Presentation at Library to Teach Sellers How to Prepare and Stage Home For Sale

If you're preparing your home for sale, it is much different from what you see on TV, according to staging professional and interior decorator Marie Graham. 

Staging your home is very important, Graham said, because it can make homes welcoming and help potential buyers see themselves in that house if everything is done well. Within 15 seconds, a potential buyer makes his or her mind about the house.

While most people think staging might be difficult or expensive to do, Graham said she wants to teach people what they could do themselves and use the available and easily accessible resources. 

She is having a presentation, entitled "Let's Get Your House Sold," this Thursday at the  at 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring pictures and ask questions.

While each house is different, Graham said people don't like to see clutter or personal belongings, which could prevent them from seeing the space. 

"The real mistake is they think there will be this magic buyer and they don't have to do anything," said Graham, adding that even how the house smells is important -- from cigarettes to pet odors. "You want to make your homes as welcoming as possible so that as many people as possible could see themselves there."

One example, she said, is leaving the patio furniture out showing how the space could be used and give people a reason to want to enjoy the area. Having a good listing picture of your home is also important, she said. Often people would scroll through pictures online before even calling a realtor and if a photo is not attractive, they wouldn't bother looking at the house. 

Graham has been working in the furniture and decorating business for 31 years and has been doing professional staging for the last 10 years. She related staging your home to a first date -- you want to make the best first impression. And that's important because unlike years ago when there were lines out the door for Open Houses, today that's not the case. People need to understand that they need to make their homes attractive if they want to be able to sell it. 

In Yorktown, Graham said most of the houses are split levels and raised ranches.

"They are a 60’s style-generous space, but predictable, and not a lot of details," she said. "Replacing the builders’ original metal railings with a wood rail and balustrade, adding details like crown mouldings, even replacing bi-fold/louvered doors with paneled ones are details that set this style house apart from the crowd. Exterior house color is important, too. Outdated rust, gold, chocolate browns and pastel blues send the wrong message. Neutral, sometime deeper tones give the house a fresher and more inviting look."

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To register, call the library at 914-245-5262. Sellers, agents and buyers are welcome to attend.