If you are looking to sell your home, chances are you’re already aware of the importance that a good first impression makes on buyers. The selling process is more than just a statistical analysis of location, housing type, bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage and home features, it is also an emotionally driven comparison of what else is available. Your listing needs to stand out, be noticed and remembered. Early into the process, most real estate agents will advise you on a few guidelines when it comes to presentation. When we think of staging a home for sale, our minds often go to features that boost curb appeal or adding various luxurious touches to the home. However, did you know those lesser used spaces such as the garage or attic could make a huge difference by making your listing stand out from the crowd and ultimately even boost your chances of getting a higher sale price too.
Space Sells
Most potential buyers are always looking at their space requirements when shopping for a new home. However, luxury properties are all about the amenities and for those homes, the presentation is an essential part of the selling process. In fact, experts consider staging to be a necessity in selling luxury real estate. Garages, attics or even additional storage closets all open up more possibilities to your viewers. In short, they are an additional selling point if handled correctly. Buyers need to be able to visualize themselves in the home and adding unique features or finishing to what were empty spaces can make all the difference.
Tie Up Loose Ends
Often when we begin renovations on a home, the last place on the list tend to be the lesser used spaces such as the basement or attic. However, a finished basement can give a return of up to 70 percent on your investment. Attics can sometimes be converted into a spare bedroom or office. An extra bedroom can add as much as 10 percent to your home’s value while a change in color scheme is one of the other home improvements that can boost the price you end up selling for. Garages can be transformed into automotive showcases that rival the best luxury car showrooms. Converting lesser used spaces in the home also means making the most out of the room. So, when prepping the home for sale you should aim to translate this vision to the viewers. It does not have to be capital intensive or drastically change any historical features of the home you may be preserving. Instead, make these features a focus point.
Start with a purge of the space. Around 93 percent of estate agents recommend decluttering your home before viewings. Separate items into a keep, toss and donate pile. Those items headed to offsite storage can also form the fourth pile. Simple measures such as organizing the contents of the garage into labeled sections, getting rid of any oil stains on the floor with the help of paint thinner and baking soda, can make a huge difference in presentation. The use of a garage containment mat can also help it to stay clean during the selling process. According to autofloorguard.com, the cell foam containment edges help to keep any oil leaks or mess contained. Finally, make sure there is adequate lighting installed. Replacing burned out bulbs takes only a few seconds and carry a minimal cost. It takes little effort on your part but allows the buyer to properly view the features of the space.
Opt For Offsite Storage
Unused spaces tend to become storage spaces, especially when you are preparing the home for viewings. Don’t be tempted to place all your discarded items in there. Instead, choose to store unused furniture and any other items offsite during the selling process to increae the positive impact of scheduled viewings. The average cost for renting a 10 X10 storage unit is an average $120 per month. The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to ask to see the garage and find it disorganized, messy of stuffed full of all your extra furniture and storage items. Make sure you also clear out any clutter lurking under the steps or in those other spare spaces.
Every space in your luxury home is considered a selling point. Often the focus is on the more used rooms where much of the living is done. However, paying attention to hidden or lesser used spaces in your home could be the areas that secure the sale, not to mention how even landscaping can increase property value. Nevertheless, make the staging of your home for sale a true home wide effort.
