Stage Fright

Your house has been on the market for 6 months. You lowered the price by $40,000 and are considering dropping it even further. Your home is priced to sell for the current market, so why won't it sell? The problem: Your house may not be staged to sell. You need to see Vicky Salazar of Lawrenceville, who conquers all stage fright with functional and practical solutions. Vicky’s Salazar Redesign, LLC (http://www.salazarredesign.com/) is a home staging service for homeowners who are looking to sell or de-clutter. “It gets them unstuck in a very stuck real estate market,” says Vicky. Vicky uses the owner’s own furnishings and accessories to accent the homes' features and minimize flaws. She claims her proven techniques will attract a buyer within minutes of walking in the door. The pictures here tell the story; the slightly cluttered and busy bedroom was transformed into a hotel style retreat with neutral colors and a welcoming bottle of wine. Simple and relatively inexpensive changes can make the difference between getting the price you want – as opposed to what you settle for. “I … like to see peoples’ reactions to the transformation of the home they have lived in for so long with just some simple and inexpensive ideas. Many never thought their homes can look as good,” Vicky says. If you think your home may qualify for some home staging expertise, but you're not ready to hire a professional, here are some quick tips from Vicky to get started: De-clutter Inside and Outside: Remove any excess tools/toys etc in front and back yards. Remove excess inside off of counters, cabinets and furniture. Clean: Sweep and mop all floors for showings. Steam clean carpets before open house. Clear cobwebs from front and back doors. Repair: Patch holes, repair broken screens and anything that needs fixing. Neutralize: Remove collectibles, personal pictures and paint over any bold colors. Enhance: Show off the space in the room or fireplace and architecture. Already exhausted reading this? Call a pro like Vicky to take charge. Then watch what happens to buyers when the house lights come on, and your home takes center stage. NJ My Way contributor Hilary Morris authored this article. You can find more of her work on http://www.mrsmonj.com/ .