The 5 Basic Steps to Staging Your Home…
1) Cleaning
When I say, “cleaning” I don’t mean your ordinary, weekly house cleaning. I mean a deep cleansing in which every surface, every window, every nook-and-cranny sparkle and shine. Clean windows, ceiling fans, curtains and blinds, carpet – in short, everything. Eliminate unpleasant pet odors and even consider having someone else care for pets until the house is sold.  | BEFORE | 2) Getting Rid of Clutter
You’re going to be moving anyway so go ahead and start getting rid of the things you’ll never need again and box up the things you can live without for a couple of months. Clean out about 50 percent of the things in closets, most of the knickknacks displayed around the home and enough furniture so that rooms look open and inviting. Kitchen and bath counters should be clean and uncluttered. Even the cabinets and drawers should contain only a few items, because prospective buyers will be opening doors and drawers and will want to see a lot of space.  | AFTER | 3) Depersonalizing
It’s important to remove most family photographs and personal collections. Buyers are trying to envision themselves living in every home they tour and it’s hard for them to do that when faced with the seller’s personal items. Every room of the house should have a general appeal for the majority of buyers. Leaving personal collections for the buyer to see distracts the purchaser by having him or her focusing on your things rather than the house.
4) Decorating and accessorizing
There are many improvements that can be made with little expense: A fresh coat of paint doesn’t cost very much but will add impact. New window treatments, fresh flowers, green plants and pretty accessories all pack a punch without breaking the wallet.
5) Maintaining
Homes must be spotless as long as they’re on the market. The very day someone leaves a dirty towel on the bathroom floor will be the day a prospective buyer walks through. Granted it’s not easy to keep a home hotel-clean while someone is living there, but the payoff may be a quicker sale and perhaps a higher price. Keep the outside as clean and neatly maintained as the inside. Have the lawn mowed and place trash cans out of sight. A nice potted plant, a clean doormat, and a front door wreath make the home seem more inviting.
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