11 Things you MUST DO to get your home sold!

It's a tough and competitve market.
You want your Home to be the one that will sell!  After the price, the most important factor is Staging. Staging is positioning your home to be at the top of every buyer's list.

Properly staged homes outshine the competition every time, and are proven to sell for more money! You must dress your home to be the "prettiest girl at the dance."

Here are 11 things you MUST DO when staging your home.

1. De-cluttering: Clutter can be one of the most distracting aspects of showing a house. Instead of a buyer focusing on the unique architectural details of your room, they focus in on your trinkets and trash. Clutter EATS Equity!

2. De-personalizing: A few carefully chosen knick-knacks and family portraits may add warmth and character -- too many are a distraction. Anything that interferes with prospective buyers' ability to see themselves living in your home should be eliminated.

3. Furniture: Less is more. Large, oversized furniture can makes rooms look smaller than they are. The converse is true as well. Small furniture in large rooms looks disproportionate.

4. Keep rooms true to their purpose: You may have your dining room set up as an office or a second bedroom set up as a craft room, but buyers need to see homes true to their purpose. They want to see the formal dining room that was advertised on the MLS. They want to see 2 bedrooms, not one and a craft room.

5. Proper lighting: Good lighting makes everything look better. CFL lights in "daylight" color makes rooms look light and bright even during the evening hours. Be sure all rooms are well lit, including laundry rooms, garages, and closets.

6. Keep it neutral: It is much easier to imagine putting your mark on a neutral room than it is to imagine yourself living in someone else's Moroccan paradise. Paint is relatively inexpensive. Play it safe and pick out neutral tones.

7. Fresh flowers: It's all about things smelling fresh and clean. Flowers add life and fragrance to a room! Add little touches. A well-placed vase of flowers, accent pieces or potpourri in the bathroom can enhance the attractiveness of your home in subtle ways. Look through home magazines for additional ideas.Greenery also Brings Life into a Room!

8. Removing Odors: All traces of food, pet and smoking odors must be eliminated. Even when you're sure they're gone, remove your pets, ashtrays and other clues from the home. If buyers know that you smoke or that you have a dog, they may imagine odors and see stains that don't even exist. If we can smell it - We can't sell it!

9. Thorough Cleaning: Clean from top to bottom. The basics mean having dishes and laundry done. Deep cleaning means cleaning carpets, removing stains, and scrubbing that bathroom until it sparkles.

10. Staged Dining Area: You can really make a room pop by setting a formal place setting. Outdoor dining spaces also look great set with placemats, chargers, and proper plates and glasses..

11. Hotel Inspired Bedrooms: Boutique hotels do a great job of making bedrooms feel luxurious. You can do the same by updating your bedding and having a liberal use of pillows.

Which house says "keep on driving" vs. "Show me this house"?

For a full discussion of Staging visit: Staging Your Home To Sell