ODDmopolitan-Staging for the Senses

STAGING FOR THE SENSES
"Turn a Look-See... into a Must-Have"

house for sale

Staging a house is about creating a desire and helping the potential buyer to visualize the place where their own lives will unfold. It is the art of seduction and business rolled into one and the goal is to grab the potential buyer within seconds of entering the house. Give that first impression more clout by staging to appeal to the five senses. The combination of appealing to all the senses will create a non-tangible feeling as well, one of warmth, cleanliness, and an invitation to buy me!

SEE
Staging begins with the eyes. The first interior impression will usually take place in the foyer. Is the foyer a dumping ground for book bags, shoes, coats, mail, keys, etc? If the foyer is messy, the perception is there is not enough storage space. Do the walls show signs of neglect with dirty walls and cobwebs in the corner, then the perception is that the entire house is messy. If the foyer is neglected, the message is that more important things, may be neglected as well.

SMELL
As a former Realtor, I have seen many a potential buyer walk right back out when they wre met by bad odors. The house should smell clean, fresh, and appealing. Is the initial "fragrance" pets, cigarette or cigar smoke, mold or mildew? Or maybe even a heavy hand with cleaning products. First of all, remove the source of the odor. Clean vertical surfaces like draperies, walls, and artwork. Shampoo or replace carpet and upholstery. Caution: Be careful about scented candles in every room as they may send a message that you are trying to mask odors. A few inexpensive odor remover in addition to cleaning is plates of vinegar set around to absorb odors (be sure to remove before showing house) or another great product is Bad Air Sponge. This great little container is 2 for $19.95 and neutralizes just about any bad odor you may encounter. Check it out.
HEAR
Too quiet or too noisy are both negative situations. The potential buyer wants enough noise they can converse without feeling someone can overhear them as they explore the property.

But they don't want to hear the dogs barking, loud music from an upstairs bedroom, blaring televisions or road noise. Remember, preparing a house for sale is creating a mood that will help the seller to fall in love with the house. So add soft mood music to enhance the tour through the house. Make sure the music you choose will appeal to your target market. Be careful to not send a message of "age" as this can make a house "sound" older than it really is. You might also consider adding a plug in water feature that will add great background noise and yet not be too distracting.

TOUCH
Add fresh flowers, or perhaps a bowl of objects that add tactile appeal such as shells or colorful stones. Put a soft throw over a chair that invites touching. If you are installing new carpet, then consider adding a plusher pad to give the carpet a feel of luxury to the step.

TASTE
Add a small bowl of Hershey Kisses or individually wrapped mints in the foyer to encourage people to stop and enjoy. Appealing to the sense of taste will accomplish a couple of things. First of all, the process of chewing will slow down the pace as the potential buyer walks through the house. The longer they take to walk through, the more chances they will bond with the property. Also, this small dish of candy sends a message of hospitality which will make the home seem more people friendly.

Carol Bass and JoAnne Lenart-Weary