How to make the most money from selling your home. Step one-Stage it.

Do you want to sell your home for the most money? First impressions are everything. Home buyers make a quick first impression of your home when looking online, and then determine if your house is worth a second look in person. Capture the most attention for your home and help it stand out in a sea of hundreds of homes on the market by staging it properly at every step of the sale.

First we will discuss the critical checkpoints when home staging provides the most value, and then we will discuss the tactical strategies to help your home stand out and obtain the most amount of money.

The first critical staging point is before the professional photographs are taken, because these photos will determine whether or not a buyer decides to view your home in person. Will buyers visit homes that are not properly staged and have poor quality photos? Sure they will, but believe me when I say they are deducting several thousand dollars from their purchase price and discounting your home in their head before they even decide if it is worth viewing in person. I have driven buyers to see properties that had no staging and poor quality photos, When I asked the buyers to price the home, oftentimes they will name a price $10,000-$15,000 less than a similar home with excellent staging!

If you want to keep $10,000 or more when selling your home, then keep reading for the top 5 tips to staging your home:

1. De-clutter

2. De-personalize

3. Deodorize

4. Deep clean

5. Details-pay attention to them!

The last checkpoint for staging is during the home showings. Follow all the tips above plus: tidy up, play soft music, open the blinds, turn on the best lighting, and kennel or remove Fido and Fluffy. Remember no family members should be present for showings, so that includes Fido and Fluffy, right?

Selling your home can be very exciting and challenging, but before you run off and start buying items to stage your home, request a complete home staging checklist by one of the following methods:

Email your full name and phone number to jessicagama@kw.com and type "home checklist" into the subject line,

Text your full name and email address to 832-298-7716, and include "home checklist" in the body of message.