Selling your home is not for the faint-of-heart. It takes a lot of physical work and mental fortitude to go through the process of selling your home. Well-staged homes are more likely to sell quicker and for more money when compared to homes that have not been staged. Would you like to know how to properly stage your home before you list it at very little cost? Read the staging tips below to learn how to get your home in tip-top shape for a future buyer.

Improve your curb appeal

You've probably heard this tip before but it's true: The very first impression a possible buyer has of your home is the view they get from the street. If your curb appeal isn't so great, future buyers that are driving by your house might not even want to venture inside. Improve your curb appeal by:

• Picking up natural debris, such as fallen limbs and twigs scattered across your lawn.
• Remove other unsightly items, like kid's toys, lawn ornaments, etc.
• Mow the grass, freshen up the flowerbed, and trim the grass bordering your driveway and sidewalks.
• Power wash any mildew and grime off exterior walls, roofs, doors, and driveways.
• Repair gaping cracks and holes in your driveway or walkways and touch up chipped paint surfaces.
• Don't forget to neaten up straggly bushes and trees by pruning off dead branches and limbs.

Create a stunning outdoor entry

When a potential buyer is walking up to your front door, he is forming an opinion of the entire home: either positive or negative. If your entry is attractive and feels clean, pleasant and comfortable, he will be eager to step inside your home and get to the "main attraction." 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 replace any deteriorated hardware.
• 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 seasonal 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.

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.
• Show off your closet space by clearing out unwanted items and organizing the rest. Use closet organizers for a neat, structured appearance. 
• 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 so have them looking nice.
• 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.
• And perhaps most importantly - clear off those countertops!

Don't make it personal

When a potential buyer is trying to imagine your current home as their future home, make it easier by putting away your personal items. You need a hotel mindset: well-appointed but generic.

• Pack away family photographs, achievement awards, or hunting trophies.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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 more, it might be easier and look better to simply brush a fresh coat of paint on the walls.
• 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.
• 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. Get new area rugs if needed or better yet, get rid of them for a more open look.
• Give wood or tile floors a good cleaning by dust mopping and wet mopping until they shine.
• Clean window blinds by vacuuming or wiping the dirt away.
• Scrub your sinks, shower stalls, and tubs until they smell and look their best.
• 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 and light fixtures.
• If needed, replace bed covers with a fresh new quilt - think white with a pop of color in throw pillows. 

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.

• Avoid heavily scented air fresheners or candles that are too strong as they may have a negative effect on possible buyers. A fresh, clean smell is best.
• 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 and turn on all lights to create a bright, sunlit space.
• 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.  Call me and I can help you decide what needs to be done and what you can save money on, helping you get the most money in the shortest amount of time!