How to Stage Your House for a Quick Sale

In today's buyer's market, sellers are struggling with getting a fair price for their property. If you have to sell your house (renting it isn't an option) then you need to think about your competition. With so many houses on the market, it is the small things that will get your house sold. So make sure your house is set up according to my tips at all times, especially during an open house.

The first thing a buyer will see is the outside, so that is the first place you need to update. Make sure your house number is visible to passer-bys; if a potential buyer can't find your house, they can't buy it. Your house should have a welcoming garden that is not overbearing. The colors of the garden should look good with your house. A buyer wants to see the house as they pull up so trim overgrown bushes and trees. To add more interest, add a pop of color by painting your front door. If you have a front porch or patio of any size, turn it into an outdoor space by adding chairs and a table (make sure they are the right scale). Make sure there is a clear walkway from your driveway to the front door; homeowners that use a garage often neglect this entry point.

Now you got the buyer to enter your house. Keep them there by making sure your house is clean, at a comfortable temperature, and scented well. Choose a welcoming scent that is not overpowering; lavender is said to be relaxing, while sandalwood releases stress. While you are cleaning, pay extra attention to your windows; you want them to let in as much sunlight as possible so make sure they shine. If you have pets, think about keeping them at a friend's house or try to contain pet items (litter and food) to a back room. If your pets are out in the open, people with allergies may be immediately turned off by your house.

Go around your house and take down personal items. Buyers want to see themselves in your house and not you. Take down pictures, diplomas, and other sentimental items that don't match. While you are at it, remove any items that make a room feel clustered, no matter how great they look, even if you use them. When it comes to staging your house, less is more. Every room should have an open floor plan so a potential buyer can walk around easily and not feel overwhelmed. Keeping too much stuff out in the open also makes your house appear like it doesn't have enough storage. Hang pictures so the center of the picture is at eye-level. If you have any posters or unframed pictures remove them.

Each room should be well-defined and have only one purpose. If you have a multi-purpose room, such as an office/guest room stage the room as an office or guest room for selling purposes. Also, make sure your house has all of the traditional rooms. If you use your dinning room for storage, move all of the boxes and get a dining room table. Don't leave any open spaces. If you have an unused room, imagine what a buyer may want to do with that room and create a home gym, library, or guest room. Furniture should be the centerpiece of a room, not open space. If you keep your sofas and chairs at the walls push them to the center of the room for staging. This will make your room look larger.

Make sure your house is lit up. You should have plenty of lighting sources and you should make sure there are no dark spots in your house. Increase the wattage of lights your already have and where there is room, add additional lights. Natural light is always preferred. If you have heavy drapes, take them down and replace them with sheer ones. If privacy is an issue, use sheer drapes with shades.

If you little money and time to invest in staging your house, it will be well-spent if you re-paint your house. A fresh coat of paint can make a house look clean and new. The walls should be painted neutral colors; you may like the red wall in your dining room but plenty of buyers won't. Even if you think it looks boring, go neutral. Yellow is cheerful and is a great choice for kitchens. Cool colors, like green, violet and blue, make small rooms look bigger. Cool colors, especially green, are relaxing so choice neutral greens for bedrooms. For a little extra money but a high return, replace kitchen appliances. A kitchen sells a house and new stainless steel appliances will sell the kitchen.

A buyer should feel welcomed and at home at your house and following my tips will get them there. After you have followed my advice, invite a neighbor or friend to walk through your house and offer additional tips. Good luck with the market!