staging your Overland Park home Archives - Overland Park Home Staging

3 Most Common Home Staging Mistakes Sellers Make

If you’re getting ready to sell, you already know one thing:

First impressions matter.

Today’s buyers scroll through photos before they ever step inside. By the time they pull into your driveway, they’ve already formed expectations about your home. And more important than that, within 10 seconds of opening your front door, they’ve made a decision whether or not they are going to buy your home.

And yet, I still see sellers making the same three home staging mistakes over and over again – mistakes that cost them time, leverage, and oftentimes money.

The good news? They’re completely fixable.

Here they are:

1. Decorating Instead of Staging

This is the big one.

Decorating is personal.
Staging is strategic.

When you decorate, you design a home around your taste, your memories, and your lifestyle.

When you stage, you prepare your home for your buyer.

That means:

Removing personal photos
Neutralizing bold color choices
Simplifying busy shelves
Creating space as well as light

Buyers aren’t buying your style.
They’re buying the possibility of their life in your house.

If a room feels too specific, too themed, or too full, buyers struggle to emotionally move in.

Strategic home staging appeals to more people – and it brings stronger offers.

2. Skipping the “Pre-Staging” Preparation

Here’s something many sellers don’t realize:

You cannot successfully stage a home that hasn’t been properly prepared.

Staging is the polish but the preparation is the foundation.

Here are some common preparation issues:

Overfilled closets
Dated paint colors
Worn carpet
Oversized furniture
Cluttered countertops

If these issues aren’t addressed first, styling pillows and placing accessories won’t fix the underlying problem.

Buyers notice space, condition, and light before they notice decor.

That’s why preparation always comes first in my Now to WOW Home Staging system. We identify what needs to be edited, repaired, removed, or refreshed before styling ever begins.

Creating The Model Home Look can’t happen without the proper preparation.

Skipping this step is one of the biggest mistakes sellers make.

3. Underestimating the Power of Photos

In today’s market, your home’s first showing happens online.

If your home doesn’t photograph well:

Buyers scroll past
You’ll have fewer showings
Days on market increase

Common photo-killers include:

Too much furniture
Dark rooms
Visible cords and clutter
Mismatched bedding
Distracting decor

Staged homes photograph cleaner, brighter, and more spacious.

And more showings usually lead to better negotiating power.

Home staging isn’t about fluff. It’s about marketing.

The Real Cost of Home Staging Mistakes

Here’s what your home staging mistakes actually cost:

Longer time on the market
Price reductions
Weaker offers
Less negotiating leverage

The goal isn’t just to sell.
It’s to sell strategically.

The Solution? Know Exactly What To Do Before You List

Every home is different.

What one seller needs to repaint, another may not. What one home needs to remove, another may need added.

That’s why guessing about home staging is risky.

Book a 2 Hour Home Staging Consultation

In this appointment, we will:

Walk through your entire home
Identify what needs to be edited, repaired, or refreshed
Answer your “Should I?” questions
Create a clear, prioritized action plan

At your 2 hour Home Staging Consultation, you’ll learn exactly what needs to be done before your Now to WOW Home Staging and Styling Session ever happens. My approach is always based on logic and sparkle – smart decisions and beautiful outcomes.

This way, there’s no confusion, no money wasted and no last minute scrambling to get things done.

Just a clear path from where you are now… to WOW.

If you’re thinking about selling, let’s make sure your home is positioned to stand out – and sell strong. It’s your time and your equity.

Have questions about anything else when staging your home? Call or text Melinda at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to schedule.

3 Proven Home Staging Tips to Make Your Home Irresistible

Selling a home can feel overwhelming, but the right staging strategy can make your home irresistible. Staging isn’t just about decorating — it’s about helping buyers see themselves living in your space, creating an emotional connection, and making your home easier to sell, faster.

Here are three proven tips I use when helping clients sell homes quickly, making your property truly irresistible. Remember you have one chance to make a 1st impression. Buyers will make a decision about your home within 10 seconds of opening your front door.

Declutter

Less is more. Clearing away excess items gives rooms breathing space, highlights your home’s best features, and makes it easier for buyers to imagine their own belongings in the space.

Focus on:

Countertops, closets, and high-traffic areas
Furniture that fills and crowds the room
Things that no longer serve your lifestyle

Tip: Pack up, move out or donate things you won’t need in your next chapter. Decluttering is the 1st step of fast and effective home selling.

2. Depersonalize

Buyers need to picture themselves living in your home — not feel like they’re intruding in on someone else’s life.

Remove family photos, very personalized and unique collections
Keep your décor neutral and appealing to a wide audience of buyers
Use simple, tasteful accents to add warmth without distracting from your home

Depersonalizing doesn’t mean your home feels empty — it means it’s ready for buyers to imagine their life there.

3. Rearrange

The right layout can completely change a buyer’s perception of your home:

Arrange furniture to create flow and open space
Highlight focal points like fireplaces, windows, or built-ins
Make bedrooms cozy, kitchens functional, and living areas inviting

Even small tweaks — like shifting a couch, adding a chair, or clearing a walkway – can make a big difference in how buyers experience your home.

Why This Works

These three steps – Declutter, Depersonalize, Rearrange — are the core of my Now to WOW system. They help homes look larger, feel inviting, and sell faster. Staging this way doesn’t just improve your home’s look – it creates clarity and excitement for your buyers, which often leads to quicker offers and smoother sales.

I create The Model Home Look for every house I stage. Because when buyers see themselves living in your home, they will buy it faster and pay more money for it every time.

Ready to Make Your Home Irresistible?

If you’re preparing to sell your home, applying these three staging strategies can make your home stand out and sell faster. I specialize in helping sellers with downsizing, staging, and preparing their home’s for the market, so your home shows beautifully and appeals to the right buyers.

Explore my Home Staging Services or call or text Melinda at 913-515-3250 or contact me here, to see how I can help.

How to Make Your Home for Sale Stand Out Over the Holidays

Selling a home over the holidays may sound challenging—but with the right Home Staging, you can actually make your home for sale stand out over the holidays. Home buyers who are shopping at the end of the year, are not only serious and motivated, but they also make decisions quickly. All you need to do is to create the perfect balance between a well staged home full of warm holiday charm and a great home selling strategy.

Here are a few ways of how to stage your home beautifully over the holidays—without overwhelming buyers or distracting from your home’s best features.

Keep It Simple, Cozy, and Neutral

Holiday decor should enhance your home, not dominate it. You want to stick to a simple color palette—like soft whites, metallics, and natural greenery. This look creates a warm, inviting feel that appeals to buyers of all types.

Keep in mind:

Avoid overly personalized decor
Skip bold themes or loud color schemes
Limit visual clutter to keep rooms feeling open and spacious

Highlight Your Home’s Architecture

Here are 3 ways to use decor to draw attention to your home’s natural beauty:

A simple garland can emphasize a gorgeous staircase
A wreath adds curb appeal without overwhelming the entry
A modest tree can show off the height of the ceilings

Let buyers fall in love with your home—not be distracted by the decorations.

Choose the Right Size Tree

Sellers always ask me if they should put up a Christmas tree when they are selling their home in December. There’s nothing wrong with having a Christmas tree as long as it fits the room. I see so many rooms with either too big of trees or even worse, too small of a tree. Oversized trees can make a living space feel smaller and cramped and too small of a tree will distract buyers from seeing your home for what it is.

My best tip is to have the tree fit the space and coordinate the tree’s ornaments with your home’s color palette.

Create a Warm, Welcoming Atmosphere

Buyers often make emotional decisions about a house within the first 10 seconds of opening the front door. Holiday staging is the perfect opportunity to tap into their emotions!

Small and simple touches go a long way. Things like:

Soft throws on the sofa
A warm, seasonal scent (pine, cedar, or vanilla) lingering on the stove
Easy lighting with battery operated candles, lanterns, or table lamps

When buyers see themselves living in your home, they will buy it faster and pay you more money for it every time!

Keep Your Exterior Decor Clean and Classic

Curb appeal still matters in winter. While your home is on the market, avoid inflatable decorations or bright, animated displays. Instead, keep it simple with:

A fresh wreath on the front door
Simple white lights
Fresh planters on the porch with greenery and winter accents

A classic look photographs beautifully and creates an inviting first impression.

Show Off Winter-Friendly Spaces

If your home has a cozy fireplace, reading nook, or inviting dining space—this is the time to let it shine. Stage these areas thoughtfully:

Light the fireplace for photos or showings
Set a simple, elegant dining table
Add plush pillows or throws to accent seating areas

Don’t Forget Safety and Accessibility

Be sure to keep driveways and sidewalks clear of snow and ice, and make sure your holiday decor doesn’t interfere with traffic flow inside your home. Safety and spaciousness matter even more when buyers are wearing bigger coats and boots.

Know When Less Is More

The holidays already bring extra stuff into a home. When you’re selling, declutter before adding any extra holiday decor. A cleaner look photographs better, feels bigger, and sells faster – every time!

Final Thoughts on Getting Your Home for Sale to Stand Out over the Holidays

Staging your home over the holidays is all about balance. With a few thoughtful touches, a cozy atmosphere, and clean, simple decor, you can create a magical first impression that resonates with your home buyers. A well staged home will always sell faster—and for more money. And over the holidays, your home will stand out even more because it’s a quieter market.

Call or text Melinda today at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to create a warm and elegant, market-ready holiday look for your home. I offer full-service staging and decorating using your own things designed to make your home irresistible this holiday season.

Stage Your Home for a Cozy, Fall-Inspired Sale

Fall is one of the most inviting times of the year and it’s easy to stage your home for a cozy, fall inspired sale. With cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and pumpkin-spiced everything, buyers are already in the mood to settle into a warm, comfortable space. The right Home Staging can make your home feel like the perfect autumn retreat. Help your buyers picture themselves celebrating holidays and making memories in your home by creating your best Model Home Look.

Remember, buyers will make a decision about your home within 10 seconds of opening the front door. With that in mind, here are some simple yet effective ways to stage your home for a cozy, fall-inspired sale:

1. Embrace Warm Colors

Swap out bright summer tones for richer, autumn-inspired hues. Think of colors like burnt orange, golden yellow, deep burgundy, and earthy neutrals. A few accent pillows and a soft throw blanket, can make a big difference.

2. Highlight Comfort with Textures

Fall is all about warmth and comfort. Layer cozy textures like chunky knit blankets, faux fur pillows, or a woven basket filled with throws. These easy touches can send a signal to buyers that this is a home where they can curl up and relax.

3. Set the Mood with Lighting

As days get shorter, natural light is key—but warm artificial lighting can create a cozy glow. Use table lamps, candles (or flameless alternatives), and soft lighting to make each room feel inviting and well-lit especially for evening showings.

4. Add Seasonal Touches (Without Overdoing It)

A bowl of fresh apples, a vase of autumn flowers, or a tasteful pumpkin centerpiece on the dining table is important. But, keep it simple—buyers should notice the home first, not just the decorations.

5. Don’t Forget Curb Appeal

Your home’s exterior sets the tone for what’s to come. Keep the yard tidy, rake leaves, and add seasonal plants like mums or ornamental kale to your front porch. A fall-inspired welcome mat and a simple wreath on the front door can make a lasting first impression.

6. Create a Welcoming Scent

Smell is powerful in making a house feel like home. Lightly scented candles or a simmering pot with cinnamon and cloves can enhance the cozy vibe. Just keep the scents subtle—not overpowering. You certainly don’t want buyers to feel like you are overcoming house odors.

7. Stage Gathering Spaces

Since fall is the season of togetherness, be sure to highlight spaces where buyers can imagine entertaining in your home. You might want to arrange the living room to showcase it as the perfect spot for movie nights.

Final Tip: Home Staging is all about helping buyers connect emotionally with your home. By embracing the cozy warmth of fall, you’ll not only make your property look awesome—you’ll also help potential buyers envision themselves living there…just in time for the holidays!

Schedule Your Fall Home Staging

I’ve been staging occupied homes in the Kansas City/Overland Park area since 2006. My Home Staging services specialize in creating your best Model Home Look that every buyer wants and will pay more money to get. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 for your 2 hour Now to Wow Home Staging Makeover!

The Truth about Fall Home Staging

The truth about fall home staging is that while it’s different than other seasons, the principles are the same. When selling your home, you want it to appeal to the largest number of buyers so it sells faster and for the most money.

Fall Home Staging isn’t just about busting the clutter inside your house. It actually starts at the curb. From raking leaves and adding some seasonal decor, your goal is to make sure your home looks well-maintained and inviting.

Here are some key points to consider.

Creating Fall Home Curb Appeal

The very first thing you should always do is walk across the street and take a long hard look at your house. What do you see? Look long and hard. Make some notes and get busy. Home Staging starts at the curb and isn’t just removing everything in sight. It’s about removing and adding back in to create that perfect model home “I can see myself living here” kind of look. You know the one. If you’ve been to the Fall Parade of Homes, I’ll bet you’ve said that to yourself – more than once!

Painting is the number one thing you can do to spruce up your exterior fall home staging. Look closely at your house. NOW is the time to do some whole house or touch up painting – before the temperatures drop. Don’t get caught up in the waiting to paint dilemma. I know about that. I woke up one cold morning in January and decided I was selling my house. Unfortunately my house needed to be painted. Luckily it was one of those typical Kansas City winters where we had a few mild days in the 50’s and I had my house painted in February.

Creating Front Door Appeal

Clear the clutter around your front door. Do you have too much stuff? KISS – keep it simple staging is the best advice. Add a couple of urns on each side of your door with some pretty potted mums to frame the space. Invest in a new seasonal doormat and a simple fall wreath. As the seasons change, so should your curb appeal.

First Impressions for Fall Home Staging

Buyers and their agents see everything. Do you need to change your outdoor light fixtures? If it’s weathered brass, the answer is yes! You’re so used to looking at it that way, you don’t even see it. But agents may spot it first thing and wonder what else hasn’t been updated. Yes, today’s buyers want an updated home so if you’ve failed to do that throughout the years, you’ve got some work to do! I’ve got a 5 Year Plan for that! Along with the lighting…look at your house numbers. How do they look? Do they need to be replaced? Are they located so buyers and agents can see them from the street? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost entered the wrong house because I didn’t see the numbers.

Last but certainly not least, look at the hardware on your front door. If you have more than one lock, do they match? Many times, the doorknob will be brass and the deadbolt will be silver or vice-versa. Be sure to match them up or replace them entirely if they are worn. It will send the message to the buyer and agent that this house is going to be just what they are looking for – clean, fresh and updated.

In Conclusion

When you learn the truth about fall home staging, you’ll be way ahead of your competition. Do yourself a favor and follow these fall home staging tips to update your fall home staging and curb appeal. There are plenty of houses out there, just not a lot of inventory that buyers want to buy. Get a leg up on your competition and sell your house fast. Remember, it’s all in the updates and details when selling your house faster and for top dollar. Buyers don’t want “projects” unless of course they can get a steal on the house. Once you get those projects done, it’s the final arrangement of your furniture and accessories that seal the deal. The home staging is always the icing on the cake and the reason my average house sells in less than 3 days for over way over asking price.

Take advantage of the season’s natural beauty. There’s still time to sell your home this fall and be moved on by the holidays. That’s what my clients, Gayle and Jerry did. We listed their house in November and by Christmas they were living happily ever after in their new home in Texas. Who wouldn’t want those fast results?

If you’d like to see what it’s going to take to get your house sold faster and for more money, call or text me direct at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. You’ll discover how I’m different than your average Realtor.

The Truth About How Home Staging and Styling Sells Homes!

If you’re in the market to sell anytime soon, here’s the truth about how home staging and styling sells homes. Many home sellers and their agents think home staging isn’t necessary in this fast moving real estate market. Whoa! You do want more money don’t you???

But let’s back up a minute…we stage and style homes using your own things! Most people don’t know that home staging was created in 1973 and was always about homes that were occupied. We create your home’s best home selling look using what you already have!

Home Staging is the Emotional Piece to the Puzzle

You see, until buyers are emotionally involved in your home, they won’t buy it. Just because you think you have a great house, on a great cul-de-sac, with great neighbors, none of those things matter. Especially in south Overland Park. What house for sale doesn’t meet those conditions? You love your house because it’s your house and you have a million memories there. Your buyer on the other hand, has no memories and no attachment to your home whatsoever. So to your buyer, you’re just another box of cereal on the shelf. There’s no emotion and when there’s no emotion, there’s no sale.

What Can You do to Stand Out from the Competition?

The most important thing you can do to stand out is to have your home professionally staged and styled. You’ve got one chance to make a first impression. Your buyers are going to make a decision within 10 seconds of opening your front door and you’re either going to win their hearts or send them packing. If they don’t walk through your front door and stop and say, “wow…I could live here,”you’ve lost them.

As a Realtor for over 35 years, I would always say we’ll put this one on the back burner. In today’s market, there is no back burner. You either win or you don’t. There’s no runner up and they aren’t coming back.

My advice? Hire the best home stager possible and get your house ready to sell. I always say:

When your house is ready, the buyers will come.
Melinda Bartling

Play the game like it’s the Super Bowl. Prepare. List. SELL! Hire an agent who understands how home staging and styling works. Agents I stage for on a regular basis know it’s all in the details and that’s what I’m good at. I have a vision for every house I see. In a couple of hours, I can totally transform your home, using your own things, and give it that Model Home Look that every buyer wants. And they will pay whatever it takes to make it happen.

The better your home looks determines the amount of money your buyer will pay. Give the buyer what they want and they will buy your home faster and for more money every time.

Check out this living room I walked into recently…

There are NO 2nd Chances in Real Estate

Home sellers who understand the selling process and take it seriously are raking in the big bucks. You can put your home on the market without preparing it or you can spend a couple hundred dollars and sell for $10,000-$20,000 over asking price. It’s up to you. But you get one chance. Don’t screw it up!

The way you live in your home and the way you sell your house are 2 different ways!
Melinda Bartling

Yes this is the same living room after a little home staging, rearranging and styling! Needless to say, this home sold immediately for WAY OVER asking price.

Give me a couple of hours and I can turned your very lived in home into a masterpiece that every buyer wants and will pay more money to get!

Home Staging and Styling Services

If you’re in the Overland Park area, call or text us at (913) 515-3250 to schedule your home staging and styling services. In a couple of hours, we will transform your everyday lived in home into something spectacular that buyers will swarm to like bees to honey. It’s the best thing you can do to sell your home in the current real estate market. You wouldn’t sell your car without detailing it would you? Call us today or contact us here!

Easy Solutions When Your House Isn’t Selling

There may be several easy solutions when your house isn’t selling. Today we are going to focus on one – home staging.

Years ago, Fortune Magazine stated that a house will sell for 3 reasons: the price, the way it was or wasn’t staged and the Realtor you choose. As a lifelong Realtor and Home Stager, in my humble opinion home staging is all that matters. The right home staging is what will make the buyer buy your house. It creates the emotion.

Staging a home and preparing it for the market is crucial for a fast sale and oftentimes with multiple offers. Within 10 seconds of opening the front door, buyers will make a decision about your house. If your house doesn’t grab them emotionally from the start, you probably won’t sell your home anytime soon. Buyers make their decision about your house emotionally and justify their decision later rationally. Going hand-in-hand with home staging is the condition of your home. Selling your home is show time. Now is your time to shine. Do what it takes to prepare your home for the market and you’ll be singing all the way to the bank. This is an emotional sale. Take advantage of it!!!

Agents say things like:

It just didn’t wow my buyers
Don’t know exactly what it was but they just didn’t connect with the house
Might need some home staging to give it more appeal because it didn’t appeal to my buyers

Recent Home Staging Case Study

I recently received a text message from a lady whose house was on the market in Leawood. She told me her son said she needed to have her home staged after being on the market for over 2 weeks and not selling. There again, she thought home staging meant bringing furniture to a vacant house. That’s not what home staging is at all. He told her there were people who worked with what you had to give your home a better home selling look. She googled home staging in Overland Park and found me. She sent me 3 messages in a short time frame (I was on an appointment) and finally told me what she wanted. After asking her a few questions via text, I looked her house up on MLS and determined it just didn’t do much for me. I responded that I could meet for a consultation the next morning and do whatever I could while I was there.

Your Home’s Photos Tell the Story

When I entered the house, it was exactly as I expected…it didn’t wow me at all. After seeing the photos online, I knew it probably had potential but most of the furniture was poorly arranged. Remember, the way you live in your home and the way you sell your house are two different ways!

What Was the Solution to a Home that Didn’t Show Well?

After thinking things through, I had a discussion with her of my opinion and vision. The kitchen and hearth room area was huge and had nothing to bring them together. Little did I know, she had a free-standing kitchen island that was stashed in the garage. We brought it in the house and I went to work searching for things that could be used in the staging of it. Between the island and changing the furniture in the hearth room, it brought the space closer together rather than having what seemed like a basketball court between them.

Connecting the hearth room to the kitchen

Clearing countertops and furniture tops is never anything I recommend because that’s not what home staging is. Agents will tell you to do that because they aren’t home stagers and it’s less expensive than hiring a stager. But at the end of the day, buyers want to see themselves living in your home and when it’s cleared of all of its personality, they don’t connect with it.

Since this seller had put all of her accessories away, I got them out to stage her kitchen. I ended up creating a coffee station, lemonade area, as well as a meal prep space on the island. Unfortunately in preparing her home for sale, she had stripped it of its personality. But it had a huge personality by the time I left. I was there for 2 hours and got the job done. Needless to say, we were both thrilled with the end result and she hugged me as I left:).

Happy Client Testimonial

Here’s what she had to say after we rearranged the furniture in her living room and hearth room/kitchen area and accessorized her house.

“Melinda did an outstanding job of giving my home a whole new look in just 2 hours. Amazing what she could accomplish by rearranging my furniture and using just what was in my cupboards. She responded quickly, communicated often and was easy to work with. I highly recommend her services.”

One happy seller name withheld since it wasn’t my listing

There may be many reasons why your house isn’t selling but these are the only 3 that matter. Figure out your situation and address it now. Days on the market are a killer for anybody selling a house. Buyers are wondering why no one has bought it!!!

In Conclusion

Don’t waste time sitting around wondering about the easy solutions when your house isn’t selling. It may need a little furniture rearranging or just a personality boost. Please text (913) 515-3250 and tell me you need some home staging and I’ll respond immediately or you can contact me here. We stage occupied homes and have been for the last 17 years! In as little as 2 hours, your home could have a whole new look.

Quick Ways to Create Spring Curb Appeal

From recent freezing temperatures, warmer weather is just around the corner, and here are some quick ways to create spring curb appeal, whether you are selling or dwelling.

While shopping over the weekend for fresh, new spring curb appeal accessories for my new listings, I went into Home Goods to see what they were featuring this spring.

First of all, I love the feeling I get when I walk into Home Goods. They know how to get you in the mood to shop. It’s the same trick I use for all of my new listings. Home Goods and I both know we’ve got a short time to grab the buyer while they are present and either they’ll buy or they’ll move on. I call it the 10 second rule. It’s based on grabbing the buyer within 10 seconds of entering a house.

Home Goods is bright, full of happy music, and the colors throughout the store are outstanding. Furthermore, it’s such a pick-me-up and an incredible feeling. I love their bright cheery dishes, pillows, springtime furniture and outdoor cushions. It makes me want to buy everything in the store and give my own home a spring makeover.

I also love Home Goods for doormats and front door wreaths. They are bright, colorful, and full of life. The spring season is the best time for a change. It’s like starting over new again. In addition, you get a new lease on life and your home deserves this as much as anything. For that very reason, you will reap the benefits from your spring curb appeal makeover.

How to be the favorite house on the block

This week while working on a couple of houses, I thought about what would make us stand out from the other neighbors? What were some quick ways to create spring curb appeal?

Both houses had substantial front porches so I decided with the new season and the energy in the air, I wanted to focus on the porch and really hone in on the spring curb appeal to draw people inside.

As a result, at one of the houses, I added a new spring doormat, a fresh wreath and added new outdoor pillows to the homeowner’s glider. Adding large, colorful planters to each side of the front door was a plus.

Here are 5 quick ways to create spring curb appeal

Paint your front door
Add an expensive pot or planters filled with colorful flowers next to the front door
Find a pretty new wreath and hang it on the door
Get some new, large house numbers
Change out your mailbox (if it’s on the house) or paint it to match the color of your door

Do these 5 things to create your spring curb appeal and while the buyer’s agent is busy getting the key out of the lock box, the buyers are quickly falling in love with your house.

We had a cold winter in Kansas City. The spring real estate market is here and creating the model home look starts with your curb appeal. Zing your home into spring in no time with our help. Call or text (913) 515-3250 to schedule your home styling appointment.

Home Staging Magic You Need to Know

If you are selling your Overland Park home anytime soon, you definitely need some home staging magic – especially in this real estate market!

Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me that many Overland Park Realtors just don’t get it. Certainly, it’s not like home staging is a new concept – it was “created” in 1973 by a lady who knew occupied houses could look better when selling. For that reason, I flew to Chicago in 2006 and worked with her one-on-one, and became an Accredited Home Staging Stylist. That was a very long time ago. Where has everyone been?

Buyers only see what they see

After showing several houses over the past weekend, I just sometimes have to laugh. I’m truly embarrassed. “OMG – let’s go. Another house no one cares about. This isn’t going to get any better.”

Because you have a house that doesn’t show well, you want my feedback after showing your listing? Come on now!

Selling a house is simple but it’s not easy. Prepare, List, Sell is my formula for home staging magic. It works over and over again for those home sellers who get it and for agents who want my help.

Here are my 5 best tips if you are selling your home in Overland Park or Olathe or anywhere:

Home Staging Magic

Have a plan – first of all, what are you trying to accomplish? If you don’t know, start over. You’ve got to have a plan. We don’t need more inventory, we need more GOOD inventory.

Be ready to sell – another issue is most sellers aren’t ready to sell. If your house is filled to the gills with stuff you can’t seem to part with, that doesn’t tell me as an agent that you’re going to be moving anytime soon. My buyers want to close in 30 days. Can you possibly be out? Probably not.

Prepare your home to sell – would you just roll out of bed and show up and run a 5K? Of course not. It takes preparation. There’s a whole list of questions you need to answer. Selling your house is the same thing. You’ve got to prepare. And it’s hard work. But it’s got to be done.

Pick up your stuff. In all honesty, nobody wants to see your collections, family photos, piles of papers, or anything else for that matter. Buyers are trying to see themselves living there and yet you are preventing them from doing that. They are easily distracted by your own stuff.

Step up to the plate and be ready. Selling your house is an event to me…it’s called Showtime. There’s no dress rehearsal, no guessing. If your agent isn’t sure and needs the approval and feedback from the entire office, get a different Realtor.

Create your best model home look

Above all else, you want buyers to go ga-ga over your house, fight to get it and make ridiculous offers. Don’t know how to do that? Hire a Realtor who has a clue and is producing the results you want. Consequently, you don’t want a Realtor who has 30 listings. That just means their houses aren’t selling. I’m not knocking my competition. I’m only educating you on getting your home sold.

You are not only wasting your time, but you’re also wasting my time and my client’s time when your house isn’t spot-on and ready to be sold. Plus the worst part is you are giving away your hard-earned equity. All of my sellers tell me they want MORE MONEY! I get that. Why don’t you realize that your days on the market are only taking away from your own hard-earned money?

The way you live in your home is your business,

the way you sell your house is my business!
Melinda Bartling

Ready to get started with some home staging magic?

Finally, selling your house is simple, it’s just not easy. Furthermore, my home staging services are FREE to my sellers and my sellers consistently sell faster and get more money than they were expecting. I’ve never had a seller tell me they wanted less money. My services are the solution to all of their home-selling problems.

If you are an Overland Park or Olathe home seller and need help getting your house ready to sell, call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. Let me create some home staging magic for you!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

[idx-listings city=”Overland Park” statuses=”1″ propertytypes=”512,511″ orderby=”DateAdded” orderdir=”DESC” count=”25″ showlargerphotos=”true” listtabalignment=”Left”]

How to Create Fall Home Staging Curb Appeal

Fall Home Staging isn’t just about busting the clutter inside your house. It actually starts at the curb. If you’re selling your home this fall, follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to a faster sale and more money!

Want to create your best fall home staging curb appeal?

Walk across the street and take a long hard look at your house. What do you see? Look long and hard. Make some notes and get busy. Home Staging doesn’t mean removing everything in sight. It’s about removing and adding back in to create that perfect model home “I can see myself living here” kind of look. You know the one. If you’ve been to the Fall Parade of Homes, I’ll bet you said that to yourself – more than once!

Painting is the number one thing you can do to spruce up your exterior fall home staging. Look closely at your house. NOW is the time to do some whole house or touch-up painting – before the temperatures drop. Don’t get caught up in the waiting-to-paint dilemma. I know about that. I woke up one cold morning in January and decided I was selling my house. Unfortunately, my house needed to be painted. Luckily it was one of those typical Kansas City winters where we had a few mild days in the 50s and I had my house painted in February.

Clear the clutter around your front door. Do you have too much stuff? KISS – keep it simple staging is the best advice. Add a couple of urns on each side of your door with some pretty mums to frame the space. Invest in a new doormat and a simple fall wreath. As the seasons change, so should your curb appeal.

Do you need to change your outdoor lighting? If it’s weathered brass, the answer is yes! You’re so used to looking at it that way, you don’t even see it. But agents may spot it first thing and wonder what else hasn’t been updated. Yes, today’s buyers want an updated home so if you’ve failed to do that throughout the years, you’ve got some work to do! I’ve got a 5 Year Plan for that!

Along with the lighting…look at your house numbers. How do they look? Do they need to be replaced? Are they located so buyers and agents can see them from the street? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost entered the wrong house because I didn’t see the numbers.

Bottom line

First of all, do yourself a favor and follow these tips to update your fall home staging curb appeal. There are plenty of houses out there, just not a lot of inventory that buyers want to buy. Because at the end of the day, it’s easy to get a leg up on your competition and sell your house fast. Remember, it’s all in the updates and details when selling your house faster and for top dollar. Buyers don’t want “projects” unless, of course, they can get a steal on the house. Once you get those projects done, it’s the final arrangement of your furniture and accessories that seal the deal. Furthermore, the home staging is always the icing on the cake and the reason my average house sells in less than 3 days for way over the asking price.

Finally, there’s still time to sell your home this fall and be moved on by the holidays. That’s what my clients, Brian and Fiona did. We listed their house at the end of September and it closed on November 1st. They are now living happily ever after in their new home in Colorado. Who wouldn’t want those fast results, especially in a shifting real estate market?

For that very reason, if you’d like to see what it’s going to take to get your house sold faster, for more money call me direct at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here.