So you want to put your home on the market? Your agent tells you to call a "stager", a designer or decorator knowledgeable in what makes a house saleable in today's maker. usually by rearranging and using what you already own or adding minimally, a stager can depersonalize and maximize your spaces potential.
Depersonalization is key. Before your stager even shows up, pack up all those family photos and that Early American teapot collection and save yourself from being told. The following are a few other basics the homeowner can do before starting to rearrange the furniture.
Clearly the first and last impressions begin and end with the house exterior and property. Take a tour to be sure any superfluous or unused items are out of sight and the gardener has been doing his or her job. Be sure all outdoor fixtures are in good working order and have bright energy efficient bulbs. While you are at it, make sure doorbells work as well.
Take a good look at the exterior pain. Make sure there's no mildew brewing. I have found the product JOB MAX an easy to use miracle for this problem. Spray it on and the mildew is gone. You are supposed to rinse with clear water, but rain works quite well.
If your paint is peeling, it doesn't always mean you have to paint the entire exterior. Ask a good painter if it can be spot repaired and "feathered in".
Next take a look at the window screens, if you are not planning on opening the windows, take the screens off altogether, as windows show better without them. It also lets more light into the interior. If leaving them, make sure there are no holes or rips. Most hardware stores do screen repairs on the spot or in a day. Some will even pick up and deliver. Paramount is to have the windows sparkling clean inside and out.
Before you heave a heavy sign, resigning yourself to repainting interior spaces (unless of course, you have fluorescent purple in the master bedroom), try washing the dirt, fingerprints, smoke stains, etc. off the paint. Don't forge the switch plates and outlets, and especially the door and window frames. Ask your paint or hardware store for the best eco-friendly cleaner for your specific kind of paint.
For my final suggestion of the day, get out the WD 40 for all those squeaks. It is now available in a handy pen form allowing for a very exacting application without the mess.
That's it for now, Look for more design, decoration and related tips in the future from Donna Moss.
