How to Stage Your Home to Sell Fast

In today's housing market buyers are in the driver's seat and sellers have to be smarter and more creative to keep up with the competition. While research shows that homes that are professionally staged tend to sell faster, hiring someone to do so can be costly. Here are some simple DIY ways to help you make your home showing-worthy, target the largest possible market, and be in position to sell fast.

Instructions

1. 

   Market to the masses. The goal is to sell your house fast and that means marketing to the largest audience possible. Take a step back from your attachments and look at your home from the perspective of a general buyer. Yes, your lavender walls are most likely very charming and beautiful but would 9 out of 10 buyers agree? While there might be a perfect buyer out there who has the same taste as you, if you want a quick sale, the perfect buyer is any buyer. Target those people.

2. 

   Look at your curb appeal. Buyers will get the first impression of your home as soon as they pull up. Cut the lawn, trim the bushes, mulch and weed the landscaping, and sweep the porch. Put out a welcome mat and some flower pots for an added touch but keep in mind less is more.

3. 

   Declutter. As a general rule: if you haven't worn or used it in a year, or you don't absolutely love it, it's clutter and needs to go. So whether you need to rent a dumpster or just buy a box of black trash bags, roll up your sleeves and get to work. And just think, you'll have less to pack when you move.

4. 

   Do a spring cleaning. Starting at the top and working your way down, clean like you've never done before. This might be a good time to rent a carpet cleaner - a good steam cleaning can make a huge difference. Don't forget closets as many buyers like to peek inside.

5. 

   Keep it simple. The house will show better without a lot of accessories and counter clutter. Put away kitchen counter appliances, knick knacks, toiletries, and all but a few personal pictures.

6. 

   Do repairs. Now's the time to fix anything and everything in your house that is unfinished or broken. The last thing you want is for a buyer to have negotiating power because of repairs they might have to make.

7. 

   Repaint. For minimal cost and few days of work, you could change the entire look of your home. Most buyers are interested in a clean, fresh palette to work with so keep wall colors neutral (think tans, creams) and trim white. Remember you are marketing to the masses (Step 1).

8. 

   Keep the house "showing" worthy at all times. You never know when a realtor is going to have a prospective buyer ready to see your house. Before you leave each morning, vacuum the floors, clean the breakfast dishes, put the toys away, and make sure the house looks neat and uncluttered.