Five Senses of Home Staging

When looking for a new home, buyers use more than their sense of sight to determine if a house suits them. If you are selling your house, be sure that it is pleasing to all the senses.

Seeing - In today's tough market, sellers need to make every effort to show their house in a clean, clutter-free, and stylish way to compete with other listings. Using staging techniques will help you achieve a great-looking house that appeals to a wide variety of buyers.

Touching - Your home should feel comfortable to buyers. Keep the air conditioner running in the summer so buyers are not overheated in your house. In the winter, turn on the fireplace for an extra layer of warmth.

Hearing - For added comfort, soothing music may be played throughout the house. There should be the absence of unpleasant sounds (ie. running toilets, dripping faucets, squeaky doors).

Tasting - Homeowners can set out cookies or small wrapped chocolates for buyers to enjoy while they are touring the house. On a warm, summer day cool bottles of water will leave buyers feeling refreshed.

Smelling - Nothing will turn off buyers faster than a foul smelling house. Pet odors, cigarette smoke, and whatever smell eminates from a teenage-boy's room can be offensive to buyers and could potentially kill the sale. Take the necessary steps to eliminate the source of the odor so the house smells fresh and clean. Do not use heavy room sprays or candles to cover up everyday odors, many people are sensitive to strong fragrances.

Staging your home requires using all of your senses. While walking through your home, try to imagine what buyers are seeing, hearing, feeling, and smelling when they are touring your house. Take note of what pleases your senses in model homes or a friend's house, and apply those techniques to your own home.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.