We’ve all seen it; the nice looking house that goes up for sale with a reasonable sale price. The house should sell fast but it doesn’t. In fact, it just sits on the market, becoming a liability because it has been for sale too long. In a decent housing market, there’s no excuse for a nicely appointed and well priced home to go unsold. So how does it happen? Most often, it’s because the seller wasn’t aware of how their everyday lives and belongings influence potential buyers. Solutions to the problems can be as simple as a coat of paint and as complex as wallpaper removal and new flooring. This is called “restaging.”

In today’s competitive home seller’s market, every advantage you can create for your home will put you closer to your goal of selling it. Because we live in our homes, we tend to accumulate the stuff of life:  toys, papers, mismatched furniture, family photos and other items that say “lived in.” The problem is, when homebuyers are looking at properties, the last thing they want to see is a home that appears that way. To give your home an advantage, consider enlisting the help of a REALTOR^® familiar with the techniques of restaging or hire a professional restager.

Restaging can be done whether the home is still occupied or vacant. It’s easy to bring furniture into an empty house to give it that “model home” look, but how do restagers work with homeowners who have to continue living in their house while it’s on the market? Restagers have the unenviable job of assisting homeowners as they sort through their belongings, with the goal of identifying things that could slow down the home sale process. Restagers are not professional organizers, however. Their sole purpose is to create a neutral, yet tasteful environment that shows the home in its best light. Their whole focus is getting prospective homebuyers to see the home at its best and give them the opportunity to envision themselves actually living there.

If a home sale is in your near future, you might want to do your own walk-through and ask yourself these questions for each room before you contact a real estate agent.

• When was the last time this room was painted? (Hint:  If you can’t recall, it’s definitely time for a new paint job.)
• Is the wallpaper in style and in good shape? (Even wallpaper in top condition must be removed if it reflects a by-gone style that has fallen out of design favor.)
• Does the room feel crowded or small because there is too much furniture or clutter? (This might be a great time to get rid of old, unused or well-used furniture, exercise equipment, knick-knacks, etc.)
• Does the carpet still look new? This means no beaten down paths through rooms, no stains and still stretched tightly. (Of course, as with wallpaper, if it’s a color or style that is no longer in fashion, you may want to consider recarpeting or putting in wood flooring.)
• Is your home a shrine to your family’s history? (If you have photographs on every available surface, it becomes much harder for prospective buyers to see themselves in your space. Some pictures are fine, just keep them to a strict minimum.)
• What’s behind this door? (If opening a closet door means risking injury, then it’s a great idea to clear closet clutter so buyers can actually see how much clutter they can accumulate.)

While restaging can be hard because you may be removing cherished items, a quick home sale usually overrides the initial dismay. Restaging simply means getting top dollar, as quickly as possible, for the home you no longer want.