Union County Colleges offers classes on preparing to sell your home

UNION COUNTY — If you are considering putting your home on the market this year, get a jump-start on the process by learning what works from a professional home stager. According to studies by Department of Housing and Urban Development, a “staged home” will sell in about half the time and for 17 percent more than a home that has not been staged. Staging your home can be a process and it is not too early to learn what you will need to do to get a top-dollar sale for your property.

This three-hour seminar at Union County College will teach you about what kinds of updates you should make and also learn some money-saving tips for quick and easy fixes that will make a big difference. Taught by professional home stager Phyllis Pafumi of Restyled to Sell, this class will share some great tips about how to de-clutter and beautify your home. You will get individual advice on your biggest concerns by bringing photos of your most difficult rooms to get advice from a professional. This class will be offered Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cranford campus and the price is $45.

In a separate class, titled “Re-Style Your Home,” learn how to refresh the look of different rooms without buying everything new. This is a great class for anyone who has recently moved and wants to gain some general design and style tips from a professional. This class will be offered Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to noon on the Cranford campus and the price is $45.

The final class, “Landscape Design for Homeowners,” will help you to improve your home’s curb appeal. If you do not know where to start, this is a great class to explore indigenous trees, shrubs and perennials as well as learn about plant site location, soil types and seasonal color. This class will be offered Saturdays, March 16 through April 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the Cranford campus and the price is $135.

For more information or to see the complete course descriptions, see the online spring continuing education brochure at www.ucc.edu/noncredit. To register, call 908-709-7600 or visit the continuing education department at 1033 Springfield Ave. in Cranford.