Designed To Sell - Model Home Makeovers

This Lifestylist® is always amazed at how many builders and homeowners think that a home will sell better if they save money and don't have it professionally merchandised. Most of the time this hurts instead of helping sales.

With home interiors being so neutral right now, adding some rugs, artwork and accessories make all of the difference in how a home feels to buyers.

Buyers are looking for a home that offers a lifestyle that they want to enjoy, so having a home that has some warmth and personality can talk a looker into a buyer. These homes that were merchandised for Clayton Homes of Victoria definitely offer a lifestyle the buyers can relate to.

There is a huge difference between a decorated or a merchandised home - a merchandiser's job is to sell homes, not furniture. Which do your homes do?

As a Lifestylist®, I spend quite a lot of time touring homes in different cities looking for new ideas and trends. Last week I was in South Haven, MI meeting with a client and discovered a great store - Props - who's slogan is: "Your Home is Your Stage... Add Some Drama".

So many times the drama is missing from our homes, and the customer loses interest in the home before they finish their tour. Here are some inexpensive Lifestylist® Designed ideas that  you can use to add some drama to your model homes.

Color Color can be a really easy way to wake up a home that has been sitting on your lot too long. Paint is one way, but you also do something as simple as changing out the pillows on your upholstery to give a room a new look. Artwork is also a very effective way to change the feel of a room and make it more memorable.

Emotion Do your homes pull at the potential buyer's heartstrings or just leave them uninspired? Accessories and textures can add warmth and emotion to a home. One of my favorite staging tricks is setting the dining table and having it look like the new buyers are getting ready for a dinner party. Plates, napkins, and glassware can only cost a few dollars each but can give your home a festive feel that the buyers will remember.

Shake Things Up Have you ever noticed that by moving furniture around and changing out accessories you can make the room have a completely different feel? Freshening up your homes might not cost you a dime - it might take a little muscle.

These are only a few ideas that we would love to share with you. If you don't have the time to work on your models yourself we would be happy to provide the services necessary to make your sales center more dramatic.