Kitchen Staging
There is no doubt, a Kitchen can make or break the sale of a home. No matter how well the rest of the home looks, if the kitchen is not properly prepared for showings buyers will pass up the home with the poorly prepared kitchen. Here are a few tips for preparing your kitchen for showings.
- Declutter – This is the first rule of staging any room, but it is more important in the kitchen than in any othe rpart of the home. Be sure to show every square inch of counter space to potential buyers. Put away small appliances, utensil holders, cook books and anything else that is on the countertop.
- Clean – Clean your kitchen like the sale of your house depends on it (’cause it does) Nothing else will turn off a buyer faster than a dirty kitchen.
- Refigerator – Many stagers will tell you to take every magnet, calendar and artwork off of your refigerator. This is good advice, but I think one or two magnets will hurt much. But be sure to wipe out the inside of the refigerator because many buyers will peek inside (especially if it stays with the house).
- Cabinets – Wipe them down inside and out. If the hardware is outdated it may help to dress up the kitchen if you replace the hardware.
- Lighing - Turn on the lights and make sure the fixtures are clean. Clean the windows and open the curtains/blinds to let in sunlight.
Finally, once the kitchen is spotless you can make a couple of final touches. Place some fresh cut flowers in a vase on the table. Another nice touch is a bowl of fruit on the counter (unless the counter is very small). Be sure to check out the article titled “Good Smelling Equals More Selling” for some tips on getting the proper aroma in your house for showings.
