S.T.A.G.E Your Home to Sell

Congratulations! You've made a decision to move. Perhaps you've accepted a new job in a different area or maybe your old home is simply too small for your needs. Before you contact a realtor or put a "For Sale" sign in the yard, there are a few things that you need to do.

Stow away as much as you can. The goal is to make your rooms look as big as possible. If your furniture is too big for your rooms or if you simply have too much furniture in your rooms then remove as much as possible. Even if you need to rent a storage shed while your house is on the market, it's well worth the investment. Declutter your home as much as possible. Clean out closets, cabinets and cubbyholes. Buyers will look and the more empty space there is, the better they can picture their belongings in your home.

Take a look at your carpet and walls. Make any repairs or updates necessary. SURE, you've lived with the green shag carpet in the hallway for the past 15 years, but potential buyers will not be able to see past it. You don't need to put in the most expensive plush carpet that you can find, simply replace it with a nice looking neutral colored carpet. Make sure that walls are freshly painted, clean and free of holes.

Aromas make a home feel... homey. Research has shown that the smell of apples and cinnamon make people feel warm and fuzzy. If buyers walk into your home and smell baking bread, apple pie or vanilla, their minds immediately switch to memories of good times like Christmas and Easter when they were kids. Make sure that your home smells good. You can buy candles, potpourri, plug-in air fresheners, whatever you can find that makes your home smell good. However, make sure that the smell of your home is not too perfumey or overwhelming. I remember looking at one home where they had a different scent in each room - it was distracting and quite honestly, I wondered what they were trying to hide! One subtle scent throughout the home will make the best impression.

Go minimal on personal items. Sure, you love to display photos of your family and friends. However, a preacher looking at your home may not appreciate the photo of the last Toga Party that you attended in college. Remember, your goal is provide a backdrop for them to imagine their own belongings in the space. Seeing pictures of YOUR family around will not help them envision their family living in the house. If you're a fan of a particular sports team and have memorabilia setting around, put it away! A Steelers fan may not appreciate your Browns pennant in the game room.

Excuse yourself. If a realtor is showing your home, arrange to be out during the showing. If you are selling your home yourself, invite them to look around and tell them you'll be on the back patio if they have questions. Giving them their space will allow them to converse more comfortably and will make them feel less pressured.

Always sweep the floors, dust the furniture and plump the pillows before a showing. It makes everything seem more fresh and inviting. Arrange your furniture so that it makes the rooms look bigger and more inviting. Turn lights on to brighten the space.

Don't forget the outside either! Some plants, sweet-smelling flowers and a welcome mat set the stage for the beauty of your home. Make sure that you sweep the cobwebs away from the front door and that your front door is sparkling!

Simply sprucing up your home and making sure that everything is neat and orderly will go a long way toward bringing in a good offer on your home. Who knows, by the time that you're done staging your home for sale; you might just decide to stay a little longer! Just kidding! Good luck selling your home!