Selling a home takes time to plan, organize and execute tasks to best prepare it for the market. It takes considerable physical work and mental fortitude to go through the process of selling your home. Preparing your home so that it appeals to a broad audience often yields a higher price and often better overall terms.  Even when inventory may be tight, a well-presented home tugs at prospective buyers emotions making it more appealing than a home that is cluttered and needs to be freshened up. Would you like to know how to properly stage your home before you list it? Well-staged homes are more likely to sell quicker and for more money when compared to homes that have not been staged and prepared. Read the staging tips below to learn how to get your home in tip-top shape for a future buyer.

Improve your curb appeal

First impressions matter and they start with curb appeal. How does your home present from the street?  Prospective buyers driving by a house may form a negative impression based simply on its exterior and may opt to not view the home. Be sure to mow the grass, prune limbs as needed, and trim bushes. Rake fallen leaves and twigs, freshen up flowerbeds and pots, and edge the sidewalks and driveway. Removing toys, bicycles and excessive lawn ornaments/yard signs reduces clutter so the house is better showcased. Power wash mildew and grime off exterior walls, porches, and decks. Repair gaping cracks and holes in your driveway or walkways and touch up chipped paint surfaces. Remember that less is more.  Create a stunning outdoor entry

When buyers are approaching your front door, they are often forming an initial opinion of how it feels to be in the space albeit positive or negative.  The more attractive and inviting your entryway is, the more pleasant and comfortable the buyers experience will be. Create a wow factor for your outdoor entry that will excite a prospective buyer to see what awaits him on the inside. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint and add shiny hardware, such as a doorknob, kick plate and door knocker. Lay out an inviting, new welcome mat and exchange a dated porch light for a more modern fixture. Place a small potted tree or containers of fresh flowers beside your front door to add color and vitality. If your outdoor entry space includes a front porch, create an inviting area with an outdoor rug and furniture. Hang potted ferns or flowers from your porch overhang or vertical posts. The goal is to make the outdoor space look so comfy and inviting that a likely buyer will sit down in the space and imagine how nice it would be to live there.

Clear the clutter and organize the rest

Take a good look around your home's interior spaces. What do you see? If you spot piles of paper, magazines, mail, toys, and books, clean them up. Throw old paper items in the trash and store the useful items out of sight. Potential buyers love to see how much closet space you have in your master bedroom, so make it look bigger by clearing out unwanted items and organizing the rest. Use closet organizers for a neat, structured appearance. Hang an attractive floor length mirror on a closet wall and place a small storage bench under the mirror. The mirror is useful when getting dressed and will make your closet appear larger than it is. You can stash loose closet items inside the bench, as well as use it as a place to sit while putting on your socks and shoes. Weed out unwanted clothing items from your closet to give the area a more spacious look. A closet crammed full of clothes and shoes shrinks the visible space, making it appear small and unusable. Purchase wooden or felt matching hangars for a more upscale, unified appearance. Don't forget to also clean out and organize your bathroom cabinets and drawers. After discarding unwanted items, insert drawer and cabinet organizers for a finished look. Potential buyers love to peek inside your kitchen cabinets to get a sense of space and cleanliness. Tidy up your kitchen pantry as well; it's a favorite spot for potential buyers to evaluate. If your refrigerator stays with the house, clear out any old food and drinks and wipe down the interior shelves and bins.

Don't make it personal

When a potential buyer is trying to imagine your current home as his future home, make it easier for him by putting away your personal items. You need a hotel mindset: well-appointed but generic. He doesn't want to see your family photographs, achievement awards, or hunting trophies on his future walls. Take down your sports memorabilia and box up those items for your next home. For example, if you have White Sox mementos everywhere and a possible buyer abhors the White Sox, it may irritate him so much that it just might cost you the sale of your home. If you have pets, put away any feeding bowls, crates, toys or other pet-related paraphernalia before the realtor arrives at your home with a possible buyer. It's also a good idea to take your pets with you while your home is being shown. You love and adore your pets, but a potential buyer may not have similar feelings. And don't forget to stash your bathroom toiletries out of sight. It's hard for a likely buyer to imagine the bathroom space as his own when your shampoo, shaving supplies, toothbrush, and other hygiene supplies are in full view.

Repair and replace

If you've been putting off needed repairs inside your home, it's time to act before your house goes on the market. A house in ill repair creates a feeling of abuse and neglect to a potential buyer. Repair or replace cracked and broken tiles on your floors, as well as kitchen backsplashes, countertops, and shower and tub areas in your bathrooms. Patch holes, dings and other indentations on your interior walls and baseboards before touching up the blemished areas with matching paint. In rooms that need extensive patchwork and touch-up paint, it might be easier and look better to simply brush a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Remember to prime walls before painting them for more opaque coverage of the underlying, existing paint and to create a better surface for the new paint to adhere. Exchange old hardware on cabinets and drawers with new knobs and handles for a brighter, more updated look. Use polished chrome drawer pulls, and cabinet handles for a more contemporary feel. Burnished bronze hardware works well in more traditional spaces. Get rid of outdated light fixtures by replacing them with more up-to-date styles. Hire a certified electrician to perform the necessary electrical work.

Clean until it sparkles

Visible dirt, corner cobwebs, dead bugs, and foul odors in your home are a sure way to repel potential buyers. Clean your home until it sparkles and shines from top to bottom. Vacuum and shampoo your carpets and area rugs for a fresh look and feel. Give wood or tile floors a good cleaning by dust mopping and wet mopping until they shine. Get rid of unwanted dust on window blinds by vacuuming or wiping the dirt away. Scrub your sinks, shower stalls, and tubs until they smell and look their best. Use a vinegar-based glass cleaner to naturally clean your windows and other glass surfaces, so they sparkle. Wipe down the inside and outside of all your kitchen appliances. Get rid of fingerprints, dried food, water spots, and cooking spills on your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and countertops. Clean dusty ceiling fan blades with a ceiling fan duster to quickly eliminate dirt. A duster typically comes with an extendable handle, making it easy for you to use without risking fall off a ladder or stepstool. Put your washable scatter rugs, bed linens and furniture throws into your washing machine for a thorough cleaning to eliminate any possible odors. Wipe down all your windowsills with a damp cloth and use a duster to get rid of cobwebs lurking in dark corners or on light fixtures.

Make a lasting impression

When a realtor brings possible buyers into your home to look around, they will use their senses to evaluate the suitability of your home for themselves. Giving your home a clean, organized and aesthetically pleasing appearance is necessary, but it isn't enough. You also need to appeal to a potential buyer's other senses. For example, give your possible buyers a delightfully pleasant aroma to inhale from the moment they step into your home. Bake chocolate chip cookies or light candles around your home before a showing (just make sure to blow the candles out before you leave). Air fresheners can also fill the air inside your home with wonderful aromas. Avoid heavily scented air fresheners or candles that are too strong as they may have a negative effect on possible buyers. For an evening showing, turn on table and floor lamps in your home for a soft, homey glow. During the daytime, open your blinds and curtains to create a bright, sunlit space. Homes that are dark on the inside tend to portray a gloomy, dreary and lifeless space and don't create good vibes for a potential buyer. Turn on soft music in your home to generate an even more pleasant environment.

Now that you know the necessary steps required to properly stage your home, what are you waiting for? Even though home staging demands a portion of your precious time and personal resources, it is well worth the effort.