November 20, 2009
Staging your home on a shoe string….the kitchen
These days the kitchen is more than just a work space to prepare food. With modern day open-concept design, and elegant materials such as granite and beautiful woods, it’s become a comfortable gathering place for guests as well as family. Buyers want to feel as comfortable there as in the living room, and even if you don’t have an updated design, there are low-cost tips you can use to stage your kitchen to show it at its best. Once again, this is AFTER you’ve de-cluttered and cleaned it until it squeaks.
Start by taking all the practical “stuff” that we traditionally have on counters and surfaces and put it away. Then, pick just several decorative items for each surface. If your color scheme is neutral, pick a few colorful items, such as a bowl of lemons and limes, a flowering plant, or some pretty pottery canisters, and try different arrangements.
If you have under-counter lighting, turn this on for showings and leave the overhead lights off.
Treat yourself to some new dish towels, bringing them out only for showings, and stash that tired-looking sponge or dish rag under the sink.
If you have a table or eating counter in the kitchen, make it look comfortable and inviting with a small centerpiece of fresh or dried flowers , fruit, or a candle arrangement. You might even set the table with some new, cloth place mats and matching napkins; use them only for showings, and you can take them with you to your new home.
Make sure all window treatments are letting the light in; if you don’t want the view beyond the windows to draw the eye, put a plant or some flowers on the window ledge to stop the eye there.
Since buyers like to open cabinets, pantry doors, and closets, try “facing” the items on the shelves. This is what stores do, and consists of arranging all the cans and boxes neatly so that the labels face forward. It works!
If you know a showing is coming up, don’t cook that day with foods that leave strong odors (odors are the #1 turn-off for buyers).
Buyers want to walk into a kitchen that’s spotless, bright, and has some warmth, and they’ll be anxious to see the rest of the house. Don’t forget the front door, the living room, and getting started.
Posted by:
Julie Sarton
Tagged With:
home update,
julie sarton,
kitchen
and open-concept design
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Shirin Sarikhani said,
November 21st, 2009 at 01:42 AM
Julie, I enjoyed reading your blog and I agree with all the points that you've made. Sometimes, when I tour open houses, I walk into beautifully staged homes and when I get into the kitchens, I see sterile and empty spaces, which is disappointing. A kitchen is the heart of a home and it should be warm, inviting, and real. As you said, this is an easy project to take on. Shirin Sarikhani Seattle Staged To Sell www.seattlestagedtosell.com