Staging a home for sale is not for the faint of heart. Remember, once you have made the decision to sell, you must mentally “move out” and allow your home to attract the highest number of potential buyers. Hiring a professional realtor is part of the equation as they can help you begin the staging process. Staged homes sell faster and for a higher price than non-staged homes, which translates directly into more money in the seller’s pocket.

To sell your home the quickest and for the highest price, sellers must be prepared to de-clutter, re-light, scrub and neutralize their home.

As Realtors, our primary goal is to sell a style of life to prospective buyers. A staged home should allow the buyer to imagine relaxing in the den with the children or entertaining friends on the patio. While professional home staging is available locally, it is possible to creatively and strategically stage a home for a minimal price.

Clutter control. A cluttered home appears smaller and gives the buyer the sense that there is not enough room in the house for all his belongings. If the den is packed with furniture, the buyer will most likely not be able to visualize where his own furniture will fit into the room. A good place to begin is to count every item in a particular room and eliminate 50% of them. Storage companies can handle large and bulky furniture that the homeowner may want to keep their new home. Also get rid of any house plants and depersonalize the rooms by removing photos, dolls and toys.

Less appliances and accessories on the countertops allows potential buyers to visually expand the kitchen, making the countertops appear larger and cleaner than they otherwise would. All of the dishes and appliances should be in their proper places. To add some life to an old kitchen table, buy some beautiful table linens and place fresh flowers in the middle.

Lights, Camera, Action. Many homeowners forget to consider that many showings are going to be in the evening around the buyers' work schedule. An inexpensive way to give an updated look to an older home is to replace older light fixtures with nickel and chrome. Add small lamps and plug-in nightlights to show warm pools of light that will make the home feel comfortable. Focus on the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. If replacing light fixtures is too expensive, change all of existing light bulbs for the highest wattage allowed. If the home is shown during the day, embrace natural sunlight by opening all of the drapes and blinds!

Scrub until it sparkles. The house may be old, but it can still sparkle. Clean the house from top to bottom. Wash the windows inside and out, have the carpets cleaned and remove any sign of pets. Scrub the kitchen and bathrooms until they shine. Clean the stovetop with a degreaser and remove any stains or discoloration on the countertops. Keep the floors immaculate throughout the listing period. Add a new shower curtain, fresh flowers and put your best towels out in all of the bathrooms. If they are not in attractive containers, put bathroom supplies in a cabinet.

Neutralize the home. If the walls, ceilings or trim of the house are painted in contrasting bold colors, consider repainting with crisp neutral colors to appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette to make the home appear larger.

Make sure that when staging your home, you look at its features as objectively as possible. Maximize what's structurally attractive and buy, borrow or rent what you need to present the best first impression. Buyer are looking for a home they can imagine living their lifestyle in so highlight the positive selling features of your home and allow your realtor to advertise all that your home has to offer.