All realtors know the importance of staging houses property, especially when it comes to curb appeal.  The difficulty that many of us face is when we are inside the house and trying to make sense of each and every room whether it be through the decor, being too cluttered, or being too personalized.  I have always learned that if you do something, you make sure that you do it right or don't do it at all.  The same can be said about staging.   Making sure that it is done right is extremely important.  There are some tips that I have learned that can be beneficial to realtors and consumers alike. The following tips can help whether a person is on the market to buy, sell, or maintain a house.

1.  Depersonalize the house.  Take down all the pictures that you have of you and your family.  This may be nice for you, but it actually serves as a distraction for individuals trying to buy your house.  You do not want them to focus on the family and miss the 1000sf great room that is in it.

2.  Declutter.  Get rid of all the clutter and make it look fresh.  New fresh, white linens on the beds really help give an aroma of cleanliness. Make sure the towels are bright and do not look dingy. Make sure you get rid or cover up all the plastic patio furniture.

3.  Neutralize.  Make sure that the house is painted neutral colors and that its architectural features are brought out through the paint and not hidden.

4.  Be purposeful.  Each room needs to have a single purpose.  Don't try to combine an office into the bedroom.  Make the bedroom is only a bedroom and the office only an office.

5.  Colorize.  Make sure that there are fresh flowers and/or fruit bowls in every room.  It adds to the appeal of the house.

6.  Decave.  If your house is dark, then make it lighter.  Make people feel like they just stepped into their house. Also add a welcome mat that says Welcome Home, it is a nice touch.

These are just a few of the hints I have learned in my few years of real estate. 

PS: I am extremely grateful to my wife for making me watch all the staging shows where I picked up many of my hints.