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Health & Fitness

Staged to Sell: Preparing Your Home For Sale in the Current Market

The spring home selling season has already bloomed and sellers need to prepare their home for sale now to be competitive. These tips can help your home sell quickly and for top dollar.

As I look out my window at the snow still piled up from Blizzard Nemo, it’s hard to imagine we’ll have an early spring.  Yet, in my world of home staging and decorating, spring has already bloomed.

PJ & Company Home Styling has experienced one of our busiest January and February staging seasons to date.  While many homeowners think spring selling means April or May, the reality is February and March mark the early home selling season.  Rising economic confidence in the 2013 housing market is motivating more sellers to prepare their homes for sale now, further indication of a market recovery ahead.

Buyer foot traffic is outpacing seller traffic, according to a national Realtor Survey. Excess inventory from the housing boom has bottomed out and sellers ready to put their homes on the market will establish a competitive advantage before a burst of new listings later in the season.  A home staged to attract buyers looking or move-in ready homes, coupled with a solid pricing strategy, could even command multiple offers.

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If you are thinking about selling your home this spring, our Spring Staging Tips will help give your home mass appeal and increase your home’s value. For those who aren’t ready to sell, our strategies and decorating tips offer solutions to simply freshen up your own decor this spring season and make your home feel new again.

Happy Spring Selling!

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SPRING STAGING TIPS FROM PJ & COMPANY HOME STYLING

1.  Replace and Refresh Outdated Accessories and Furnishings.

February is a great time to find deals as retailers offer sales to move out old styles and make room for their new spring designs.

2. Choose Neutral Colors

Neutral tones for walls and furniture will give your home mass appeal and help buyers picture their furniture in the space. Add interest by choosing clean, modern accessories and introducing pops of color as accents.

 3. Open Up Your Space

Oversized pieces or wall-to-wall furniture can make even well-proportioned rooms look smaller. If you aren't taking all your furnishings to your new home and can't repurpose them in other rooms, consider selling or donating them before your house hits the market. Replace bulky tables and pieces with open or pedestal style designs.

 4. Make Use of Unique Spaces

Repurpose small nooks or extra spaces in your home by adding a mini work station, library or organizing solutions. Buyers will love the character these nooks give your home and the extra storage will be a bonus.

 5. Set The Table

While you may not be in the mood to entertain while your home is on the market, a bare table is uninviting. Creating a spot where buyers can envision themselves with family and friends will create a connection between the buyer and your home. A simple centerpiece of fresh spring flowers or candles will create a clean, fresh appeal.

6. Finishing Touches

Declutter and do a little spring cleaning so buyers aren't distracted by personal belongings and can picture the home as their own. This is one of the simplest, most cost-effective changes to make in any home and according to HomeGain.com can increase a home's value by as much as $2,000. Create a simple checklist before any showing: make sure the garbage is empty, dishes are clean, and personal items are removed, particularly from the bathrooms.

If you are interested in scheduling an in-home design or staging consultation please contact PJ & Company Home Styling at (203) 640.3762 or patti@pjhomestyling.com.

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