Read more articles about home staging published in Alameda County newspapers:

> "Staging even more important in competitive home sales market"

"The 3 C's of successful home sales"

"Getting your house ready to sell—and not just ‘as is’"

Staging even more important in competitive home sales market

by Anna Jacoby

If you are planning on selling your home this year, there are a few things you should know about this year's real estate market. Since half of my interior decorating business involves home staging, I keep up with trends in real estate. According to the newspapers and what I hear from my colleagues in the real estate industry, this year is predicted to be a more normalized market between buyers and sellers. Sellers should be aware that homes may stay on the market a few weeks longer than was typical last year and that competitive pricing will be extremely important. On the bright side for sellers, however, experts are still predicting about 8-10% price increases in the price of homes over last year.

This year, sellers will have to be even more diligent in getting their homes ready to sell. To increase your likelihood for a fast, profitable sale in this kind of market, make sure your home looks great and is in excellent condition. According to a recent article in the Argus (Bond craziness impacts borrowers, January 3, 2006), "Now, the process of staging an open house becomes more important and sellers have to make sure homes are cleared of clutter and not in need of major repairs."

Since you will be competing with many other homes- new developments as well as homes in your own neighborhood-- you will want your home to stand out from the crowd. Based on my experiences as a home stager, I've listed below three mistakes I see sellers making and how to correct them.

Mistake #1: Selling a home "as is"
While there may be a few buyers out there who want a fixer-upper, most buyers really do want a home in move-in condition. Of course this means that you should make any needed repairs, but it also means you should spend some time and energy updating fixtures, flooring and paint colors. Remember, you want your home to look better than the home selling down the street.

Mistake #2: Not clearing the clutter
I've said this in my columns many times-- clutter can wreak havoc on even the most beautiful of homes. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes-- would you want to walk into a home and see someone else's paperwork, junk mail, laundry and 35 pairs of shoes? Remove the clutter, remove most of your personal items, and neutralize the interior. Buyers will open cupboards and closets, so spend some time tidying those up as well.

Mistake #3: Clearing out too much
Sometimes people go overboard and clear too many of their belongings. Vacant homes look cold and uninviting; furnished rooms with no artwork or accessories lack personality and warmth. Decorative touches like artwork, green plants and candles are really important to help create an appealing home environment. If you have a talent for decorating, you can prepare your own home for sale. If not, a good home stager can help create a home that buyers will love.