Colin and Justin: Home staging made easy

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In a slow market, it takes more than a For Sale sign to close the deal

What should you do – and how much should be spent – to amplify dollar yield come sales time? As we see it, there exist no hard-and-fast rules, though experience demonstrates that a modest 5% of value reinvested in a tired home can augment value by around 15 to 20%.

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Just imagine how potential buyers would feel were every ‘red flag’ (all those time consuming – and pricy – perceived revamps) erased prior to offering. Were you the buyer, rather than the seller, of which obstacles would you be cogniscent?

Remain mindful of this maxim: ‘To fail to plan is to plan to fail’. Smart home-selling is all about strategy – without further ado, here’s our guide to get you moving. Consider it a property cleanse to set you on the path to maximal return…

First impressions

Come on – reach for your tools and fix that wobbly fence, trim back unruly bush (we’re not suggesting an Edward Scissor Hands manicure to sculpt foliage into birds and poodles, but a horticultural Brazilian will make all the difference) and repaint your front door.

Rite of passage

Think model-home scene-setting to stimulate buyers. Improve circulation to windows so views can be appreciated: clear passage between zones is paramount.

Pare back drapery

Swap out billowing curtains for simple blinds, and accord each space its own function, rather than allowing hybrid bedroom/office/TV rooms to baffle viewers.

Popcorn ceilings

Overhead texture is a red flag. If yours is unpainted, chances are the bumpy affray will scrape away on a DIY basis. If lurking below a layer of matte or satin, however, it’s a trickier remedy. We recommend calling the pros to ‘skim’ everything smoother than a Kardashian forehead. Either way, it has to go.

Sleep on it

Bedrooms can be dragged nearer market expectation with auspicious low key paintwork, linens, rugs and lighting. Stagers make short shrift of stylistic alchemy such as this, but they’ll typically charge $500 for a consultation and $300 – $500 thereafter (per room, per month) for furniture rental.

Living rooms

Dispensing with clutter is a no brainer, as it touching up paintwork (or indeed starting from scratch) to showcase everything at its most tempting. When, after all, was the last time you espied a model home hued library green? Hmm? Go on: wield that roller, immerse in bone-coloured paint, and breathe…

Get ahead of the game

It’s also worth considering furniture purchase for your new home ahead of time. If your existing coffee table, case goods and sofa are dated, delete, then layer in everything planned for the next rung of your property ladder.

This is stage setting at its simplest: your place will shine, and everything travels to your new home when you finally break free.

Kitchen (less than) confidential

Food prep zones are a huge priority, and whilst it may seem counter-intuitive to be shelling out pre departure, if yours looks dowdy, a rejig can impact sales price. These days, a modest Ikea kitchen can be bought and installed for 5-10K, an investment to tempt a profitable future.

Alternatively, hard wares and new counters (consider quartz or butchers block, both of which are eminently more affordable than stone or marble) to awaken your offering.

For a streamlined aesthetic, trick out older cabinetry with integrated appliances, ‘counterscape’ with sexy coffee makers and toasters (this ‘jewellery’ goes to your next home) and consider a statement-ceiling fixture to bathe proceedings with light. Remember: you’re selling a lifestyle, so switch on, pronto.

Home spa

Fix leaking faucets and replace tired shower curtains with glass panels. Updating an old bathroom vanity will reap rewards, as will new tile, hard wares or a sleek towel stand. Add a slick mirror to deliver spa vibes without major outlay.

Remember that schematic ‘correction’ is your best friend. At the very least, you’ll be polishing your biggest asset to be enjoyed in the short term, and harvesting uptick (on a modest investment) to bolster your coffers, going forward. Win win? And then some…

Watch for Colin and Justin on Citytv’s Breakfast Television and Colin and Justin’s Sub- Zero Reno on Paramount Plus TV. Find the Colin and Justin Home Collection in stores across Canada.
Visit www.colinandjustin.tv.