Selling your home in today’s market can be challenging. When you finally get that prospective buyer into your house to take a look, you only get one chance to make a first impression!  Having your home in the best shape possible before putting it on the market is especially important now. It's definitely a buyers market and as we all know, they can be very picky when it comes to spending their hard earned money. You can be sure they will be comparing your house to the other ones they are considering every step of the way. Here are 6 easy and low cost tips for staging your home.

1.  Have a friend walk through your property with you. Take a look at everything in your house.  Be brutally honest!  Make note of anything that looks worn or is in need of repair.  Is your home up to date?  There are many low cost ways to spruce up your house and stage it so that it is more appealing to buyers.

2.  Clean out all of the clutter. Begin with the closets. Store away out of season clothes, extra toys, and items that you will not need for a while. Prospective buyers will definitely look in all the closets and you want them to notice how spacious they are. Next you need to go through each room and declutter. Clear off the counter tops in the kitchen and baths.  It is a good idea to rent a “Pod” or a storage area while your house is on the market so that you can completely clean out your basement, garage, and remove anything else you will need to store. The last thing you want perspective buyers to think is that there is not enough room for storage in your home.

3.  Thoroughly clean of all the rooms. Give everything a good scrubbing. Make sure your windows sparkle. Pay particular attention to the bathrooms and the kitchen. Take the time to calk and do minor maintenance as needed. Also, take a good look at the walls.  If at all possible, it is recommended that you paint all the walls a neutral color.  Buyers may not love the bright colors you have used throughout the house. Be sure all the carpets are clean. If the carpet is stained or worn out you may need to replace the carpet for a quick sale if it’s in your budget.

4.  If you can, update light fixtures, faucets and any broken or missing hardware such as door knobs, towel bars etc. Be sure to replace all burned out light bulbs on the interior and exterior.  You want your home to look bright and inviting, not dark and dingy. Add fluffy new towels in the bathroom. Fresh flowers and scented candles are a nice and inexpensive touch to any room.

5.  Look at your furniture arrangement. Can you move easily through the room? Does the room look open an inviting?  If not, consider rearranging or even paring down the furniture that you have.  Remember that you want your home to look uncluttered and spacious. Make sure that the function of each room is clearly defined.

6.  Last but not least, “depersonalize” your home.  Remove photographs and other personal mementos while the house is for sale. You want your buyers to be able to picture themselves living in the home.

Staging your home can pay big dividends. Homes that have been staged tend to sell more quickly and for more money. Having your home as “move in ready” as possible will put your house at the top of the buyers list every time.

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