If you have Hollywood Hills real estate you want to sell in the coming months, you’re in a good position to get top dollar for your property and sell it quickly. With rising prices, low inventory, and plenty of interested buyers, the Hollywood Hills real estate market continues to be in favor of sellers.
While homes in Hollywood Hills tend to take a little longer to sell than in many other markets — an average of 75 days — this is likely due to the higher prices than any lack of interest. After all, buyers are likely to take a little more time to think about buying a $2 or $3 million dollar property than they would one in a more average price range. However, you can increase your chances of selling your home quickly by doing one simple thing: staging it. Here’s how to stage your home, so you can decrease its time on the market.
Decide if you want to go with a pro.
When you consider that staged homes sell an average of 80% faster than those that are not staged, it’s obvious that staging is well worth the investment of time and energy. To get the full benefits of staging, you should also invest some money and hire a professional.
Professional stagers of homes for sale in Hollywood Hills have the education, knowledge, and experience needed to make your home as appealing as possible to your ideal buyers. However, if you make the decision to stage your home yourself, you can still experience some of the same benefits as long as you follow the staging best practices listed below.
Deep-Clean
A thorough, deep clean is always on the agenda when listing homes for sale in Hollywood Hills, whether you are having it staged or not. Some areas to pay special attention to include the entryway, flooring, cabinets and cupboards, garages, and windows. You also need to get into all the nooks and crannies that have likely been neglected over the years such as baseboards, inside and behind appliances, and grout.
To ensure your home is in top condition, most Hollywood Hills real estate agents suggest their clients hire a professional cleaning company that specializes in homes that will be listed for sale. You’ve got plenty on your plate during the selling process, so the last thing you need to do is get on your hands and knees and scrub behind toilets!
Declutter
If you’ve accumulated lots of clutter over the years, selling your home is the time to go through and get rid of some of it. Clutter is a deal-killer when it comes to selling homes, as it makes properties look cramped and neglected. Go through each room to remove any items that you don’t need immediate access to and that isn’t needed to designate the purpose of the room.
This includes shoes and clothing, books, papers, small appliances, knickknacks, and hobby materials. Pack the items you want to keep into boxes that can be kept in a rented storage unit until you move into your new home. Unwanted items can be tossed or donated.
Neutralize and Depersonalize
Letting your personality shine in your home décor is one of the joys of homeownership. However, those who are looking at homes for sale in Hollywood Hills want to imagine their own tastes and preferences in homes they are interested in and would rather not focus on the current homeowner.
That’s why a necessary step of the staging process is to remove any highly personal items like framed diplomas, family portraits, unique artwork, and trophies. After these items have been packed away, turn to any trendy colors or patterns on walls, rugs, or window coverings. Replace with more neutral items and paint rooms in colors like taupe, beige, or warm gray.
Give each room a purpose.
Many of the homes for sale in Hollywood Hills have extra rooms that can be used for multiple purposes. To help prospective buyers visualize themselves living in your home, you need to make sure that each room is given a “job.” For example, a room that you’ve been using for extra storage and your yoga practice can be staged as a dedicated home office with a desk, chair, storage unit, and area rug. If a room does not have an obvious purpose, buyers may disregard it or think of it as wasted space.
Maximize Light
Homes for sale in Hollywood Hills that are filled with light appear spacious and welcoming to prospective buyers. Of course, natural light is the best, and there’s plenty of sunshine to be taken advantage of in the L.A. area. To make sure as much is getting in as possible, remove any heavy shades or drapes. You can replace them with sheer options or leave windows uncovered. For rooms that don’t get a lot of natural light, place some additional floor or table lamps in them and make sure they are turned on prior to showings.
Add Finishing Touches
Every Hollywood Hills real estate professional would agree that it is sometimes the little things that actually sell a home. As the last step in the staging process, put on some finishing touches that will make buyers feel welcome and appreciated. Let some fresh air into your home prior to showings, light a few candles, and put some plush towels in the master bath. You can ‘set the scene’ by putting a quality tablecloth on your dining room table and setting it with your best china, linen napkins, and wine glasses.
If selling your home quickly is one of your top listing goals, staging it (or, better yet, having it professionally staged) is highly recommended. Need a recommendation for a local stager?
Reach out to one of the trusted Hollywood Hills real estate agents at McNamara & Associates. Along with listing your property and marketing it to your ideal buyer, your agent can also connect you with a stager who will get the job done right.