A Sellers Guide to Home Staging

You have decided to sell your home. Like meeting a person for the first time, first impressions are everything. This is where some very simple steps can be taken to ensure that your home appeals to the widest possible range of potential purchasers. Here are some tips to assist you in the process.

1. Reduce the number of personal pictures in the home. You want people to visualize themselves in the space not assessing your life in your home.
2. Get rid of any unnecessary clutter. Trophies, memorabilia and collectables may be meaningful to you, but remember that you're attempting to get people to visualize themselves in your space.
3. Neutralize the colors in your home. Bright or loud coloring can limit your homes appeal. By painting these spaces a neutral color, potential buyers can visualize the space more effectively because they are not distracted by your personal decorating choices and may potentially visualize how they would personalize the space.
4. Make sure that the lawn is freshly groomed, gardens are weeded and maintained.
5. Look around high visibility areas for damaged drywall, trim, or other fixtures and do those minor repairs that often get overlooked when you live in a home. Potential buyers will appreciate your attention to detail.
6. Thoroughly clean your home. Potential purchasers will recognize the pride you put into your home and this is emphasized by clean living spaces.
7. Add some flowers to the foyer or living room to add some additional color.
8. Heat some cider or bake cookies. Most people enjoy the smell of baked goods and will appreciate the aroma when they walk through the door and it will give potential buyers a homey feel.
9. This is for pet owners; make sure that pets are taken out of the property if possible during showings. A barking dog or an overly friendly cat can distract a purchaser from the positives of your home.

These tips alone will not sell your home, however they will put you well on your way to making a good first showing impression. With a little thought and possibly some guidance you can stage your home successfully and speed up the sale process.

This article was originally published at Suite101.com