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IMAGE IS EVERYTHING: CREATING A POSITIVE FIRST IMPRESSION IS KEY TO SELLING YOUR HOME The 2006 Royal LePage House Staging Report found that sellers ought to do more than just look after required renovations before showing their home. In fact, décor improvements help make a strong impact on buyers and can ultimately affect a home's market value. A poll conducted among potential homebuyers by Maritz Research revealed that renovations can often boost a home's value but sometimes too much of a unique style can be detrimental when it's time to sell. Thirty-six percent of potential buyers said that they would be willing to pay a premium for a home with updated décor. Surprisingly, more men than women viewed décor as a necessity with 41 per cent of men versus 30 per cent of women claiming they were willing to pay a premium for this feature. RENOVATE AND DECORATE When asked which home improvement they would pay a premium for, 79 per cent of buyers indicated that they would be willing to pay more for a home with a renovated kitchen. However, when asked if they would still pay a premium for a renovated kitchen if it was done in a style that was not to their taste, less than half of those (42%) who originally said they would pay a premium responded favourably. SOME TIPS TO GET YOU READY TO SELL First impressions are key as buyers often make up their minds about a home within the first few minutes of entering the front door. A combination of the right renovations with modern and tasteful décor is the best way to do that. A contemporary and minimalist space with neutral coloured walls and a limited number of personal items appeals to most buyers and ensures the best results when selling a home. Too much empty space can work against you as an empty room allows buyers to focus on negative details instead of the overall space and the flow of each room to the next. While a home should be clean and tidy before showing, it's essential to also pay attention to eliminating smells. According to the poll, 53 per cent of buyers believed strong odours such as pet and cigarette smells had a stronger impact on their impression of a home over overall tidiness and cleanliness, strong wall colours, outdated façade and landscaping. More tips from the 2006 Royal LePage House Staging Report can be found on www.royallegpage.ca ROYAL LEPAGE HOUSE STAGING REPORT 2006 Did you know? Fifty-eight per cent of buyers revealed that they were willing to make a decision after viewing 10 homes or less, while only 11 per cent of buyers thought they would have to view over 20 homes. Fifty-two per cent of buyers said the kitchen had the most significant impact on their purchasing decision while 25 per cent said the living room and five per cent said the bathroom. Sixty-three per cent of buyers surveyed would prefer a higher priced home that does not require any renovations over a lower priced fixer-upper. Percent of buyers that would pay a premium for the feature Renovated kitchen 79% Renovated bathroom 73% New windows 70% New flooring 62% Updated décor 36% Industry experts refer to the act of grooming and decorating a home to properly showcase its features and make it more attractive to potential buyers as house staging. Its simple techniques can be employed by anyone to make a dramatic impact in their home, and can make all the difference when it comes to selling a home quickly and for top value.