Some more helpful tips when staging your home to sell:

I have written many posts on this, but somehow ther just seems to be more to be told. Her are some more tips to help you prepare to sell your home:

Staging rules:

A house must be neutral (remove all wallpaper and borders that are taste specific and paint in neutral colors). If you have very different taste in colors, you must re-paint to attract the most buyers and to get the buyers to present good offers. You can ask at your local paint store what the most popular neutral tan or beige is if you find it hard to choose.

Fill and repair any blemishes or holes on the walls before you paint.

All cabinets and closets should be organized, buyers will look inside.

Power wash all driveways and walkways as well as any dirt/mold from siding.

Re-paint anything and everything possible to give it a fresh look, including your front door.

Re-place anything/everything that looks old or worn (Especially outdated light fixtures, faucets, mailboxes, doorknobs, etc.)

Clean your windows, inside and out!

Put away all the appliances that are all over the kitchen counter. Take them out only to use them then put them back.

Home Gym Equipment should be in a home Gym... if you don't have one but instead have various pieces in rooms that are not a home gym, like your bedroom, this is not theplace for them while you are trying to sell your house. If you have pieces that are not being used, get rid of them... give it to someone, sell it, throw it away or put it in storage until your house sells.

Clean your ceiling fans and light bulbs! And put the highest wattage bulbs that you can in each fixture. Ideally you should have on 3 light sources in each and every room for showings.

Pay attention to the smallest of details... Switch plates need to be neutral and clean, Clean the baseboards, vacuum the edges of everything, replace cabinet knobs, etc. etc.

Decor should draw your eye around the room. One trick often used is that red draws the eye... so a mostly neutral picture in the room with a simple splash of red color, a redcenterpiece and a couple of red throw pillows draws your eyes around an elegant neutral room.

Take away furniture from any crowded rooms. Put it in storage or get rid of it.

Repair anything that you have put off! If you know it's broken, a potential buyer may see it and wonder what else is wrong with the house!

Top all this off with fresh flowers, both inside and out if the season will allow.

You must take down or pack away all of these things (you need to pack them up to move anyway, so start with this stuff and your house will show much better) --

• Personal photographs indicating who lives in the home
• Nude artwork of any kind
• Items that are sports and/or team related
• Collections of any kind
• Any religious articles
• Everything on the Refrigerator/stove/dishwasher (Magnets, clips, etc.)
• Awards, certificates and Trophies
• Piles of Magazines, newspapers, mail
• Stacks of CD's and/or DVD's

Potential buyers should not be able to surmise anything about the present owners of the home when they walk through.The purpose of this last section is to de-personalize your home. A buyer will then be able to emotionally attach themselves to your home.

Some other articles I have written on this subject:

Tips on what to do when it's time to show your home... if you really want it to sell

Quick Clean up Tips for those last minute showings....

Cold, dark and vacant OR warm, cozy and inviting.... Which would you choose?

50 Tips to Properly Prepare and Stage Your Home (Part 1 of 3)

50 Tips to Properly Prepare and Stage Your Home (Part 2 of 3)

50 Tips to properly prepare and stage your home (Part 3 of 3)

Properly Prepare and Stage Your Home

23 Questions that help make a home sell faster