Tips for Real Estate Staging: Increase Your Home's Appeal

It's tough to sell a house in this tight real estate market, where the buyers have all of the leverage. If you find yourself having to sell or wanting to sell your home, and find the nibbles few and far between (if you're getting any nibbles at all!), it might be time to consider looking at your home with a critical eye and jump feet first into the "staging" game. It's not necessary to hire a professional real estate staging company to do the work for you, although there are plenty of them out there. Buoyed by the sheer number of houses sporting the "For Sale" sign, professional staging companies are popping up like mushrooms everywhere. However, if you're on a budget, it's possible to get the information on do-it-yourself staging and still get professional results. Television offers some insight into staging homes to make them more attractive for selling. One popular show is A & E's Sell This House! Each episode shows a hapless homeowner, who usually ends up removing clutter by the end of the show. The Internet is also a great place for such information. Most of the tips offered by professionals are simple and common sense. They include:

1. Start with the walk up to the house. Make sure your home has curb appeal. Cut the grass, rake the yard, edge your sidewalks, and plant flowers. No one wants to see an untended yard, as it says "yard work" to the buyer.

2. Make sure the exterior of your home is in tip-top shape. Paint if you have to, repair anything broken, replace loose shingles and wash the outside of the house, including the outside of your windows. Again, buyers need to fall in love with your house, and they don't want to think about home maintenance.

3. Have your house cleaned by a professional. Make sure there are no traces of fingerprints, dust, or surface marks. If your home has carpeting, have them professionally cleaned, and if your home has hardwood floors, make sure they are shiny.