Former Realtor helping clients 'stage' homes - Hendricks County Flyer

by Brian Kern

INDIANAPOLIS --You can't judge a book by its cover, but appearance is everything when it comes to selling a house. At least that's what Indianapolis business owner Linda Barnett says she has found over the past few months.

Barnett started her company, Home Matters LLC, back in February to help homeowners more easily sell their homes at a greater percentage of their asking price.

"This is a competitive buyer's market," Barnett said. "A buyer can get distracted. So what we do is take away those things that are clutter, accentuate the positives of the house, and downplay the negative."

From simple reorganization of furniture to landscaping, wallpapering, carpeting, and painting, Barnett maintains a staff of anywhere from three to six employees, depending on the extent of the house's needs. And the former Realtor says the results speak for themselves.

"From April to now, I've worked on 11 homes," she said. "One sold in 13 days at 98 percent of the asking price. The other one sat on the market for six months with no offers. We staged it and it sold in 33 days at full price."

The key, she said, is space.

"When a buyer sees a home, it's important for them to picture their own things for them to make an offer," she said.

While fairly new to the Midwest, Barnett says staging is a relatively old concept around the rest of the country. The practice has been prevalent in California since 1972, she said.

Recent television shows such as "Design to Sell" on HGTV and "Sell this House" on A&E have given the concept more credence on the national stage, she said.

Barnett said Home Matters offers several options to homeowners. The company offers a free consultation and is equipped to provide the improvements they suggest. But a checklist of tips is also available to do-it-yourself owners who may not want to spend as much money on improvements.

Barnett also explained that once a home has been staged, it is imperative that its inhabitants preserve that condition.

"It's important that you maintain that look," she said. "You almost have to maintain that lifestyle while it's staged."

For more information on Home Matters, visit the company's website at www.homemattersllc.com

Home Matters - (317) 209-9801 - Contact Us