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| To plot to not to plot? |
Your questions help me help you. Whether the questions come through email, blog comments, Facebook, or friends, they tell me what nitty-gritty dilemmas people face when they want to sell a house.
Here are some of the questions I’ve received lately, and my
answers.
Let Garden Grow?
Q: We have a 12- by 12-foot vegetable garden in our rather small backyard. Is a garden like this an asset or a liability when it’s time to sell?
A: Most people want an easy-care or no-maintenance yard. But the idea of a small vegetable plot is still appealing to many people, especially during the growing season. If you want to keep the garden while your home is on the market, keep it tidy during any off-season, and consider adding hardscape like stepping stones, attractive fencing, and birdhouses.
During the growing season, keep it free of weeds, mulch it, and make it look abundant. "Staged" this way, it becomes a selling point.
If your buyers decide they don’t want a garden, they can always convert a reasonably-sized garden into lawn, or use the space as a basis for something else, like a patio, above ground pool, play area, or dog run.
Storm Door or Not?
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| A handsome storm door that functions well will add value to your home. |
A: If the storm door hides a pretty front door and seriously
detracts from curb appeal, I’d consider removing it. Or I’d remove it if it’s a
dated style and your home is fairly up-to-date otherwise. If the door does
become history, you’ll want to putty and paint over the screw holes in the trim
around the door.
In the interest of curb appeal, some home sellers remove the storm door while the home is for sale, and store it so it can be replaced if the new buyers want it.
The right storm and screen door won't be an eyesore. Can you replace the door with a new one that is contemporary and really helps with the way a home shows?
If you do replace a storm door, make sure its character is in keeping with your home's innate style.
If you do replace a storm door, make sure its character is in keeping with your home's innate style.
Make sure the glass stays clean, and that the darn thing doesn't bang the heels of people entering, one of my personal pet peeves.
Uncooperative Spouse
Q: My husband doesn’t believe we should spend money on staging.
Any advice?
A: Instead of pleading or nagging, enlist the aid of your
realtor. Any realtor will be able to give statistics and stories about homes that didn’t sell
because they were not staged, and success stories of homes that were
effectively staged.
I give more tips on how to be deal with a partner who
doesn’t see the value of staging, in my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell
Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.
Big Home Small Budget
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| Staging a large home after you've moved can be daunting, but there are a few alternatives. |
A: This is a common quandary. The best advice I can offer is to
do what you can.
One possibility is that you can omit an entire section of
the house, such as the second floor, or a basement. Concentrate on making the
necessary living quarters – at least one bedroom, one bath, the living room and
the kitchen – as well-staged as possible.
The downside of the partial staging solution is that buyers
may think you’ve moved to your next home, and are therefore even more desperate
to sell and willing to entertain low ball offers. You can let your realtor know
that you’ve staged the house the way some builders will stage a model home.
If you do decide to leave the home vacant, be sure
everything is spotless and in great condition. Paint the walls and trim if
necessary and have the entire house smelling good.
Do you have a question about home staging? I'd love to hear from you!
12 comments:
Husband coaching is part of most of my designs.
Have not lost a husband yet.
Love that wife phone call, "Husband said to 'ask Tara.'
XO T
My question is: I'm ready to paint some rooms in my home, which we'll be listing soon. Should I use flat paint or something that's easier to keep clean?
J.J., I strongly suggest flat paint for all walls. It will give you a less reflective surface that hides any minor imperfections. In bathrooms, kitchen and closets I suggest something that resists smudges and wipes clean -- a semigloss or satin finish.
If you are concerned about the washability of your walls, get a good quality paint that will be washable after it cures, usually about a month. Get advice about washable paints at a paint store.
Thanks for asking.
I once bought a house partly because it had a good sized garden in the back. I used it to grow flowers and tomatoes and lettuces! I miss it.
The vegetable garden looks great! Mr and I get into such fights over what to do with ours.
About the storm doors. I think they are a great feature to have in a home but you need the right kind. My storm door is full glass so you can see the entire front door. It also has a built in, roll down screen which is great for those cool breezy days.
Great post and thanks for visiting my blog about the color of the closet.
Nice tips! :-)
Our house is on the market, My husband uses a CCAP machine for sleep apnea, and keeps it on the nightstand next to the bed. Is this a problem?
Rodeogirl -- I lump medical devices together with toiletries -- they're better off hidden unless they look downright sexy. Even then...
Can you put the equipment in a box that slides conveniently under the bed when showings are pending?
Who looks under beds? It's my favorite hiding place for essentials that shouldn't be seen by people touring your home.
What is the best way to stage a small room with bunkbeds?
About bunk beds: I'm assuming that you're using bunk beds to conserve space. So, I'll assume that the room is on the small side. If you're living in the home and using the bedroom, you don't have much choice. Just make sure the rest of the room doesn't look cluttered. Remove any unnecessary furniture, and let in plenty of light. Don't let the upper berth block a window. Match the bedspreads and keep the look tailored for a neat appearance. If you are staging an empty room, I would put one of the bunks in storage. Thanks for asking. Hope this helps.
More about bunk beds. Here is a recent post by Centsational Girl about them:
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2013/02/bunk-beds-for-a-girl/
Wow, lively Q and A. Loved this post and the comments people left. You always have great answers, Barbara.
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