Aliso Viejo, CA. January 31, 2008. No one needs to remind us all that today's market is a challenging one and having just recently been through the buying process I was once again reminded of the importance of that first impression.  Looking and house after house I noticed that when we had boiled our list of finalists down - all of them had been staged.  In fact, many of them were not "houses for sale" but "lived in homes."

If those sellers had just employed some of the basic staging principles it would have left a much better impression and perhaps gotten us to look a little deeper.  In retrospect I thought about some of the very basic things every agent should be telling their clients.

Lots Of Light - The last thing buyers want to see is a home with all of the doors and windows covered.  Let the light in and open a window to let in some fresh air.  Room de-odorizers leave the impression of covering something up as does a window with the blinds drawn..

Clean Windows - Buyers are very interested in what view they have from every room - don't make them look through dirty windows.  The impression you want to make with that great view is literally going "out the window."

Yard Work - Curb appeal makes that all important "first impression."  Deal with overgrown bushes, shrubs and trees. Everything in the yard needs to be trimmed, watered, manicured and living.  Remove everything lying around the yard including sports equipment, boats, trailers, toys, etc.  You may want to spruce up or replace lawn furniture that's seen better days - if not then get rid of it. You may also add some color by placing some annuals in planters in the back as well as in the front.

De-Clutter - This one is simple - de-clutter everywhere; inside and outside. If its taking up space is a potential candidate.  The sellers need to make that all important mental conversion from "home to live in" to "house for sale."  Personal "things" are a bid distraction as you want the buyers to be able to visualize their own belonging in the house.

Kitchen & Bathrooms - First class - top notch - spotless . nothing less. Just cleaning up isn't going to be good enough - you need to "deep clean" all counters, floors, cabinets and all the fixtures in the bathrooms.  Nothing is a greater turn-off than dirt and in these two areas it's a deal killer.  In the bathrooms consider new fixtures or countertops and perhaps a redoing the shower and tub enclosures.  If new fixtures are not in the budget you may want to consider having them refinished.  Think about having all the tile steam cleaned and make sure all grout is free from grease and dirt.

Hardwood Floors - Hardwood floors can be a huge plus for buyers unless they look like a 20 year old basketball court.  It may be a great investment to have them all refinished - and suggest to them it's not a simple weekend project.   

Paint - A fresh coat of paint on the outside or inside is an excellent way of freshening up your home.  Be sure they use neutral colors and watch any accent painting and avoid accent painting - they are only guessing what the buyer likes.  This can be done by the sellers but in most cases they should use a painter.  It's always a bigger job than the sellers think. 

Furniture - The bottom line . less is best.  If its old, worn or dated they should put it in storage.  They need to remember they are setting a stage and player needs to be the house - not their furniture.

Repair.  Buyers want everything working so don't disappoint them - dripping faucets, broken windows, leaking roof's, damaged walls and doors, etc, beg the question in the buyer's mind . What else is broken or doesn't work?   

Odors - This one is simple but so often overlooked.  Absolute deal killers are cigarette or pet odors.  Most buyers will turn around and go to the next house without so much as a quick look.  If this is a problem - have the drapes, carpets and furniture professionally cleaned and "no smoking" in the house.  Also, cooking odors are not a good thing - who knows what the buyers like and don't like.  The best bet - fresh air.  Often a little lemon oil mixed with water in a spray bottle "lightly used" will add just a bit of freshness without overpowering the house.   

As I walked through the house we just put in escrow I saw lots of light, strategically placed furniture pieces and lots of fresh air.  What strikes me, now after the fact, is that those things didn't sell us on the house.  What they did was not give us a reason not to.

First impressions are critical and if you want to learn more about how that's done and explore the benefits of the Accredited Home-Staging Course and the AHS designation.  It just might help you move that house you just listed or get you in the door of the one you want to tie down.