Who stages their homes? Owners who want to sell in less time for more money, that's who. A recent study of realtors reported that 91% recommend sellers have their homes staged before showing them. Here's what to do:
Check the curb appeal. Mow the lawn, rake the leaves, shovel the snow. Don't go crazy with landscaping but consider a potted or hanging plant as you approach the front door. Clean the front door, railing and deck. It's cheaper than painting and will tell you if painting is needed.
Clear out the clutter. Take one room and closet at a time and remove everything you don't use or won't need in the next few months. Donate it to charity, let a friend re-use it or rent a storage space for things you really can't part with.
Edit the furniture. Many rooms look better minus one piece of furniture. If you see that's the case, put the extra easy chair in storage along with your clutter.
Paint to please. Walls that need to be painted should be done in neutral colors. And yes, walls with strong or vibrant colors need to be painted.
Nix what you notice. Walk up stairs, down halls and into every room and see what draws your eye. Chipped paint, old nail holes, peeling wallpaper. These are all buyer turn-offs. Fix them.
Hire a handyman. Have a professional tackle any of your bigger issues such as stuck closet doors, dripping faucets, re-facing the kitchen cabinets and updating the countertops.
Keep it clean. If you can, hire a professional service to make the place spotless. Then take a half hour each day to keep it that way.
Light, air and flowers. Before your home is shown, open all curtains, turn on some lights and air it out for 10 minutes. Fresh flowers are a nice touch in a couple of places.
If you still think your home could look better, consider hiring a professional home stager. Many sellers find staging services are worth it.
The Fed and mortgage rates
The Federal Reserve, our nation's central bank, recently announced they'll be buying $600 billion worth of Treasury bonds from now till the end of June 2011. Some say this may lower mortgage interest rates. Others feel the Fed's actions could cause rates to edge up. Several forecasts expect higher mortgage rates by the end of next year.
People looking to buy or refinance should keep in mind that we already have historic, incredibly low interest rates. The fact is, there may never again be a better time to purchase or refinance a home than right now.
10 reasons to buy
If you or someone you know is thinking about buying a home in today's market, check out this piece from the Wall Street Journal.
As always, feel free to contact us about any matters relating to home financing or refinancing.... Have a great day!
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