Properly staged home will sell well

DEAR GAIL: I've received a job offer I can't refuse, but it's across the country so I have to sell my house. I know this couldn't be the worst time, so I need some advice on how to make it look its best. What can I do to make it stand out from all the rest and look like a model? -- Robin T.

DEAR ROBIN: Congratulations on your new job. Yes, this might not be the perfect time to sell, but talking with Realtors and with the homes that I've staged, if you do it right, good offers do come in.

Model homes are so appealing because they are shining and new. New appliances, cabinets, paint, flooring as well as perfectly arrangement furniture, artwork and accessories. Now I'm sure you're not going to put in new appliances or replace your cabinets and carpets, but there are many things you can do to your home today to make it look and feel like a model.

One of the very first things we do when designing a model home is determine who the targeted buyer is. This is something that most homeowners do not even think about when putting their homes on the market. It is no longer about you, the homeowner; it is about them, your potential buyers. Model homes are merchandised not just designed; there is psychology involved. It's no different than when you're looking at a window display. The merchandisers job is to get you to stop, look, walk in and buy. It's what I like to call the "I want that" merchandising strategy. Who doesn't want the doggie in the window?

So, who are the people buying in your neighborhood? Young families, executives, retirees, empty nesters? I live in an older neighborhood and even though when we bought 20-plus years ago, there were a lot of young families; now there's maybe only 5 percent, if that. So if I was to sell, I wouldn't stage with children in mind.

Next, it's time to give your home the cleaning of a lifetime. How many stained carpets, cobwebbed light fixtures, soap-scummed shower doors, spotted windows or dirty ovens do you see in model homes? You want buyers to walk in and think all they have to do is unpack. According to a national 2009 survey done by Home Gain, a $100-$200 cleaning investment gives an 872 percent return. So get out the Spic and Span.

What else don't you see in model homes? Clutter. What do you see? Clean, clear, organized and unused storage space, cabinets, closets and counters. Now I know you still live to in your home, but start packing and get things put away. It's 105 degrees, so pack your winter clothes and treat yourself to wood hangers. If nothing else, get rid of the wire ones. We're not as lucky to have basements and walk-in attics in Las Vegas, so you have to show your home has plenty of space.

Did you know that color "buys?" When was the last model home you saw that didn't use color on the walls? Why? Because it is the least expensive way to make a dramatic first impression. I'm a firm believer that every home should receive a fresh coat of paint before putting it on the market, unless of course it was just recently done. So if you have to paint anyway, don't go with Swiss Coffee. Start by using one of the neutral colors in your flooring for the majority of your home. Then add pops of colors on accent walls, art niches, your backsplash and the backs of your potshelves. Don't go crazy, just two accent colors can make a difference.

The property is now clean, clutter-free and colorful so it's time to make your buyers feel comfortable to walk through and linger in the home. Make sure you have a very open traffic path in and out of rooms; it should be no less than 42 inches. Too much furniture visually decreases square footage. You do not need an end table on both sides of every upholstery piece. Maybe you used to entertain 10 people at a time and like that close cozy atmosphere, but less is more when staging. A sofa and two chairs in an average living room are plenty.

Finally, add the pizzazz and set the mood with accessories. Set the dining room table. Use new towels in the bathrooms. Place an attractive floral on your bathroom counter and new candles around the tub. Limit the number of accessories you use in the kitchen as we can never have enough countertop space. Take an hour and walk through a model home. Take pictures and duplicate them with things you have.

Robin, I wish you the best in your new job and selling your home.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.