With apologies to William Shakespeare, if all the world's a stage, you can't underestimate the importance of staging your home when you're trying to sell.
That's something the Sister Team, Sylvia and Corinna Schumann with Coldwell Banker Slegg Realty, have learned firsthand during their 11 years working together as real estate agents in the Capital Region.
"Curb appeal is so important, because it's the first impression a buyer gets," Corinna noted. "If you're selling your home, it doesn't cost anything to clean up the outside, do some basic landscaping and make it as nice as you can. A couple of pots with flowers are very inexpensive and add a splash of colour."
Sylvia said you can't overemphasize the difference staging the interior can make as well.
"If people are still living in the house they're selling, de-cluttering is key," she said. "Pack away personal items, photos and mementos because when you're selling, less is more."
Both sisters believe you need that objective opinion when it comes to staging your home, whether it's through a professional stager or not.
The way you set up your home for your family's comfort and convenience may not be the best way to show it to other people.
"Just the way furniture is placed through the addition or subtraction of a couple of elements can make a huge difference in the way a room looks," Sylvia added.
Selling an empty house presents a different set of challenges, Corinna noted. Staging in that regard may mean adding a few pieces of furniture or accessories that can draw attention away from areas that may require upgrading.
“Just adding a table and a vase of flowers can make a big difference in how a room shows," Sylvia said.
Whether your home is full or empty, the Schumanns advise vendors to consult with a company that does staging or speak to their Realtor in that regard. "Our approach to staging is based on utilizing what's there already as much as possible," Corinna said.
The sisters often provide their own staging accessories for key areas such as the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen to make a difference in the overall appearance.
"Those are the primary areas of focus for most buyers," Sylvia said. "Staging doesn't have to involve great expense to make a world of difference."
When asked what the advantages of working as a team provides, Sylvia said their clients benefit not only from the sum of their experience, but from their different points of view.
"Another advantage is because there's two of us, we never miss a call or an e-mail," Corinna noted.
"In today's ultra-competitive market, it's the little things that can be the difference," the sisters said in unison.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE » MONTH TO DATE FEB. 6/17 COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD
» 119 / 772 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL, FEBRUARY 2016
» 152 / 1,160 -- NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL, FEBRUARY 2016
» 1,502 / 2,562 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL, FEBRUARY 2016