If you are getting ready to put your home on the market, staging your home should be your top priority. “Home staging” requires rearranging furniture and decorating your home to turn it into a place that potential buyers can easily picture as their own. Decluttering and redecorating your home puts more of an emphasis on the space and less on your stuff. It creates a beautiful clean-slate that exhibits how the space can be used, while still allowing potential buyers to use their imagination. But most importantly it sends a clear signal to the buyer as soon as they enter the home that you care about your home and the sale.

Home staging is proven to help homes sell faster and for a higher price. A survey by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. found that staged homes sell for more than 6% above the asking price. Another study found that staged homes spend an average of 73% less time on the market. Putting in the investment to help your home look your best is well worth it once you sell.

Cleaning up your home will make it seem bigger and more useful. Cluttered kitchen counters communicate that your home doesn’t have enough storage. Oversized furniture that blocks traffic patterns makes rooms seem small. Office furniture piled in a dining room keeps buyers from envisioning it as it was intended. All of these problems can be remedied with professional home staging.

Staged homes are just easier to market, and look great in photos (which is a necessity for selling online today). A staged home strikes a balance between clean and lived-in. You want to create a homey mood that’s neutral enough for buyers to envision themselves there. Staging helps buyers focus on the natural light or great open floor plan, instead of your collection of Russian nesting dolls.

If you want to stage your home yourself, try these home staging secrets:

• Use color creatively with throw pillows and blankets
• Throw out clutter and unnecessary trinkets
• Remember less is more
• Pull furniture away from walls to give the illusion of space
• Repurpose unused rooms (a craft room, home gym, etc).
• Let in outside light and replace light bulbs with brighter options
• Make it homey with plants and bowls of fresh fruit.

Staging your own home isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t so confident in your eye for design, or just don’t want to bother with the hassle, hiring a professional home stager is a great idea. Home staging companies will fill your home with their collection of accent pillows, lamps, area rugs, art, and other pieces to help your home look its best. Just remember not to take it personally if they remove your favorite items – they know what will appeal best to potential buyers, and only want to help you.

Consider redecorating your home with a professional home stager to help it sell faster and above asking price. If you’re interested, give me a call and I can recommend some of my favorite decorating experts. Let’s get your home on – and off!- the market in style!