Staging your home for sale

You've decided to sell you home and want to make it the best before putting it on the market. There is no secret to creating a home that sells. It requires just a bit of time and a minimum budget.

Home buyers are looking for a place that is in ready to move in condition. That being said, most people have a hard time projecting how they will live in a new home, let alone making repairs and putting their style into it. That's where Home Staging comes in.

Through out the home it is important to capture the buyers attention, this is especially important in the foyer or entry of the home. You have 60 seconds to impress that potential buyer and it starts at the front door.

Everyone knows Home Staging is about cleaning, getting rid of clutter and eliminating personal items, but there is more to it than that. Here are some other tips:

• Neutralize your home's decor - tone down bold colors with neutrals and remove any large collections.
• Likewise, edit your home's amount of furniture. If you have to turn sideways to fit through a passage, then it's time to rethink the layout of the room and the amount of furniture in it.
• Bathrooms and bedrooms should have a "hotel room" feel. If these rooms are too personalized, people will not linger there long enough to picture themselves living there.
• Show off the storage space your home has to offer by removing and storing (boxing up and moving to the garage, basement or attic) off-season clothing, shoes, linens and anything else occupying that valuable space in your home.
• Keep in mind you are selling the house, not the things in it. Creating a focal point to highlight your fireplace, beautiful view or architectural features will help buyers focus on what they are getting when they buy your property.

When someone decides to visit your home, you know they chose it because it meets their criteria (location, size and price range). Your job, and the key to selling your home, is to help that buyer make an emotional connection to your home. Applying these tips will give them the comfortable "at home" feeling needed to turn a visit into a sale.