Staging Tips To Sell Your Home

Want to be the seller who goes to market instead of the one who stays home? The difference might be a few of the things you do before you put up that For Sale sign.

It's a buyer's market. Your home has competition, and that means you have to do some work to get it ready to sell. So while your home looks great compared to the neighbor's foreclosure, it might not quite compare to that home a block away. You don't have to spend a ton of time or money. A few simple tricks can get you market ready in time for the start of the spring selling season, especially if you start now.

Make it shine. Step one to getting your home market ready is to break out the cleaning supplies. Give your home a really good cleaning. The problem is that a lot of sellers might not have the same perception of deep cleaning that a buyer would. For that reason it may be worth spending a couple hundred dollars to have professionals come in and clean. Two places where clean can be critical for buyers are kitchens and bathrooms. Having those rooms clean and sparkling can make a huge difference in the perception of whether a home is kept up or not. Windows and baseboards are crucial. If you're not replacing carpets, have those cleaned. The potential outlay for cleaning service and carpet cleaning is likely around $300. to $500. total. And it has a much greater impact than most sellers think.

Add square footage - free. Ditch junk and clutter to make your home look more attractive and spacious. A couple of pro tips follow. Laundry room: Make it neat and orderly. Your goal is to make it look like the room is plenty big enough for the job. Pantry: It's for food only. Using the pantry for general storage screams there is not enough cupboard space. Garage: If it's a two-car garage, make room for two cars. For a lot of men, if the garage looks small because of clutter there's an issue. While you're de-cluttering, you're also depersonalizing. You really need the buyer to be able to picture your home as their home. A picture of your kids on the nightstand is not a big deal, but you don't want the family portrait gallery lining the hallway.

Color it neutral. With paint, stick to neutrals. Personalized colors on the walls can be more of a negative than a positive when you put your home on the market. The mistake is the color selection. Opt for neutrals, which have broader appeal. If carpeting is old and stained, replace it.

Keep plans practical. Keep any planned changes to the house reasonable and in character with the home and neighbors. Don't lie to yourself. If the  home has areas that show wear, get that work done before offering the home for sale. Seek a second opinion from  your agent or potential agent. A real estate professional can advise you on what repairs or upgrades will give you the most bang for your budget. The price of your home is going to determine what things you should do. For example, spending $10,000. putting in hickory cabinets and granite countertops in the kitchen of a home that lists in the $100,000. range is not necessary. In that price range, you wouldn't get any more money for the home because of that improvement.

See with "buyer's eyes".  View your home from the buyer's perspective. Approach your home just like a buyer is going to do. Let yourself in the front door. How does your home compare to others in your condo building or on your street? Is it inviting? Does it make you want to see more? Walk through the home with the eyes of a buyer. If  you are buying another home, think about what you want to see in your new home. Pay special attention to the entryway and you want it to be open as much as possible. Look at the furnishings, you have to err on the side of less-is-more. When in doubt get it out. You want it to be open and bright with neutral paint.

Top Easy Valentine's For Your Home

The stores are filled with retail displays of red and pink color items getting ready for Valentine's Day.   It's the day we celebrate love and it's easy to bring these holiday colors that signify the heart into your home.  what is more fun than to surround you and your loved ones with visual reminders of love for more than a day?

These ideas are a start for you to get your creative spirit in the Valentine mood. One axiom of many professional interior designers is to add a touch of red to every room in a home for pizzazz!

 - Drape a ledge or mantle with red garland.
 - Place Valentine candy in various size glass candy jars on a cocktail table.
 - Use red placements and table runner on your dining table.
 - Hang red ornaments from a chandelier.
 - Place red throw pillows on your bed.
 - Frame images of love in matching frames to create a gallery in a powder room.
 - Take out your artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with Valentine hearts.