By Judy Szablak

The importance of staging your home for sale has clearly become more apparent to savvy Westport home sellers. They have begun to understand the importance of maximizing their property’s value by having it “staged” for sale.

This home at 55 Valley Road is listed at $1,549,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker,  Darien

Staging your home is not only about de-cluttering, and removing personal effects. But also rearranging furniture for better placement, and adding or replacing decor in order to create atmosphere. This can be quite beneficial in a sparsely decorated or vacant home.

This is a wonderful tool long known to new homebuilders who often stage their properties to create a pleasant environment, and effect a sale more quickly. 
Homes of all price ranges benefit from proper staging. Many agents offer basic staging services, while others offer more elaborate staging techniques for more unique and/or luxury properties.

Buyers purchase on emotion. When they see a home that is assembled with stylish decor, they imagine their own furnishings as being just as beautiful. And they often will pay more as they can envision the home as their own much more easily,

By Judy Szablak

Many Westport homes are again headed for the WestportNow Teardown of the Day feature. However, making that determination as an average homeowner is more complex than one might think.

This 1956-built home at 160 Compo Road North sold for $325,000 on Feb. 4. Remodeling candidate or teardown? (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

There are a few important factors that will distinguish a home from being one to remodel, rather than a dwelling to tear down. It all depends on the “highest and best use” of the property in an investment sense.

A real estate agent can not only help you determine if your home fits the category, and proper pricing, but many of us work alongside a number of developers as well, making the process and transaction that much more simplified and streamlined.

The price of the property is important, but the feasibility of building a new and larger home has to be there as well. Zoning restrictions, conservation concerns, and neighboring home values all play a very important part in the decision.