Many home sellers think that it’s perfectly okay to leave their garage “as is” when selling their home, or worse, think it’s okay to move items out of the house and stuff them into the garage in an effort to declutter and minimize furniture and personal items.

Well, it’s NOT OKAY! The garage is extra square footage and should be treated just like any other room in the house when staging it for sale.

It should be shown to it’s highest and best possible use – to store and shelter cars most importantly, and secondarily, to store and shelter tools, hardware, sporting equipment, etc.

It’s NOT to be used to store furniture and other items that should be discarded, given away to family or friends, donated or stored offsite in preparation for your move.

A clean, neat and sparse garage will tell the buyer he has plenty of room to store his car(s) and tools.

Here are some specific tips for staging your garage when your home is on the market:

1. Get Clean - A garage must be clean. Just because it’s a garage and is quasi indoor/outdoor space, doesn’t mean it’s okay to have dirt, debris, leaves, dead insects, oil stains, etc.

Begin by removing everything from the garage (this will help prepare you for the next step). Then sweep the floor and brush cobwebs away from corners and ceiling. Remove oil stains with TSP cleaner purchased from your local hardware store. Hose the or powerwash the floor it if there is adequate ventilation to dry it and the temperature is above freezing. Or at least mop or scrub the floor. Painting the floor, walls and ceiling, makes the garage seem newer and cleaner and tells the buyer you must really take care of the rest of the house. Wash the windows, if any, and make sure all bulbs are in working order.

2. Get Rid of the Clutter – don’t use the garage as a dumping ground for all of the items you’ve so proudly removed to stage the interior of the home. A few boxes or plastic bins of items are fine, however. Begin by removing everything from the garage in preparation for cleaning and/or painting it. Separate items into Keep, Discard, Donate or Give Away.

3. Get Organized – For those items you are keeping, organize them into categories such as tools, lawn and garden equipment and supplies, paint cans, seasonal items like beach chairs or holiday decorations, sporting equipment, etc.

Here are some suggestions for getting organized:

Pegboards or slatted walls and hooks Plastic shelves and bins Tool organizers Sports Equipment Organizers Overhead Storage Systems

By: Donna Dazzo

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Selling your home in today’s market can be challenging. Remember, when you finally get a buyer into your house to take a look, you only get one chance to make a first impression. You want to be sure to have your home in the best shape possible before putting it on the market. It is definitely a buyers market now and they can be very picky when it comes to spending their hard earned money. You can be sure they will be comparing your house to the other ones they are considering. Here are 6 easy and low cost tips for staging your home.

1. Have a friend walk through your property with you. Take a look at everything in your house. Be brutally honest! Make note of anything that looks worn or is in need of repair. Is your home up to date? There are many low cost ways to spruce up your house and stage it so that it is more appealing to buyers.

2. Clean out all of the clutter. Begin with the closets. Store away out of season clothes, extra toys, and items that you will not need for a while. Prospective buyers will definitely look in all the closets and you want them to notice how spacious they are. Next you need to go through each room and de-clutter. Clear off the counter tops in the kitchen and baths. It is a good idea to rent a “Pod” or a storage area while your house is on the market so that you can completely clean out your basement, garage, and remove anything else you will need to store. The last thing you want perspective buyers to think is that there is not enough room for storage in your home.

3. Thoroughly clean of all the rooms. Give everything a good scrubbing. Make sure your windows sparkle. Pay particular attention to the bathrooms and the kitchen. Take the time to calk and do minor maintenance as needed. Also, take a good look at the walls. If at all possible, it is recommended that you paint all the walls a neutral color. Buyers may not love the bright colors you have used throughout the house. Be sure all the carpets are clean. If the carpet is stained or worn out you may need to replace the carpet for a quick sale.

4. If you can, update light fixtures, faucets and any broken or missing hardware such as door knobs, towel bars etc. Be sure to replace all burned out light bulbs on the interior and exterior. You want your home to look bright and inviting, not dark and dingy. Add fluffy new towels in the bathroom. Fresh flowers and scented candles are a nice and inexpensive touch to any room.

5. Look at your furniture arrangement. Can you move easily through the room? Does the room look open an inviting? If not, consider rearranging or even paring down the furniture that you have. Remember that you want your home to look uncluttered and spacious. Make sure that the function of each room is clearly defined.

6. Last but not least, “de-personalize” your home. Remove photographs and other personal mementos while the house is for sale. You want your buyers to be able to picture themselves living in the home.

Simple staging can pay big dividends. Homes that have been staged tend to sell more quickly and for more money. Having your home as “move in ready” as possible will put your house at the top of the buyers list every time.

By: Sharon Vornholt

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