Most sellers are familiar with the concept of ‘staging’ their home so that it looks its absolute best for any potential buyers. But a lot of people forget about staging the exterior of their home as well as the interior. The exterior of your home is the first thing a buyer sees when they are driving up to your house for a showing. When you hear “curb appeal” this is describing how appealing the exterior of your home looks to an outsider. You want to give the best first impression when the potential buyers first pull in your driveway. The saying “You’ll never have a second chance to make a good first impression” is very true when it comes to a prospective buyer looking at your home. So here are some of my best tips for staging the exterior of your Vail Valley home so that you can wow buyers from the start!
Landscaping
Landscaping is a big part of staging the exterior of your Vail Valley home. Depending on the time of year when you are showing your home, there are a variety of things you can do. When there’s no snow on the ground, make sure the lawn is mowed, trees and hedges are trimmed, weeds are removed, leaves and pine needles are picked up. If the time is right for flowers you can definitely plant some or add some potted plants around the entryway. You can even do high-quality fake flowers for lower maintenance. You can also certainly hire a local landscaper to freshen up your yard if you don’t want or have the time to do this yourself. In the winter, you’ll want to make sure the driveways are shovelled and salted to prevent any accidents. If you have pets make sure to clean up after them as well!
Declutter the Exterior
When staging your Vail Valley home, you’ll want to declutter your entire home and this includes the outside areas. Make sure the garden hoses are nicely bundled and random tools aren’t laying around. Check and see what may be laying around your entryway or backyard. Get rid of broken pots, dirty or old furniture and return any other stray equipment or supplies to their proper places. You don’t want anything to look cluttered. And remember that the exterior of your home doesn’t just mean the front! If you have a back porch or outdoor seating area, apply these ideas there too.
Cleaning and Updating
If you have a power-washer, now would be a great time to use that on driveways, pathways and the deck. You can also hire someone to do this for you. Cleaning windows is also a really good idea and can really brighten up your Vail Valley home. Take a look at any surfaces that potential buyers might look at and make sure to sweep, dust or polish them. While doing this you may realize certain areas needing a new coat of paint. You don’t want chipped paint on any trim, windows, doors or railings.
Seasonally Appropriate Decor
You don’t want to overdo the decor on the interior or exterior of your home when staging because you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible. This means neutral shades instead of anything too bright, as this may be a distraction. But it can be nice to add some seasonal decor if you prefer. You can do this with the potted flowers around the front door, think poinsettias in the winter and lavender in the summer. A wreath on the door can also be a nice touch. If you are selling during the holiday season some outdoor lights will add to the atmosphere as well. If you need help with deciding on how to stage your Vail Valley home, I’d be happy to put you in touch with professional stagers.
How Can I Help?
I hope the information about staging the exterior of your Vail Valley home can help you get the best buyer. I can help you when it comes to listing and marketing your home in the Vail Valley. Please reach out to me! I want to provide my clients with interesting and up-to-date information so they can make informed decisions. If you think that my expertise and positive attitude might be of service to you don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me.
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Robert Schilling
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Specialist
Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties
(970) 390-0705
[email protected]