5 Secrets to Set Your Home Apart from the Rest

It is important to recognize one very important factor that cannot be overlooked while deciding if you should have your home staged. An un-staged home will actually help sell its competitor's homes! To avoid this ensure that yours is staged by a Professional Home Stager who knows not only design but the market, the demographics in your area and above all what potential buyers really look for in your home!

1.Have it Professionally Staged- This may seem obvious, but for some it is not- do not have your home staged by friends and family! Alternatively, do not stage it on your own. Staging is not decorating, and it is not about making your home look pretty and smell of baked goods. Fight the urge to save money by involving family. Honestly, this will actually cost you more in the long run as they are not trained in this field. In some homes I've actually had to de-stage what was set up before beginning and it cost the owner months on the market THINKING it was ready when it really was not. A professional like myself, Owner of Florida Home Staging will guide you in the right direction and will completely address all areas of your home to play up the positives and actually downplay the negatives.

2.Clean, Clean, Clean!- This point should really be listed first since without it, all the home staging in the world can't make dirt disappear! There is only one thing worse than seeing dirt in our own home and that is seeing dirt in a home we intend to potentially buy! I mean Q-tip clean here. This process can actually take about a full week. Focusing on windows, doors, floors, walls, cobwebs, tiles, bathtubs, rugs, curtains, dusty blinds and the list goes on. The point is you almost need to pretend that you are entering a contest for the cleanest home in the nation. It will be exhausting so feel free to hire some help if you can afford it. The results will well be worth it at the end. While you are at it use products that are safe for you to be breathing in and for your surfaces such as Method Products that smell amazing, are natural and don't hurt the environment or your kids and pets, available at Target.

3.Curb Appeal- The outside appearance of your home is equally important if not more important than the inside. Why you ask? If buyers don't like the look of the outside of your home they'll not likely ask for a showing or if one is booked and the buyer is tired from a day of viewings they might opt to drive past yours. Sad but true! This happens all the time so don't be a victim. If you do not have time to keep up your lawn or your home is vacant then you will need to hire someone to care for it in your absence. Beyond the mere maintenance of the grass you will need to ensure that your flowers are in bloom and if they aren't plant ones that are. In addition ensure that no paint is chipping on shutters, doors, roof is in good repair and so is the driveway/walkway. All areas must be free from cracks or any sign of wear. An important note-your home must be able to be seen from the street so remove any overgrown bushes or trees that obstruct the view of your home and ultimately block needed indoor sunlight.

4.The Right Realtor- The person you select to sell your home will make a big difference in if you sell or sit for months on end. The right realtor will be well versed in the pricing for your area and specifically your home. They will also be a great resource to you and will spend the necessary time marketing your home for showings and any open houses. If you do not know of one and you are thinking of selling, please ask someone like myself who works with Realtors every day and knows the great from the mediocre. Such a realtor has aggressive marking strategies and work with other professionals such as a Home Staging Specialist for the best results. If your home is the wrong price and you have the wrong realtor, it could ultimately be a disaster and leave your frustrated in the end.

5.Make it Impersonal- As I mentioned earlier staging is not decorating! This means that you'll need to remove precious photos of fido and candids of the kiddies! The buyer needs to feel as though they are stepping foot into their future home not making a visit to your humble abode. You'll also want to eliminate as much pet paraphernalia as possible and anything else that clearly indicates your personal taste or any collections and memorabilia. This is all about the buyer! You'll have to live with these items tucked away for a short time but look at it this way, the sooner you sell the sooner you'll enjoy them again in your NEW home!

There is no buffet option here where you can pick and choose what you like in terms of this essential list. It is all or nothing to sell your home and above all the best results are realized when you choose to hire a professional, and that's a proven fact!