Do- It Yourself Staging Tips for Home Sellers

One of the best things you can do when selling your home is to stage it properly. Staging a home can change it's atmosphere so it appeals to homebuyers and may bring a higher price and accelerate it's market time. By adding decorative touches, rearranging or deleting furniture or creating vignetts a home can look like a professional stager was hired. Here are some hints for you:

Pick up recent home decorating magazines. If you are not familiar with current trends it will help you with how interior design is being marketed. Highlight and save low-cost ideas that will make your home say today.
Invite a friend or real estate agent over. A second or third pair of eyes will help you accent the best and edit the worst in your home. Be prepared for some constructive criticism. You want to hear it before you put your home on the market, not as feedback from the agents after they have looked at your home. Go room-by-room with a paper so you can take notes. You will need to prioritize and figure out what will give you the biggest return. Do this at least 2 months before you list your home.
Stage a home office even if you don't have one. This is not a trend - this is a requirement for homebuyers in 2006 and beyond. Many homebuyers today work from home part or full-time or want a space where they can organize their life and park a computer. Find an extra bedroom, closet, or an unused corner and convert it into a home office. Make sure there is convienient electric, telephone and cable supply.
Focus on living spaces. This is where most homebuyers will spend their time. Place a side table and floor lamp next to a comfortable chair as a reading area. Move sofas and coffee tables away from walls for a designer look. Use area rugs to anchor furniture groupings on tile and wood floors. Streamline family photos and place green plants in all the rooms. Fireplaces should always be operable and on in season. Place goupings of candles and other inviting items on side and coffee tables. Wicker baskets can organize magazines, remote controls and toys. Limit knick-knacks to make room for "good" staging materials.
Give attention to kitchens. Put away in a handy drawer all dish towels and rags. Reduce recipe boxes, cooking utensils, excess cook books, and machines by two-thirds to open up counter space. For a quick update put new hardware on cabinets. Find an out of the way place for a portable dishwasher if there is one. Clean off everything on the refrigerator door. Omit throw rugs scattered around the kitchen. Clean off windowsills to open up exterior views. Organize cabinets with clear containers. If you can't see the back wall of a cabinet, buyers will think you don't have enough storage space. Same with closets. budget to keep a variety of fresh fruits in a glass bowl on the counter. Edit family bulletin boards. Remove old curtains and install new blinds if needed.
Spend time on sleeping and bathing spaces. Often over looked in the frenzy to get a home on market, these spaces can make or break a sale. Buy a set that consists of a matching bed skirt, bed spread, pillow covers and blinds. Buy a new shower curtain and seperate liner. Wash the liner if later on mold develops. Add complete sets of towels that coordinate with your shower curtain. Clear all cosmetics off vanity. If you have an over the toilet cabinet consider removing it and putting artwork in it's place. Remember to keep items in the "too much information" catagory, out of view. If you have a king size bed in a small room, you'll pay for it when buyers look at it - so remove it now. Clear off dresser and nightstands of excess. Make sure the bedroom recieves the maximum natural light. Install closet organizers in closets. Eliminate wall and door hooks for clothes. People might look under your bed (yes, it has happened) so, no surprises please.
Remember first impressions in entries. A simple consol table with a mirror over makes a nice entry. Make sure this space is well lit day or night. Place adhesive under rugs so people don't trip or slip.

Don'ts

Use inexpensive silk flowers. Nothing distracts buyers more than silk flowers that are past their prime, inappropriate for the season or thrown together. Throw them out - now.
Forget to upgrade Fido's bowl. I see many unhealthy food bowls, watering stations, and litter boxes. Too many. We know you love your pet, but proove it to homebuyers.
Overlook window coverings. Buyers today think less is more in window fashions. They want the most light and the least embellishment on windows. And no layered treatments with shear panels please.
Use low wattage light bulbs. Dark, dim rooms are unappealing to homebuyers. They want to see what they might buy. Replace bulbs with recommended wattages and especially burnt out bulbs. The newer low-energy bulbs don't cast homes or people in flattering light.
Think the everybody loves wallpaper just because you do. No two people have the same taste in this instant decorator finish. If it's more than 3 years old, take it down and paint in a neutral color. And wallpaper borders are out too.
Paint with commitment colors. If you've determined that you need to paint, stay away from bold or commitment colors. These are colors that buyers either love or hate. It can be difficult for buyers to think past the color. You don't want to loose a sale over this.
Think cleaning is a part of staging. Cleaning is what you do before staging. Everything should shimmer and shine. Don't forget the windows.

Please use these tips to put your home in it's best stage - the one for selling!

If you have a few minutes watch this video I found on YouTube about staging your home for a quicker sale. Click here.