| When selling your investment property, | | | | 2. It is difficult to understand how |
| are you tempted to leave a room or the | | | | large a room is when there's nothing in |
| entire house empty? Decorating your | | | | it as a reference point. |
| house to sell, also called Home Staging | | | | 3. People can't visualize how furniture |
| or Real Estate Staging, will help you | | | | will fit in an empty space, and if |
| sell your investment in record time and | | | | they're unsure, they don't buy. |
| get top dollar for your home. | | | | 4. When a room is empty prospective |
| If you have gone through the expensive | | | | buyers focus on negative details instead |
| and time-consuming job of renovating, | | | | of falling in love with the overall |
| don't decide to save money when it comes | | | | space. |
| to furnishings and accessories. | | | | Instead of looking at the flow of one |
| When you've gone through expensive | | | | room to another, prospective buyers get |
| renovations, suffered with delays or | | | | bogged down in questions like: Is the |
| extended beyond your budget, it's | | | | drywall smooth? Will those bumps in the |
| difficult to stay motivated to the | | | | carpet come out? Why doesn't the closet |
| bitter end. It can be tempting to say, | | | | have a hanging bar? Why doesn't that |
| "It's good enough. The paint's dry; | | | | molding fit perfectly? Why is the light |
| let's put it on the market as is!" | | | | switch in the middle of the wall? |
| This is short sighted and can cost you a | | | | 5. When a house or even a few rooms are |
| bundle! | | | | empty prospective buyers can get |
| It's relatively inexpensive to rent | | | | distracted from paying attention to the |
| anything you need, and these finishing | | | | house and shift their focus to the home |
| touches help ensure you make the profit | | | | owners. |
| you deserve for all those costly | | | | Instead of focusing on whether this is |
| repairs. | | | | the home for them, they may be busy |
| Imagine it's the Academy Awards. A big | | | | wondering: Is this a divorce? Have they |
| star is wearing a fabulous designer gown | | | | left town? Are they selling because they |
| so she decides she doesn't need to get | | | | have money problems? This train of |
| her hair done. Does everyone talk about | | | | thought can then prompt buyers to |
| the fabulous gown? Of course not, all | | | | starting thinking, "maybe I can put in a |
| they can remember is the terrible hair! | | | | low ball offer since the seller might be |
| Or imagine a fine painting stuck in a | | | | desperate." Definitely not the picture |
| dollar store frame. Does the painting | | | | you are trying to paint. |
| have the same appeal as it would if it | | | | Home staging is about packaging a home |
| had been framed by a professional? | | | | to show off its best features and |
| Conversely, have you ever taken one of | | | | downplay the flaws. You romance the |
| your child's paintings and had it | | | | buyer and entice them into making an |
| framed? What a difference it makes | | | | emotional connection with your house. |
| compared to how it looked when it was | | | | So, bring in some furnishings and |
| stuck on the fridge with a magnet. | | | | accessories to add character and warmth |
| 5 REASONS IT'S A BAD IDEA TO LEAVE ROOMS | | | | to the home. Taking the time to do |
| EMPTY WHEN SHOWING YOUR HOUSE: | | | | these final details will ultimately |
| 1. People don't buy houses, they buy | | | | translate into a higher return on your |
| homes. | | | | investment. |