Stage Your Home for Next to Nothing

Putting your Laguna Beach home on the market? Better make sure it’s got the look that sells. That means clean and pristine. You can hire a professional stager, who will charge you between $50-$150 per hour.  Or you can use the world’s cheapest contractor – you. If you opt for the do-it-yourself approach, it’s definitely to your advantage to know –

The Secrets of Staging Success

1. De-Peronalize – Your Laguna Beach property may be a veritable Buckingham Palace. But this cuts zero ice with homebuyers. They long to envision your place as their place. So get it in gear and remove all those personal items. That’s right. Make them disappear. This includes family photos, junior’s soccer trophy, assorted knick-knacks, etc.  Photos are a major drawback. Why?  Because prospective buyers tend to fix curious, lingering stares on all those photographed strangers. Not exactly the ideal way to draw attention to your beautiful house. Do yourself a favor and invest a few bucks in packing tape and storage boxes. Then get to work.
2. De-Clutter – Look around. There’s probably a quarter ton of accumulated belongings overcrowding every shelf, countertop, and table in your Laguna Beach home. Treasures to you. Eyesores to homebuyers. Avoid a clutter catastrophe. Remove all that debris, especially toys and countertop items. Box them, garage them, or give them to your Aunt Bessie for safekeeping. So long as they’re long gone by the time prospective buyers show up.
3. Neutralize –  Freshly-painted walls, trim, and doors can have a major impact on prospective buyers. An investment of $12-$50 per gallon generally rewards sellers with a colossal ROI. When it comes to color, neutral is the way to go. Tans and beiges do a much better job of conveying new and clean than fluorescent green.
4. Clean ‘Till It Shines – Odors, messes, and dirt are three instant turn-offs to prospective homebuyers. Solution?  Scrub and deodorize your Laguna Beach home until it screams ‘I’m sparkling clean’…ideally before every showing. Filling the home with pleasant smells is a great way to enhance the experience. Try baking cookies, bringing cinnamon sticks to boil, or spraying air freshener in key locations.
5. Boost Your Curb Appeal – Don’t neglect the exterior when selling your Laguna Beach real estate. Remember, this is what buyers see first. You can create ‘curb appeal’ in a variety of ways. Popular favorites are mowing the lawn, de-cluttering the sidewalk and driveway, and if you’re really a serious hombre, pressure-cleaning your home’s exterior. For added curb appeal, consider doing some strategic mulching. This simple, inexpensive measure is ideal for giving your property an irresistibly clean, trim appearance.

If you would like to learn more about staging your Laguna Beach home, or simply want to discover the wealth of prime Laguna Beach homes for sale, the Coastal Property Experts are ready to help. Feel free to connect with our team at 949.922.8490 or hillary@thecoastalpropertyexperts.com.

Until next time, Sunny Days and Smooth Sailing!