Stage for Success

OklaHomes Realty offers tips on staging your home to maximize selling success.

The increasing use of technology and smart phones on a day to day basis has changed the world around us, including the real estate market. Whereas people used to schedule an appointment with a real estate agent to view a home they were interested in purchasing, it is now common practice for buyers to view pictures of potential homes on the Internet. While “staging” a home for sale has always been important, it is even moreso now in the age of “click and view.”
Staging is meant to highlight a home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses, and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers. According to Tia Stout, Associate Broker of OklaHomes Realty, Inc. in Claremore, “Today, buyers are beginning to shop for real estate online and are touring homes through website photos. It is important for sellers to make the home appear as inviting as possible in their pictures, including making sure the house is decluttered and clean, as well as arranging the basic pieces of furniture to create an inviting space. When a house is dirty and messy, and the furniture is arranged so that the space isn’t open, buyers are unable to envision what the home looks or feels like. The photos need to make a person feel like they would want to go into that room and see it in real life.”
Tia is the certified home stager for OklaHomes. She goes into clients’ homes and stages it for them, or she will tell them exactly what they need to do and how. This is one aspect of the personal service OklaHomes Realty offers. “We follow the Golden Rule as stated in the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of REALTORS®,” says Allen Stout, Tia’s husband and owner of OklaHomes. “We want to serve the public in the most appropriate way, with the keywords being servant, honesty and trust. How we conduct ourselves as REALTORS® is a reflection on the company and what we’re trying to achieve.”
 Tia offers a few tips on how to stage your home for sale. Rule number one: the house must be clean and without clutter. No one wants to buy a messy, dirty house! Arrange furniture so that the area appears open and the traffic flow of a room is apparent. Lighting is an important feature to consider; increase the wattage in your lamps and fixtures, and use a variety of lighting types, including overhead lighting and accent lights on tables and walls. A coat of paint can work wonders for a room – Tia recommends a fresh neutral color to help tone down any dated finishes in the space. Varying the pattern and grouping of wall hangings can create a creative look that shows off the space of the room. Fresh flowers and greenery always add an appealing touch, particularly to kitchens.
OklaHomes Realty, Inc. has been helping clients buy and sell homes for over 27 years. Each agent possesses the best resources in the business to help clients achieve their goals. “We’ve always been on the cutting edge, using all the tools available,” says Allen. “We also have an up-to-date website with a live feed of all of our listings.”