CONDO STAGING

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” William Shakespeare famously wrote for his play As You Like It in 1600. And in a small way, that’s the way it is with Chicago condominiums and suburban Chicago condos for sale. The owners come and go over time, and the condos are stages waiting to be lived in, loved and eventually passed along to someone new when the time is right. Condo staging is an important technique when it’s time to sell.

If a condo is a stage, then that stage needs to be staged itself. What is “staging?” It’s creating a great first impression and making a condo, townhouse or single family home appealing to buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

The process of staging goes beyond what’s commonly called curb appeal, and this is where sellers are often tripped up as they prepare their property for sale. Outside first impressions are vital, but there’s really a second first impression involved, too.

A second first impression? Absolutely!

The outside appeal of the condo, townhouse or single family home is, of course, the first. But there’s another important impression that needs to be taken into consideration, and that’s when the perspective buyer crosses the threshold into the dwelling. This is condo staging.

“It’s the power of small details,” says Lin Hill, the author of an article about staging in NAR’s Realtor® magazine.

According to Ms. Hill, there are three goals you should have in each room when staging your Chicago condo or suburban Chicago condo for sale. They are:

• Depersonalizing the space. Remove family photos, take everything off the refrigerator (stuck to the front and sides as well as resting on top) and eliminate posters, awards and trophies from the kids’ rooms.
• Clearing furnishings from high-traffic areas. Feelings of comfort and space should be maximized.
• Spotlighting important features in every room, like the fireplace, by removing furnishings and plants.

Attack this project by starting in the living room, which is often the first impression for potential buyers. De-clutter shelves, countertops and cabinets. Get a head start on your packing by putting all these items into boxes for the big move. And of course, get the boxes out of the condo, too.

Continue the condo staging by painting, cleaning and/or re-carpeting where necessary. These three steps can contribute strongly to condo value.

Does a vacant Chicago condo, townhouse or single family home need staging, also? Yes. Leave just enough inside to create an inviting atmosphere. A couple of table settings, towels for the bath, even attractive items for shelves and counters, too.

Condo staging is easy with help from one of the many Chicago condo specialist Realtors® at OwnACondo.com. Call today at 866-696-2266.