tyling your home to make it look its best when it's on the market, also known as staging, can be more complicated than you would think. But you don't have to rush out and empty the local Williams-Sonoma [and your wallet] to show the potential of your property. Here are some tips for showcasing your home.   The walk-through. Have a critical eye as you move from the curb to the front door. Look for areas that need cleaning and clearing out. Imagine what buyers will be looking for rather than imposing your sense of style on the house. Focus on the highlights of each room and note ways to play those features up.   Clean, clean, clean. If buyers aren't fond of clutter, they'll be even less fond of dust bunnies in corners, dirty footprints across the linoleum, and fingerprints on the stainless steel.   Clear the way. Getting things off the closet floors is the ideal when showing your home, but if you can't manage to put everything away, at least invest in some inexpensive storage bins or baskets to keep the home looking tidy. This goes for garden tools in the shed, toys, and items in the kitchen and bathrooms as well.   Add a pop of color. In a sparse room, buyers can picture their own belongings much better, but you still want the home to have warmth. A couple of bright throw pillows on a bed or couch will foster a cozy feeling.   Be gender neutral. In the master bedroom and bath, strip out any indications of gender. Crisp white linens, a clear dresser top, and a neutral quilt will appeal to everyone. Aim for a bedroom that is serene, calming, and peaceful.   Do up the dining room. A formal dining room can look cold and overly… formal. Set the table with the dishes you'd use for favorite, frequent guests rather than a formal dinner party.   Rearrange the furniture. It might not be how you chose to set up your rooms, but pulling furniture into conversation areas is appealing to most people.   Make every space count. The guest room should be obviously a guest room; the same goes for the office. Ambiguity in a room's purpose can be confusing to homeshoppers. Make it clear what each room is for. If you have an oddly shaped landing, or a little nook in the living room, don't ignore it: show its potential.   It's important that you're thinking about what buyers may want in your home, rather than what you wanted and how you used your space. These easy staging tips, coupled with the advice of your real estate agent, should have your home under contract in no time!

Whether you are considering selling or purchasing a home you should always use the services of a full-time, professional Realtor.  As your real estate professional I am able to answer your questions about the home selling and buying process. I would love to be your Realtor, give me a call at 713-822-8555 or email anytime to Pamela@SellingHomesInHouston.com.

Pamela Efferson, Broker Associate – Realtor

ASR, CSR, GRI, HRC, SRES

Member HAR, NAR, TAR, WCR

PAMELA EFFERSON PROPERTIES

Keller Williams Metropolitan

Phone: (713) 822-8555

Blog: http://blogs.har.com/Efferson

Web: http://www.SellingHomesInHouston.com