Home Staging: Should You Hire A Professional?
Kachi Realty
Home Staging: Should You Hire A Professional?
Home Staging: Should You Hire A Professional?
Home staging is the latest trend in real estate, and if you are selling your home you are likely at least aware of what this growing practice involves. Home staging is a marketing strategy that encourages you to make your home as presentable as it can be to buyers by dressing the interior and exterior of your house so that it looks more like a model home. While there are a number of interior designers, experts, and even REALTORS® who can offer you advice on staging your home for sale, for most sellers a few simple tips can save you the expense of hiring a home stager.
Clean Is Key
The most important tip to remember when preparing your home for resale is to make it clean, clean, clean. The last thing a potential buyer will want to see is a sink full of dishes or a grimy tub. This may seem like a simple task, but the cleaner it looks the more interest it will receive.
Clear The Clutter
Another important tip when staging your home is to lose the clutter. Keeping rooms simple, modern, and tasteful is key. Also be sure that each room has a clear purpose and that everything in the room fits that purpose. This is also a good time to depersonalize your home. Remove family photos, personal collections, and anything else that may not appeal to potential buyers or that may detract from the features of your home.
Curb Appeal
When staging your home, don’t forget to consider the appeal of the property itself. Be sure your front lawn is mowed and free of weeds, you have a tidy and presentable yard, and that the features of both the front and back yards are highlighted. You also want the potential of your property to be apparent to buyers who may want to make improvements.
There are some cases when you may also want to consider renting furniture or adding additional touches, but in most cases these simple steps can really make a big difference in getting the most for your home. A REALTOR® can give you all the advice you need to prepare your home for a quick sale.
Useful Information from Kachi Realty LLC
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WAYS TO GO GREEN IN THE KITCHEN Start a garden. Whether you opt for a full-out vegetable garden or a small window of fresh herbs, the taste of freshness will be unmistakable! Shop locally! Visit local farmers markets or choose locally produced produce whenever possible. Bring your own bags when you visit the grocery store. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. Save time and energy by cooking a double portion and setting half aside in the freezer for a quick meal at a later date. Get energized and leave the appliances alone. Whenever possible, mix and beat ingredients by hand, cook multiple items at the same time, and avoid washing dishes unnecessarily. Use energy-efficient appliances such as the slow cooker or toaster oven, which can use up to 30% less energy. Be aware of energy wasters such as excessive pre-heating or simmering. Ditch the wraps (such as saran wrap or foil) and make the switch to reusable containers for lunches and leftovers. Put a lid on it! Did you know that cooking with lids could save up to three times the energy? Keep all that steam inside the pot for a more energy-efficient (and faster!) meal. Go fresh—say goodbye to excessively packaged foods, which are often produced using processes that are harmful to the environment. Cooking meals from scratch using fresh ingredients is not only healthier, it’s often less expensive and better for the environment. Decide what you are looking for before you open the fridge, and never keep the door open longer than absolutely necessary.
Water Features For Your Yard A water feature can make a major change in your yard, and there are plenty of different ways to go about adding one. From a simple and small fountain to a koi pond or waterfall, you can use water to create a peaceful sense of a real escape from life in your yard. Small Water Features For small yards or for those looking to add something simple, a basic fountain is easy to add. They come in a variety of types, shapes, and sizes and can fit into any landscaping. Your fountain can be a centerpiece for the yard or can be placed near the patio. You can even get a small tabletop fountain for the patio table. Most fountains are easy enough to install by yourself. They use a pump system that circulates the water and keeps the fountain running. Follow all of the instructions for set-up, use, and care that come with the fountain and you can enjoy the sound of trickling water for many years to come. Adding A Pond A pond is a really eye-catching and special addition to any yard. You will need some space for it, but even smaller yards can manage one. Koi ponds are a very popular choice, as the fish are lovely and create an ambience in the yard. They fit in well with any sort of Japanese or other Asian landscape design, but really extend into other styles as well. Make sure your pond has a system for keeping the water circulating and clean; standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and it can get quite dirty over time. It’s best to have a professional install the water system for your pond. Waterfalls You may not be able to have Niagara Falls in your yard to enjoy, but you can get a waterfall added as a feature of your yard. These can be falls that descend over a rock wall, a small stream that runs over consecutive drops in a sloped yard, or something in a corner where water falls down into a small pond. A waterfall adds the sound of moving water to the air all the time. Be sure you have proper drainage for the water system. Water features are a beautiful addition to any yard, and your imagination is really the only limit. Many professionals can help you to design the water feature that is right for your yard and your needs.