by Julie Sobeck

Created on: December 31, 2006   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

People paint, decorate and live in their homes to make their lives comfortable and to their own liking. This is as it should be, until the house goes on the market. Once the house is For Sale, owners should:

1. Stage their home to appeal to the majority of people.
2. Remove personal items such as family photos, collections stacked on shelves or in cabinets, family heirlooms and antiques that clutter extra space.

3. Old drapes should be taken down to allow as much light in as possible.
4. Old wallpaper should be taken off the walls and the walls should be painted a neutral color.
5. Old appliances should be replaced.
6. Grout that is discolored or cracked should be replaced.
7. Carpets should be deep cleaned.
8. The floors should be spotless.
9. It is extremely important to make a home as spacious and clutter free as possible.
0. The lawn should be well maintained and landscaped for a neat and uncluttered curb appeal.

Most times when a home is being sold through a Realtor or for sale by owner, some sort of advertising is promoted to help make the sale. Photos of the homes interior and exterior are important so potential buyers can get an idea of the interior size and condition of the home. Most buyers will not bother calling about a home with no pictures, due to the amount of homes that do have pictures. People are visual and they must be able to visualize themselves and their families inside the home, along with their belongings. Once the staging process is complete and the seller's home is clean and neat, the photos should be made and advertised along with as much positive information regarding the home and neighborhood as possible.

One last piece of advice when staging a home is to appeal to the buyer's senses. Bake brownies and have them out on the counter. Light a scented candle that will make the house smell nice. A clean and uncluttered house, along with the nice scent makes a potential buyer believe a house is easy to keep clean and it appeals to their sense of home and comfort. Good luck!

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