Rainy Day Staging Tips for an Open House

In Palo Alto and the surrounding areas, holding an open house on a cold and dreary or rainy day is real challenge! The same goes for those foggy winter days in our coastal areas, like Santa Cruz. Many clients relocate to the Bay area for the sunny weather, what to do when the sky’s not blue?

Here are five simple tips that can help you sell your home, even on the foggiest coastal day. Remember, these are basics, call me for staging secrets to make your property sell quickly. I help you list and stage it to SELL.

Before showing a home, make sure it’s well lit indoors and out. Well-lit homes are more inviting, on a foggy afternoon, turn the landscape lighting on. Avoid CFL lights that are not color adjusted, they give “off” colors to rooms, color adjusted LED or halogen lights are best. Using timers can help, but if your open house is on a foggy or rainy day, everything should be on.

In the winter, people tend to turn the thermostat down to save money. A bright and warm house is more inviting to potential buyers. Thermostats with integrated timers are a real plus.

Dirty windows make the home seem as if hasn’t been well maintained. Beautiful, natural light makes a huge difference to potential buyers. Salt spray and window haze can ruin an ocean view.

The right window treatments can emphasize a great view or minimize a poor view, don’t forget them.

In winter, closed windows can really concentrate odors from smokers, dirty carpets and pets. Make sure carpets and rugs are clean! The mudroom should not smell muddy. You might not smell the odors, but the buyers do! Don’t use strong air fresheners, it will only seem like you are trying to cover up.<p>

If it’s chilly or dark, turn the gas fireplace on low. A bit of Background music played softly can completely change the atmosphere making the home cozy and keep potential buyers from being discouraged by the weather