“You will sell it faster and get more money if you do it correctly,” said the associate professor of interior design at Sinclair Community College.
The key, she said, is creating an environment that buyers can imagine living in even if the design doesn’t follow your taste.
“What sellers have to realize is that they are not selling their home — they are selling their house,” she said. “They are not moving into your home — they are moving into a home they are going to create.”
Leakas said she learned firsthand the value of a properly staged home when she and her siblings were selling their parents house four years ago.
“We actually got top dollar for the house in Columbus,” she said. “My sister and brother were looking at me (like), ‘Why are we doing this?’ We are creating a lifestyle for the next owner.”
Bob Wilson, president of the Dayton Area Board of Realtors, said the spring housing market is one of the largest of the year.
While there are signs of improvement, Wilson said house sellers face stiff competition from other sellers in this struggling economy.
Sending a good first impression is key.
“It’s like putting your best forward,” the broker and manager at Iron Gate said.
Where the average home was on the market 75 to 90 days in 2007, now it is there 90 to 120 days.
“We are selling houses, but prices are soft,” Wilson said, noting that location, condition and price are the keys to whether a home will sell or not.
“You are seeing some sellers becoming more competitive. They are reducing their prices to be more competitive.”
This is one reason Sheryl Boltze, creative director for slip cover manufacturer Sure Fit, says it is key to have a home that wows. And, she says, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A savvy shopper can stage a home for as little as $1,000 depending on size.
She and Leakas offered the following tips for staging a home for sale.
Freshen up the air
Boltze said scent influenced her decision to buy her current home eight years ago.
The smell of Italian food cooking in the kitchen reminded her of her grandmother’s home.
“It felt like home to me,” she said.
Having a house that smells fresh, clean and inviting is critical to a sale, she said, urging buyers to remove musty smells and avoid overpowering fragrances.
“It’s subliminal. It is like aroma therapy,” she said. “It just subliminally telling you that someone loved the house, took pride in the house, kept the house clean.”
Consider scents like sea breeze and fresh laundry.
Clean up
Boltze said she looked at 30 homes before settling on the one she lives in now.
“The dirty ones I never went back to,” she said. “It tells me that this house has never been taken care of. It’s disheveled.”
Keep up with the Joneses
Leakas recommends touring homes in your area that are up for sale. Watch for ideas you can use in the home and areas you need to improve.
A visit to a furniture store to check to see what’s trendy may also be called for, Leakas said.
Put yourself in the potential buyers’ shoes and consider what would appeal to them, Leakas offered.
Tear down the wallpaper and paint
Wallpaper can make your home seem dated. Leakas recommends removing it and painting walls or entire rooms.
“Paint your walls with a light to medium (shade), she said, adding that shades of beige and sand are good options and preferable to white.
Freshen up your bathroom
Boltze said new soft towels and candles are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to boost the appearance of a bathroom.
Add focal points
Leakas said focal points on a room’s outer perimeter can make it seem bigger.
The focal point could be as simple as artwork, home decor or a colorful throw pillow. “You want to keep it neutral, but definitely add flashes of color,” she said.
Remove yourself
Boltze said sellers should minimize the number of personal items like family photos on display inside the home.
“The person coming in your house doesn’t know your personality,” she said. “Less is more when it comes to staging.”
Get help
If designing rooms is not your thing, Leakas advises talking to a professional interior designer or someone who stages homes.
Leakas said some interior designers offer services for as little as $50 an hour. She said they can even help rent furniture for the staging and suggested visiting daytoninteriordesigners.com to find members of the Dayton Society of Interior Designers.
“There is a science. If you call a professional, you will save yourself time and money,” she said.
Pay attention to your front door
Leakas recommended washing or painting your front door if it is dirty or has old paint. Replace old fixtures.
The front door and yard often give potential buyers first impressions.
“Curb appeal is important,” Leakas said. “Most people are going to drive past the house once or twice before they decide to come inside.”
Bust the clutter
Boltze said a cluttered closet gives the impression that there is not enough storage.
“When people look through your closets you don’t want them to know you don’t have enough clothes space,” she said.
Pay special attention to areas like book cases, Boltze said. Remove excess books and replace them with inexpensive vases and other home decor, Boltze recommended, noting that inexpensive stagging “props” can be found at closeout stores. Slipcovers can cover thrift store furniture.
Maximize the light
Replace heavy drapery with sheer varieties to let more light into the room. Leakas said more light makes a room appear larger. Lamps and other lightening should also be considered.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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