Staging Extremes

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

24 Jul 2006 07:53 AM

Sometimes people try too hard when staging their homes for sale. While it makes sense to use neutral color throughout the home to attract the greatest number of buyers, using stark white in every room is taking it a bit too far. While white presents as crisp and clean, it can also feel sterile and cold. It is therefore important to add a bit of warmth, even if that means just having white paint tinted with a warmer color.

Another thing some homeowners do that goes too far is removing too many items in the effort to conquer clutter and make the home feel spacious. These are important points, but the house should feel homey. Again, too little will make it feel sterile. Think hotel suite rather than hospital room.

While you want your home to appear nicely updated, you can have too much of a good thing. Making your home look too trendy can be intimidating. Many buyers will be moving in existing furniture and it may not work with faddish designs.

Other times, homeowners try to tackle too much and end up spending a lot of money in unnecessary places. Kitchens and bathrooms generally sell homes, but a complete remodel or renovations might not be necessary, and you may not get your money back out of it. Instead, consider adding only essential updates, such as new flooring, counter-tops, or an appliance. You may be able to restore or revamp cabinetry instead of replacing all of it.

We all know that curb appeal is huge, but don't blow your savings trying to create a park-like landscape. Clean it up, update it, and add some color. A complete overhaul of the yard is generally not necessary.

Stick to the essentials and you will be able to present your home in squeaky clean, updated condition, without overdoing the cost or effort involved.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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