YOU CAN SPOTLIGHT THE BEST FEATURES AND HELP IT SELL QUICKLY AT TOP DOLLAR. ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE, INCLUDING YOUR HOME WHEN IT'S TIME TO SELL. WITH EXISTING HOME SALES DOWN NEARLY 23% FROM LAST YEAR, SOME HOMEOWNERS NOW OPTING TO SET THE SCENE FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS, GIVING THEIR SPACES A MINI MAKEOVER BEFORE PUTTING THEM ON THE MARKET. >> WE STAGE THE MAIN LIVING AREAS. WE ALSO REPAINTED A LOT OF WALLS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MASSIVELY DECLUTTERED THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: FROM A FRESH COAT OF PAINT TO UPDATED FLOOR COVERINGS. 81% OF BUYERS' AGENTS SAID STAGES MADE EASIER FOR A BUYER TO VISUALIZE THE PROPERTY AS THEIR FUTURE HOME. >> WE SORT OF HAVE TO MOVE THE SELLER OUT A LITTLE BIT IN ORDER TO HELP THE BUYER FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MOVE IN. >> Reporter: A REAL ESTATE AGENT IN NEW JERSEY WHO RUNS HER OWN STAGING COMPANY SAYS MOST HOMES DON'T NEED A FULL RENOVATION TO ATTRACT BUYERS.
SMALL CHANGES CAN WELCOME A BIG RETURN. SELLERS SPENDING AN AVERAGE OF $400 TO $600 ON STAGING. YOU HAVE SEEN IT TIME AND AGAIN, THAT WHEN YOU PUT IN LITTLE INVESTMENT UPFRONT, THAT INCREASES THE PRICE OF THE HOME. >> EVERY SINGLE TIME. >> Reporter: STAGED HOMES ALSO SELL FASTER. THIS LISTING UNDER CONTRACT IN ONE WEEKEND FOR $126,000 ABOVE THE ASKING PRICE. THE OWNER OF THIS HOME SAYS HE ACCEPTED AN OFFER IN LESS THAN A MONTH. WHAT IS TODAY'S BUYER LOOKING FOR? >> FOR MORE FLEXIBLE SPACES, OPEN FLOOR PLANS, GREAT STORAGE, WORK AT HOME, PLACES THEY CAN WORK OUT AND MORE INFORMAL FAMILY TIME SPACES. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS WHEREVER THE EYE RESTS, THE SALE BEGINS. YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP A BUYER ENVISION THEMSELVES IN THAT SPACE. THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOMS TO STAGE, THE LIVING ROOM, THE PRIMARY BEDROOM AND THE KITCHEN. >> SO THIS IS A HOUSE COMING ON THE MARKET, ACTUALLY THIS WEEKEND. >> Reporter: TAKING US ON A TOUR OF THIS HOME'S DRAMATIC BEFORE AND AFTER. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE START WITH IS ALWAYS TO TAKE ANY HEAVY WINDOW TREATMENTS OFF AND TO REALLY JUST LET THAT SUNSHINE IN.
>> Reporter: THIS WOULD BE FORMAL LIVING ROOM RECENTLY PAINTED A NEUTRAL COLOR AHEAD OF ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO A MORE CASUAL, FLEXIBLE SPACE. >> I THINK WHAT WE DID IS MADE THE ROOM FEEL LARGER AND CREATED MULTIPLE SEATING AREAS IN THIS SPACE. >> Reporter: WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE KITCHEN? >> ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS WE CAN DO IS BASICALLY HELP A SELLER DECLUTTER A KITCHEN. >> Reporter: HER RECIPE FOR A MARKET READY KITCHEN, CLEAR THE COUNTERS, SWAP OUT BULKY FURNITURE AND ACCESS RISE WITH POPS OF CLUTTER, USINGIZE ITEMS YOU ALREADY HAVE. >> ANYBODY CAN DO THIS. THESE ARE ACTUAL JUST VEGETABLES. WE LIKE TO USE THIS COOK BOOK TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY WAS JUST HERE COOKING.
>> Reporter: JUST SWITCHING UP THE TABLE MADE A DIFFERENCE. >> COMBINING THE ROUND TABLE WITH A POP OF LIGHT, AND IT BRIGHTENS UP THE SPACE. >> Reporter: UPSTAIRS, REVERTING THIS DEN BACK INTO A KID'S BEDROOM. >> BEDROOMS HELP SELL HOUSES. >> Reporter: IT IS NOT JUST WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE OUTSIDE. >> THERE SHOULD BE FLOWERS PLANTED OUTSIDE. PEOPLE SHOULD TRIM THEIR EDGES. PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE SURE THEIR LAWNS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. >> Reporter: SIMPLE TOUCHES TO HELP PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SHOW TIME. >> THAT'S GREAT. >> THE BEST TIME TO SELL? IT IS WHEN INTEREST RATES GO DOWN, BUT THAT IS UNPREDICTABLE. SO IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME, YOU SHOULD START DECLUTTERING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GET RID OF THOSE ITEMS THAT NO LONGER SPARK JOY. DO 80% OF THE WORK BEFORE YOUR HOME HITS THE MARKET, 20% AFTER. >> SMART. >> YES. >> GREAT TIPS, BY THE WAY.
>> SPEAKING OF TIPS, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE STAGING TIPS? >> THE FIRST THING IS GET RID OF SOME STUFF. THOSE PHOTOS, THE FAMILY PHOTOS? >> WHICH ONE IN PARTICULAR? >> THAT PICTURE OF ME FROM MY FIRST JOB WITH EXTRA HIGHLIGHTS. >> CAN WE BRING THAT BACK? >> IT'S OKAY. WE CAN MOVE ON. TAKE DOWN THE DRAPES. CHECK THIS OUT. NATURAL LIGHT IS COMING IN. IF YOU HAVE A BUSY WALLPAPER OR MAYBE THE PAINT IS KIND OF AN OLDER COLOR, CHANGE IT TO A NEUTRAL COLOR. IT JUST LIVENS UP THE ROOM, CLEARS IT OUT, MAKES IT ZEN AND PEOPLE CAN IMAGINE THEMSELVES IN THAT SPACE. >> I LIKE THAT. >> BRING BACK THE PICTURE, ALL RIGHT. >> THERE IT IS. >> THERE'S THE PICTURE. >> WE JUST NEED ONE TIGHT SHOT. >> THERE SHE IS. >> OH, LITTLE VICKY. >> NO ONE TOLD ME.
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