Walking into a townhouse is like meeting a person—within 30 seconds, you form an opinion. So, how can owners improve a townhouse’s first impression for potential buyers? One word—staging.
All of us love our homes, and it can be very hard to hear that anything needs to be altered for showings. Many of you know that I have collections of knick-knacks, paintings, and more treasures. Trust me when I say I empathize with how challenging it is to box things up for storage so other people can see the potential in my townhouse. But, as Ronda Kaysen stated in her recent NY Times article, “Staging a home for sale is not unlike decorating a stage for a play…your house should not appear to be lived in by real people who own stuff.” We need to create a space that allows buyers to imagine living there themselves. They appreciate it. Right, buyers?
The following are staging suggestions the Vandenberg Team often makes when previewing a home and strategizing with owners:
- Prioritize the most visible rooms in the heart of the home, especially the parlour floor.
- Brighten rooms with a fresh coat of light-colored paint, and bring in extra lighting.
- Dusty wainscotting and railings can make a house feel old. If your townhouse has detailed, original woodwork, make sure to do a deep clean and maybe an extra coat of polyurethane to enhance its beauty.
- Install new carpet in hallways and stairwells.
- Landscape the garden so that it delights and inspires during the warmer months.
- Be realistic about the timeline of making repairs and staging. Allocate an extra week to the planning phase so everyone can deliver on time before your townhouse goes on the market.
Interested in a recommendation on stagers Vandenberg works with and trusts? Contact Nicole Kats, Listing Director, to discuss our townhouse resources and expertise on increasing the value of your townhouse.
