How to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale

Selling a home can be as arduous a process as buying a home. Having a home that "shows well" can help make this process a lot easier and could result in a quick sale. If your home is on the market and you have had multiple showings and open houses, to no avail, consider staging your home. Staging your home in simplest terms is a way to dress up your home and show its best features. This allows buyers to see your home for what it really is and can result in a quicker sale and closer to your asking price.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. De-clutter and clean your home in all areas. A clean and clutter free home makes your home more attractive to buyers. They will notice any dirt and clutter anyway. And instead of looking past it, your home will look unfavorable in their eyes and they will pass it up.
   
   Hire a professional, if possible. Or take a few days and work steadily with your family or friends to get your home completely clean and clutter free. Sort through items to put away in their proper place, give away or trash. Store items in containers or boxes in a closet, garage or storage bin.
2. Make a list of every notable feature or point of interest in each room. Notable features such as the picture window in the dining room, the fireplace in the living room, the counter-space in the kitchen or the spaciousness of the bedrooms, should make your list. The overall idea here is to make one or two features the focal point of each room and to showcase the flow of your home.
3. Now design and organize each room to showcase these features. Make a sketch or diagram if necessary to help you re-position your furniture to show off the notable features in each room. Remove any items that block or distract from your home's notable features. Removing the ugly draperies in the living room that blocks the sunlight or angling the couch toward the fireplace, are two examples of this.
4. Use each room for its original purpose. If a spare bedroom was supposed to be a guest bedroom or office, but has become a catch-all room, convert it back into its original use. If the dining room is not used as such and there is not any other formal dining space, consider converting this room back to a formal dining space.
   
   You want to show all of the available space in your home and how the potential buyer can use it. The idea here is that you want the potential buyer to see themselves in your home and using every available space for their needs.
5. The exterior of your home is also important. Curb appeal, as it is called, draws buyers into your home and acts like a first impression to buyers. The front of your home, any grass or yard areas and the garage all add to the appeal of your home.
   
   Weeds in your front yard and overgrown shrubs and grass in your backyard, all decrease your home's curb appeal. A cluttered garage, rickety stairs and unfinished deck and porch also decrease your home's appeal to buyers.
6. Big design changes can also translate into a quicker sale. If you have the money to make big design changes in your kitchen or bathrooms, consider doing so as it often translates into a quicker sale and higher asking (and purchase) price.
   
   Another option is to paint the rooms of your home a neutral color. Neutral colors are more attractive to buyers because they can see a blank slate and a home where they can personalize it.
7. Small design changes can also add to your home's appeal to buyers. Changing or adding newer light fixtures or plumbing fixtures can brighten your home and makes your home more attractive to buyers. Storing items for pets and children neatly and away so that all spaces are clear which is an attractive feature to buyers.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to a real estate agent or broker about your home and ask for their input.
• Consider hiring a professional gardener or landscaper and designer to help you with your home's design and curb appeal. If this is not possible, go to your local Home Depot, Lowes' or nursery and ask a professional for ideas.
• Read magazines and newspapers that showcase homes and gardens for ideas. Look for ideas to showcase your home's focal points. It may help to give you ideas and help to transform your home's looks.
• Simple is best. Do not over-do it. Buyers are looking to see if your home will fit their needs and if they can personalize your home to their taste. If your home is over-done, it will not be as attractive to buyers and will defeat the purpose of staging your home.