Sit down with a Neighborhood Expert for a pre-sold strategy session and find out if you’re home is market ready
By Patricia Nugent
When selling a home, the way you present it can turn a cool prospect into a red-hot buyer. We turned to Erin Paglio, a Realtor working with Denise Zervos, The Neighborhood Experts at Platinum Real Estate, for some helpful hints. She’s earned a reputation as a master stager, taking homes from cluttered and drab to move-in-ready dynamite.
“The purpose of staging is to take away any items personal to the homeowner and lend the appearance of a neutral home the potential buyer can picture themselves in,” she says.
Here’s Erin’s “Do this, Don’t Do That” list:
• Do get rid of anything personal (family pictures, kids’ artwork) or unnecessary (appliances or spoon rests on the countertops). In terms of style, everything should be neutral, neutral, neutral.
• Do focus your attention on what Realtors call hardscapes. Rather than placing throw rugs over hardwood floors, make sure the flooring is in the best shape it can be. If layers of drapery cover the view from a pretty window, or don’t let natural light in, get rid of them.
• Don’t allow furniture to clog up the flow of your home. Either put it in storage, or store it neatly in the garage. Don’t worry about potential buyers seeing it in the garage, as that will only demonstrate what a motivated seller you are, already preparing to move.
• Don’t dismiss the little details, such as touching up trim and floorboards. Yes, painting your rooms in light, neutral shades is important, but every inch of the home needs to be spotless. Another detail people often overlook is lighting. Think about replacing juvenile, gender-specific light fixtures in kids’ rooms, since they need to be neutral.
Erin has earned a reputation for going the extra mile. In fact, she’s also been known to pick up a paint roller to pitch in when sellers need help.
Just ask Henry Schenk:
“Erin was our agent and we knew that she was personally committed to getting the job done for us. She went above and beyond what we ever expected of her, including, but not limited to, helping us do some touch-up painting.”
Platinum Real Estate has seven offices in Northeast Ohio and five in Southern Florida. For a confidential appointment or to get more information, call 216-990-2100 or 440-974-SALE and visit YourNeighborhoodExpert.com.