Source:  newhomessection.com

You could have dozens of house shoppers visit your home weekend after weekend; but if your house isn’t staged correctly, especially in today’s market, you won’t sell your home.

The first thing a potential buyer notices when they arrive at your house is its curb appeal. Does your home have curb appeal? If not, start with mowing the lawn, raking the leaves and gravel, trimming hedges, bushes and trees. Remember, you don’t want your house hiding behind overgrowth.

Once you’ve revealed your home’s façade, ensure that the paint isn’t chipped, gutters are clean, walkways are clear and swept, and that the front door and all windows are cleaned.

The first step to staging your home involves removing any and all clutter. This applies to every single room that open house guests will view.

Start this process by removing personal effects—pictures, paintings, toys and games, books from overcrowded bookshelves, movies, CDs, and even throw-rugs; include any other objects which relate to you and your family on a personal level. Kitchen and bathroom counter tops should be cleared of all decorative items and toiletries.

The next step is to rearrange your furniture to reveal as much visible living space as possible. You may have to remove various pieces of furniture. The garage is a good storage space, but renting a storage unit is ideal.

If your house has been on the market for some time, and you have wallpaper on one or more walls, you’ve found out why.

Remove all wallpaper, patch all holes, repair and if necessary replace floorboards and baseboards. Nobody likes to paint, but everyone loves a fresh coat of paint. Help to add character to your walls and to reduce potential odors by choosing neutral colors of semi-gloss paint.

Clean. Clean every room from top to bottom. Clean dust from air conditioning covers, radiators, ceiling fans and lights. Clean kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Clean carpets, floors, and tile grout.

If you have the means, hire professional cleaning services. Once all main features and fixtures have been initially cleaned, maintaining their cleanness is a much easier fret.

When preparing your home for weekend visitors, be sure to air-out the house beforehand. Open curtains and blinds to let as much natural light into the house as possible and turn on all inside lights. Hide plug-in air-fresheners and add fresh flowers to the living rooms and dining areas. Turn off all televisions and select a mellow, smooth sounding, CD to be played quietly in the background.

Finally, ensure that your backyard is clutter-free. This includes many of the steps taken to present the front-yard. If you have a pool, make sure it is maintained and that lawn furniture is neatly arranged. It is also a good idea, if possible, to keep pets out of sight.

Keep in mind; if you haven’t already initiated many of the above provisions, you are likely losing out on a potential buyer every time an open house guest visits your home.