Home Staging Difficulties - What to Do with Your Garage

When it comes to getting your home sold quickly, most real estate agents will agree upon the importance of 1) curb appeal and 2) interior organization/staging; however, while making the front of your home so enticing that buyers simply can’t wait to see what beautiful things await them inside, it’s important to remember that your property is more than a front yard, a kitchen, and a host of bedrooms.

In short, when attempting to de-clutter their home, many buyers wind up boxing their extra belongings and haphazardly throwing them in the garage. While this certainly protects your wallet from the expense of renting a storage space, it actually creates a garage that is akin to a kitchen “junk drawer.”

In today’s housing market, one of largest things that most buyers look for is storage, which means that the name of the game in regards to garages is “the bigger, the better.” With this in mind, if you intend to put a lot of time and money into making sure your home is staged just so, it’s important to remember that potential buyers want to picture themselves living within your entire home, which still includes less glamorous spaces like the garage.

Therefore, if your garage has begun to resemble a storage facility, it’s time to consider making things a bit more pleasing to the eye.

WHERE TO BEGIN

1. Much like any other room in your home, start by pulling everything out so you can really focus on making sure things are clean.

2. While grease and oil stains may be hard to clean, it’s important to remove these types of blemishes even though it may take more than a standard washing. It’s even a wise idea to consider renting a power-washer from your local hardware store when you’re purchasing a good oil and grease cleaner.

3. Paint, paint, paint. Once everything is spic-and-span, go ahead and paint the walls with a semi-gloss paint and the floor with a reputable epoxy floor coating.

4. Once everything dries, getting things organized is your final step. While it may seem tempting to simply throw everything back in, it’s important remember that simplicity is key.

If you plan on making a quick move, it’s okay to begin the packing process as long as everything is stacked very neatly and the clutter is cleaned up. For all of the standard garage fare—i.e. lawn equipment, tools, sports gear, etc.—consider investing in a few peg boards and built-in cabinets that will keep the space looking tidy and well-maintained.

5. During showings, move your cars out of the garage so buyers will see how much space they have to work with.

CONCLUSION

In the end, much like most things in life, selling your house is all about the total package. The more put-together your entire home is, the easier it will be to convince potential buyers that they can feel safe investing in your property. While it’s often tempting to cut corners or to assume that “it’s just a garage, no one expects it to be clean,” such sentiments are missing the point that buyers want to spend their money on properties that have been completely cared for.

If you have any questions or are interested in learning about what you can do to better market your home, I would love to speak with you.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551