Why is it important to stage a home?

It's all about the first impression. As a seller, your goal is to get top dollar for your home as soon as possible. This requires providing the best possible first impression to potential buyers. Home staging is the avenue to make your home appeal to the new buyer.

Home staging has other advantages. It forces the seller to de-clutter and organize, thus making the new move easier. Studies show staged homes sell quicker and this eliminates days on the market. It gives the seller an edge on other homes in the neighborhood.

What is home staging?

The best definition comes from Barb Schartz, author of (Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money.) "Home staging is not decorating. Decorating is personalizing. Staging is de-personalizing."

The goal of staging is to create that wow factor so potential buyers can envision the home as their own. A rule of thumb is less is more when staging homes. Don't forget the outside is just as important for the inside.

Some basic home staging tips

Deep cleaning your home including windows, wipe down all surfaces.

De-clutter your home

De-personalize; take down personal photos and potential offensive material.

Professionally clean your carpet if possible.

Accentuate the positive, angle furniture to highlight positive features

Take down refrigerator magnets and notes

Make necessary paint touch-ups on walls

Use neutral or warm toned paint colors on the walls

Pressure wash the outside of home before listing

Landscaping is a must, keep grass cut and trim bushes and trees.

Yellow flowers are the color of choice for outside pots) Use bullet points for this list

What are the advantages?

Staging gives the home Emotional appeal;

After proper staging, your home allows buyers to visualize themselves living there. Emotional appeal is met when potential buyers have opportunities to use most of their senses at the showing.

Sight: Curb appeal, clean outside and in, open, airy, neutral warm colors

Smell: Odor free or a light smell of clean

Taste: Candy or mints in a dish placed strategically

Hear: Soft background music

Touch: Buyers open doors and blinds

Home Staging Resources:

Professional home stagers are available. Their services include quotes and recommendations on everything from colors and fabrics to furniture and accessory arrangements.

There are also many internet resources such as the HGTV Program, Designed to sell.

The host Lisa LaPorta provides excellent tips for those on a tight budget.