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IWP!, flagship product is Chicago's premiere real estate Investment
magazine. Entitled Invest With Passion!, it is the tool for investors and professionals in the
Mid-West. The publication seeks to grow it's market share by providing
powerful information designed to build the reader both as an investor and a
person.
Since it's release in January of 2006, the magazine has been well received and
continues to gain momentum and support. The education, information, and
networking opportunities for the real estate investor has been long neglected.
No More!
The time is now and the momentum is building.
It's Happening!
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10
LOW-COST STAGING SECRETS TO FASTER SALES
By Martha Shaifer-Hartel
1. Remove All The Clutter
Start packing items like photos, knickknacks and
precious artworks that could get dam-aged. Neaten up closets, cabinets and
drawers. A messy home tells the buyer that you're not organized, and
therefore you are probably not a good steward of your house-hold affairs.
And as a result, it is highly possible that you have slacked on the upkeep
and maintenance of the property.
2. Clean Is Good
No one wants to meet your dust bunnies, see layers of
crud in your corners, or peer through dusty windows. Hire a cleaning
service to help you with the heavy spring cleaning like washing walls,
woodwork and windows. If you are unable to get the walls clean, consider
applying fresh coats of paint. In the bath-rooms, clean or re-grout
between ceramic tiles, apply fresh sealant around tub and sinks.
3. Eliminate All Smells
You don't want to smell cats, dogs, birds, or the
fish from last night's dinner. Open all windows if you have to get the
smell gone quickly. You don't want to lay on the disinfectant, either.
Some people are allergic to strong odors. The smell of new paint triggers
a warning that says: what are they covering up? Mold and mildew smells can
also throw off a buyer making them wonder what the source is. And the
smell of cookies, as some folks like to do, only makes this writer wonder
how a diabetic might feel when they smell something they shouldn't have.
The goal is to have no smells. This shows that the place is truly clean.
4. Curb Appeal Makes A Difference
You always want to make a good first impression.
Change the doormat, polish, illuminate or paint the house numbers, and add
some color with live flowers, ever-greens or a wreath on the door. Remove
any spider webs or dead insects. Make sure your mailbox looks clean. This
sprucing up should continue inside the front entry way. Clean the glass,
make sure the doorbell works, and the front door should be freshly painted
or cleaned. Check the trim on the doorway and either paint or clean as
needed.
5. Let The Light In
Turn on the lights for your buyer’s visit. Consider
adding a lamp to dark corners and make sure the curtains/blinds are open
when the buyers arrive. Dust the bulb in the fixtures if they seem dim.
Also, consider using the new compact florescent bulbs wherever possible.
6. Kitchens & Bathrooms
Kitchens and bath-rooms will sell your home. Focus on
these two areas next. Again, clear the countertops to show off the amount
of space you have to prepare food. Put away appliances like toasters,
blenders, and the like. Decorative canisters of flour, spices, sugar and
coffee are ok, if they match the overall décor of the kitchen. Clean the
cabinet doors, stove, oven and fridge and take a moment to organize the
interiors of drawers. People will look! This also holds true in the
bathroom. Both areas need to be super clean and free of unseemly smells.
In the bathroom, use luxurious fabrics, a dish of mildly fragrant soaps
and new toothbrushes.
7. Fix Small Problems
Fix small problems like sticky doors, squeaky floors,
torn screens, cracked windows, and/or a dripping faucets. You may be used
to dealing with those items but the buyers won't. They see deferred
maintenance and envision your house as a problem waiting to happen. It
makes them scrutinize your home even more closely.
8. Garage & Yard
Focus on the garage and yard. You should keep the
grass mowed, watered and weed free. Prune and simplify your garden, if
there is one, and make sure you can walk in the garage without a map.
Replace exterior bulbs, coil the garden hose neatly, and keep the walkways
clear of toys. Shine up the grill and patio furniture or pack it away.
9. Remove/Rearrange Furniture
Remove or rearrange large pieces of furniture. A
professional stager can help you find the focal point so you can show each
room to its best advantage.
10. Help Buyer’s Vision
Help your buyer envision living there. Set the table
with pretty dishes and place settings, set up the family room for a movie
screening, or create a warm and cozy corner for reading a book or playing
a game of chess. The goal is to have the buyers envision themselves in
the property doing whatever it is that they do.
Martha Shaifer-Hartel is a certified Eco-Broker with
Baird and Warner. For more information, she can be reached at
shaifer-hartel@sbcglobel.net. |
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