter eats equity! Too many things in a room makes it look smaller, more cramped and says 'stay out, it’s mine' to buyers. A full room also makes it harder for them to imagine how their things will fit there as well. Even if your clutter is a prized and beautiful collection or family pictures, buyers will be naturally drawn to looking at your possessions, not your house!

Since you'll be moving anyway, why not start packing early? Pack up all those non-essentials, extra furniture and personal items now. Not only will your move be easier when you sell, it will also be easier to keep your house neat and clean while it's on the market. Most importantly, your house will take center stage, as it should!.

 A small condo bedroom, before & after staging:
 


Cynthia's 5 Top Staging Tips:


1. Check out your competition--as if you were a buyer.

With a buyer's eye, first check out your current competition’s online pictures, comparing them with your pictures of your house. It’s easier to be objective viewing your house through the camera lens. Go and see the listings that are especially similar (competitive) to yours, either at open houses or with your realtor. Notice both what you're impressed by and turned off from, as well as what kind of staging they've done. Your goal is to out-shine them, both in condition and in staging.

In today's market your best chance at selling quickly and for the most money is by making a strong entrance into the market. Buyers--and realtors--have lots of choices, and your house has to be memorable to get interest. Another bonus in doing your market research homework is that it will help you be realistic as to your optimal selling price. Experienced real estate agents will tell you that your best chance for the highest possible selling price is to price it right from the beginning.

2. Depersonalize your decor.

The way you sell your home and the way you live in it are two different things. This isn't a time for personal expression! When it comes to selling your home, the most important thing is now: does it appeal to a broad range of buyers—of both sexes? Again, your time viewing staged model homes or new construction will have helped educate you as to what the mass market finds appealing. Keep strong colors as accent colors only, and pack early any items that might illicit a negative reaction for some buyers (for example, a taxidermy collection.) Remember, you're trying to give your house broad market appeal.

3. Make the purpose of each room obvious.

Almost every potential buyer will be asking themselves, "Will my furniture work here?" You want the answer to be easily and obviously yes. If you're missing a commonly desirable room, see if there's some way you can communicate to buyers that your house does have a way to serve that room's function. Don't have an office, but have an alcove? Stage it as a small home office. Missing a dining room? Put a small dining table in a corner of the living room, or turn an extra nearby bedroom into a dining room.

4. If you can't stage the entire house, focus on the rooms that sell.

Generally buyers are most swayed by the master bedroom, bathrooms, living room, dining area, kitchen and family room. Subconsciously, potential buyers are asking themselves whether your house is a place they can relax and feel at home in, that they can feel proud having guests over to. Make those important rooms look great and you've won buyers over.

5. Don't forget to make the outside look fabulous, too!
 
First of all, your front entrance has to speak of the good things to come once they're inside. You want potential buyers to see themselves relaxing on the back porch, being impressed with how nice the front of the house looks, and to notice that the yard is low maintenance. If you have one, it’s a good idea to make sure the fence is in good repair--a desirable feature especially for parents or dog owners. Unless it's wintertime, set up an outdoor deck seating area. Plant some color spots, especially in the front yard and put some colorful planters at the entrance. Weed, mow and edge, and beauty bark your beds unless you can keep them looking lush and weed free.