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Creating that “WOW” factor can help sell your home

It may not take much to create the "WOW" factor in a home, but it could mean a potential sale if buyers get that warm, fresh feeling when they first step into a property, according to a panel of affiliate members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®. The panel recently shared tips with REALTORS® on how to prepare a listing so when prospective buyers first see the home they will immediately be enamored with the property.

Preparing a listing can range from rearranging furniture and decluttering, placing touches of color and accessories in the home, repainting cabinets, to replacing a portion of torn carpet. Costs can be adjusted to any budget.

Margie Tabel of Tabel Construction & Design said she is always mindful of time and price. Key places she hits are the kitchen, the foyer and façade of the home and exterior areas, including the garage door. As a general contractor, her intention in preparing a home for sale is not to remodel a home, but to do cosmetic touch ups, "pulling it together while being mindful of the cost," Tabel said.

According to Bill Orrock of Carpet Works, replacing torn carpet or a portion of carpet can make all the difference in the world and give the home a fresh, clean feeling. He said REALTORS® and their clients should be conscious of and know their competition.

Furniture placement or replacement also makes a difference in providing a good first impression, said Laurie Ramirez with Cort Furniture Rental. "You want to make sure that your furniture grouping flows with the architecture feature of the home," said Ramirez.

Sejal Parekh of Innovae Designs specializes in designing, decorating, and home staging. She suggested showing a home with furniture and accessories, rather than a house that is empty. Focus on the "aspirational aspect," so prospective buyers will be able to imagine themselves living in the home, she suggested.

Parekh shares Seven Secrets to staging a home:

1. Create curb appeal with a neat and tidy front and back yard. Add splashes of color with flowers and ensure a clear view of the front of the home by trimming trees and shrubs growth, and clearing the walking path. A great designer touch would be to repaint the front door with a red or maroon color to give the front a "wow" factor.
    
2. Present an impeccably clean home. Hire a professional housecleaner, steam the carpets, power wash the patio and driveway areas.
    
3. Choose elegant and neutral colors for inside the home. Repaint gaudy or mismatched colors. Elegant creams for the walls with white trim can be a great choice. You may accent walls with colors not too far off the "neutral zone" (mocha, taupe, etc.).
    
4. Invest in small and easy updates. Update light fixtures and cabinet hardware or re-paint cabinets. Re-caulk and re-grout bathtubs and tiles for a new look.
    
5. Pack up and de-clutter. Pack away unneeded household items and personal memorabilia such as photos, trophies, knick-knacks, cultural and religious mementos. A universal décor scheme would appeal to any buyer. Place bathroom toiletries in covered baskets and bins. Create a spa-like feeling by laying out bath and hand towels and tying them with ribbon or raffia.
    
6. Remove unnecessary furniture. Remove furniture pieces to lighten a room. Arrange furniture to highlight the best features of the home, such as a spectacular view or open kitchen. Take down dated window coverings.
    
7. Accentuate. As a final staging touch, select art and décor pieces to accentuate rooms and create a calm and airy feel. Show vignettes of daily life, such as an elegant table setting, book and coffee cup on a tray. If needed, call a professional home stager to bring in furniture and accent pieces and provide recommendations for the best room arrangements.

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.

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