So…you are selling your home! In this market, with home values falling every day, you need to make sure that your home is in tip top condition. The following are seven tips to help you in the process of staging your home for sale.

Curb Appeal - Take some time to approach your home as a potential buyer would. How does your home look in comparison to your neighbors? Has it been painted in the last five years? Is the landscaping neat and appealing? Now is the time to address any maintenance issues. Also, adding an outdoor container garden or hanging plant is appealing. Remember that often times a home is sold before the buyer even steps into the house.

Top to Bottom Cleaning -There is nothing more attractive than a clean home. If you are not into cleaning yourself, hire a professional. Make a list for each room, paying particular attention to your homes entrance, both interior and exterior. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bath areas as well. Your home should be “white glove clean”.

Eliminate the Personal Items - You are NOT selling the buyer your personal style, you are selling the buyer on the idea of living at your address. Now is the time to depersonalize your home. Pack up your pictures, clean up the clutter, remove the collections and knick-knacks, discard or give away any items you do not plan to take with you.

Re-Arrange the Furniture - Well placed furniture can open up a room. Avoid lining furniture along the walls. If a room has a focal point, such as a fireplace or bay window, arrange furnishings to enhance this feature, not distract from it. If your furniture is worn or dated, spruce it up with new slip covers. Brighten up your wood furniture with polish or scratch cover.

Enhance with Scent - How your home smells can leave a lasting mark on a potential buyer. Avoid cooking smelly foods before showing your home. If weather allows, open all the windows and air it out. Bake cookies, put a potpourri on the stove, or spray an air or fabric freshener (avoid pine).

Bring In the Light - Show your rooms in the best possible light. If heavy drapes or curtains block the view, leave them open or remove them altogether! The same goes for any kind of blind. Light makes a room seem bright and cheery. Your windows should be clean, inside and out, and if possible, remove screens that are not necessary for day to day living. If you have a room with dark walls and no windows, leave a few lights on at all times during showings. If overhead lighting seems too stark, try turning on lamps for drama.

Freshen or Update the Linens - Stained, dingy towels are a no-no for home showings. Wet towels and bath rugs should be tossed in the dryer before heading off to work while your home is on the market. In the bath, consider setting out guest towels and a fresh bar of soap. Tattered or well-worn/dated bedspreads should be removed and/or replaced as well. Beds should always be made up as if you are expecting company. Throw rugs should also be in great condition or removed altogether.

Home staging is not about “how you live”, it is about appealing to the widest number of potential buyers. Simply put; emphasize the positive, neutralize the negative and define the spaces. If a potential buyer can visualize themselves living comfortably in your home, you have a sale.