Check out our new audio content!

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Holly Lynn

When selling a home, whether it be by an agent or yourself, you want the best presentation of your home possible. This is where staging your home comes in. Staging is setting up your home with style and furnishings to showcase its appeal to potential homebuyers.

Many sellers prefer to use a professional stager to design their house. They have the know-how to pull in buyers with design aesthetics. Everything from the proper lighting to the placement of the couch. Using a professional is ideal except when you get the bill. Pricing can range anywhere from $500 to the sky’s the limit.

You can stage your own home with simple planning and research.

If you are living in your home while in the process of selling, you will want to depersonalize all living spaces. Pack away all the evidence of your personality as much as possible. That means putting away all of your photographs, trophies, monogrammed items, etc. Be sure to remove those cute little magnets off of the refrigerator as well. Box up out of season clothes and shoes as well as toys, etc. There should be no evidence that YOU live there. You want the buyer to imagine THEMSELVES living in the house.

Another must-do is to clean the house thoroughly. Every surface and nook- and-cranny should sparkle. If you are trying to save money, do this yourself. Nobody knows your house as you do and nobody knows where the dirt is better than you. Wipe down kitchen cabinets inside and out, arrange food and other pantry items uniformly, and make sure the grout is without blemish. In other words, leave no stone unturned. Even clean out the refrigerator! Everybody knows that people can’t resist opening the fridge. The house must be cleaned daily especially if you are living there.

Another way to convey cleanliness is to deodorize the house. You do not want any weird smells lingering throughout your home. Stay away from spray deodorizers or heavy-duty cleaning supplies. These can affect your sensitive home buyers and send them running out. Stick with freshly cut flowers, fresh-baked cookies, or subtle plug-in air fresheners. Any aroma that invokes a pleasant, homey essence is ideal.

When it comes to the walls it’s best to stay neutral. Use colors such as taupe, grey, ivory, or soft white. These colors allow rooms to appear larger and allows light to bounce around. It is also a perfect backdrop for a bold sofa or a bright piece of art. You don’t want your space to be boring, but you have to allow the buyer to envision their style in your space.

Curb appeal is everything! The lawn or front yard should be manicured and free of debris. Degrease the driveway and put the garbage cans away. The front entrance should be clutter-free. A nice welcome mat and a couple of hearty plants should adorn the front entrance. A beautifully painted front door costs little but makes a bold statement.

If some of your furniture is damaged, old, or outdated, you may want to consider replacing it by picking up a few new-to-you pieces to add to your collection. This does not require you to purchase brand new items. You can use websites such as Craigslist, Letgo, Facebook Marketplace, etc. to buy at marginal prices. You may even find a “free” item that would fit in nicely with your existing furniture.

It would be advantageous to look at real estate or home/garden magazines. Real estate magazines with listings will show you what staged homes look like. Just make sure they are dated currently. The last thing you want to do is pick up a magazine from 2005 when you’re selling in 2020. Another idea is to look around your area and see how they are staging, then up your game.

Last but not least photograph your home. This may be one area where you want to hire a professional. A professional photographer knows angles, lighting, and spacing. Professional pictures give you greater preference in advertising than amateur photos will. Open houses are great but a picture speaks a thousand words.

If you need staging and Airbnb management, hard money loans, or private lending, email me at hollylynnproductions@yahoo.com or call me at 415-317-6071.

Holly Lynn

Experienced Owner with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate industry. Skilled in Team Building, Television, Leadership, Marketing, and Digital Marketing. Strong business development professional who graduated from San Francisco State University, College of Business.

The Queen of Capital, Holly Lynn specializes in helping people with their real estate needs. She is a creative and results-driven resource who can help investors at every level.

Her authentic, personal relationships with both lenders and investors coupled with her vision, work ethic and endless desire to make the deal work position her as a sought-after, leader in the industry.

Holly Lynn can help you with hard money, private financing and other funding for your investments and projects.

She is a self-taught deal maker who has always had a keen business sense. She works with investors and syndication across the board who are looking for real estate investments that produce passive income streams.

She built B.A.M.F into the single most recognized name that is designed to build strong relationships and invest in multifamily projects to create massive cash flow and wealth. B.A.M.F monthly meetups in San Francisco, San Mateo, Fremont, San Jose and those conducted through webinars are open for everyone. As the multifamily properties continue to be an investment megatrend, She gives everyone an opportunity to learn about multifamily property investments and opportunities that would only be otherwise available for top dealers and those who met the qualifications by SEC. But through B.A.M.F, you can meet with experts and deal organizers who can provide you with great investment options.

Holly’s reputation has been earned one transaction at a time with no substitute for hard work and honesty. Take advantage of her deep proven experience in the real estate and investment market by joining her events and mixers. Mixers that are organized by B.A.M.F is sought after by reputable individuals in the investment and finance field. It is your chance to learn and grow.