Home staging – it’s all over TV but what is it and what does it mean for your home? Do you have to hire a professional? Will it cost a fortune? And is it all really necessary? The answer is no – and yes!

Home staging can be done by professionals or it can be “DIY”. It can be done on any budget – penthouse chic to bargain basement. And yes, it really is necessary! In today’s market, you must take advantage of every edge over the competition. Home staging is one of the best tools in your arsenal.

Home staging is the process of making your home appealing to the broadest range of buyers. To do that, you have to clean, declutter, neutralize and depersonalize your home. You need to allow the buyers to imagine themselves living in your home, not show them your life. Take a look at your house from a buyer’s perspective. Invite a friend or your realtor to give you a brutally honest opinion of your home.

The first thing your home deserves is a good scrubbing, from top to bottom. Buyers see a dirty home as a maintenance problem. People will be peeking in every cabinet and corner so you can’t skimp on elbow grease. Bathrooms and kitchens are the rooms most scrutinized. Eradicate rust marks, mildew stains and any unsightly messes. Replace anything broken- buyers will just see it as a problem to inherit. Carpets and floors are next. Rent a carpet steamer or hire a service to get your floors in top condition. Furniture, bedding, drapes and blinds should be crisp, clean and neutral in tone.

Now give your décor some serious thought. Rethink that lime green room. Paint is an inexpensive fix. Choose neutral colors for the walls and accessorize with brighter colors, but only in small doses. You want to appeal to as many people as possible with your color choices.

Give buyers an opportunity to see themselves in your home by clearing out collections and personal items. Take your cues from luxury hotels. They’re comfortable and homey, but still look like anyone could live there.

Don’t forget — home staging starts from the street so spend some time applying these tips to your home’s exterior as well. You might make some sacrifices staging your home but every change made and dollar spent is money back in your pocket after your home sells at its best price.

If buyers don’t like what they see when they drive up to your home, they might drive away. Maintaining great curb appeal will not only catch the eye of potential buyers, it will bring them up the front walk and into your home! In simplest terms, maintaining great curb appeal means keeping your home visually attractive to potential buyers.

The basics, like the lawn and walks, must be kept in good condition at all times. Start with a thorough pressure washing of the house and any walkways, decks or porches. Using a mild bleach solution will kill mold and mildew and remove most of the stains. A fresh coat of paint or stain works wonders on fences and decks. Keep the lawn trimmed and weeded and use a patch filling seed mix on brown spots. Hire a neighborhood teen to mow regularly if you can’t do it. Rake up and dispose of fallen leaves and twigs. Remove and store gardening tools.  Make sure your kids’ toys don’t spoil your buyers’ view.
 
Buyers don’t want to see projects they will have to finish. If a gate is hanging by its hinges or lattice is looking bedraggled, fix it. Step back and take a good look at the trees around the house. Are any branches brushing the roof or exterior walls? Trim them so they aren’t a danger to windows or shingles.

Don’t forget the part your backyard plays in your home’s curb appeal.  Buyers don’t just drive by, they walk too!  And they will do everything they can to get a good look at your entire property. Here, too, wading pools and kids toys are a big turnoff. Clear the clutter from your patio and keep furniture in good repair.

Now start thinking pretty! Expensive landscaping is great but if you don’t have to deplete your resources for a punch of color. Your local home improvement store will have ready-made pots of pretty flowers, no matter the season. Use them to accentuate your home’s best features, like the front door.

If you’ve already moved on or you aren’t physically able to maintain your home’s curb appeal yourself, you can always hire a service. Many real estate agents keep the contact information for reputable lawn care companies or curb appeal specialists on hand for easy reference. Your agent is your best friend while your home is on the market so ask for recommendations.