Real estate mogul Barb Corcoran says, “Home staging used to be optional. Today, it’s a necessity in selling a house.”
In this video she goes on to say that home staging can increase the selling price of a home by 10% to 20%.
Watch her discusses curb appeal and then walk through the key rooms providing her top home staging tips.
If you’re a home stager, keep these in mind when making recommendations to your own home staging clients.
These are typical of the types of things you’ll point out during a home staging consultation.
Barb Corcoran Home Staging Tips
- Light sells houses, so cut back bushes that are keeping the light from streaming in the windows.
- A cheap door says “cheap house,” so change it when appropriate to the value of the home.
- Home buyers make a judgement within 8 seconds of walking through the front door, so first impressions are key to selling a house on the real estate market.
- Buyers won’t mentally move into the house if they can’t see past your stuff.
- The kitchen is the most important room. You don’t need to spend a lot of money renovating it to sell. Put a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets and walls and clean off the counters.
- The bathroom is the second most important room when you’re selling a house. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dated bathroom— apply fresh grout, re-glaze the bathtub (if necessary) and remove all the clutter.
- Clean rooms always look bigger. If necessary pay your teens to keep their bedrooms clean while the house is on the real estate market.
- Tidy the linen closet. It’s on of the things buyers will use to judge what they can’t see in your home. If it’s a disaster they’ll assume you haven’t cared for the home. Stuff they can’t see and can cause worry are things like the roof, plumbing, electrical and the foundation.
- Every house has an odor. So stop smoking, eliminate pets, use potpourri, or boil cinnamon before a showing.
What do you think of these Barb Corcoran home staging tips? Is there anything you’d add to this list? Please share your ideas in the comment section.
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Credit Original image: Entrepreneur Magazine. Barbara Corcoran’s quote is from this video, which I then added to her image.
Susan says
For a 4 minute consultation, Barbara does a great job! I hope that many, many home sellers see this video and take it to heart. Thanks for sharing!
Debra Gould says
I agree Susan! Feel free to share a link to it on your blog or in social media if you believe it will help market your staging services.
vicki says
Thanks Debra! Wish I had known about this a long time ago! Just tried it out- very easy and fast.
Jill Gargus says
I love Barbara she is one of my favorite Sharks. However she missed a lot of valuable info in this short video. I also did not agree that updates do not need to be made, updates can make a sale for you especially if the competition has them! I realize she is not a Stager, So I have grace for her! Perhaps I will direct her to my website! Love you Barbara!
Debra Gould says
Thanks for commenting Jill. Updates are a tricky one, dependent as you said on the local competition. I also think a lot depends on the price level of the home. There is stuff I ignore in a starter home that I’d never ignore in a more expensive one. She’s one of my fave “Sharks” too 🙂
Jill Gargus says
I will be able to meet her hopefully at the RESA conference in Jan 2014, it’s exciting that she is our keynote speaker…looking very forward to it! I love the fact that she supports staging and makes her views known, this can only help us all!
Lori Carbone says
Thanks Debra
this is a great video and recap to share with homeowners. Lori
Debra Gould says
Lori, glad you like it and I agree it’s a good tool to share with your clients.
Toni Robinson says
Good light is important inside the home as well. And closet space is important, so make sure closets are looking clean and spacious.
Debra Gould says
Totally agree Toni, thanks for commenting!