Make those minor repairs - no matter how minor.
Whatever the season, do spring cleaning now.
SPRING CLEANING it's always spring when it comes to cleaning!
Create the illusion of spaciousness by limiting accessories. Think of a model home. Go through the house room by room and remove everything you can from each space. Have a yard sale and/or pack away in boxes those items that you do not absolutely need. Reduce clutter. Rent a POD or similar storage unit if needed to put your extra stuff. They deliver to you house and allow you to load it over a period of time so you can take your time. This is a great tool because they pick it up and store it in climate controlled warehouses and you can access it with 24 hour notice all for a very affordable price. Give your rooms a light, bright look, add lamps and or mirrors. Use color and lighting to draw attention to your houses best selling features. Throw pillows are great for this and flowers.
Disguise unsightly views- remove heavy curtains, let the light in.
Eliminate unpleasant odors. The charcoal used in aquariums filtering system is a great deodorizer. Put it in an old sock and put it in a closet or cabinet to remove odors. It is also fantastic in the refrigerator, better than baking soda. Keeping a potpourri going is a great way to make the house smell inviting. Cinnamon sticks and cloves in water simmering on the stove top on low is a great addition.
NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ANIMALS TRY TO SEND THEM TO STAY WITH RELATIVES FRIENDS OR IF ABSOULUTELY NECESSARY A PET CARE ESTABLISHMENT WHILE THE HOUSE IS ON THE MARKET, ESPECAILLY SMALL ANIMALS IN CAGES. DO NOT HAVE ANY LITTER BOXES IN THE HOUSE.
Also, Avoid trendy things - Remove anything that is trendy; remove those lava lamps, bean chairs, beaded curtains, etc….! Also collections should be packed up.
How 2 Begin Dressing your house
(staging) for SALE
Don’t rush out an buy any furniture. Use what you have. One of the many great home staging secrets is to use furniture pieces that you already have and alter their look and usage to suit your needs.
Foyer
It's hard to have too much space in a house. If your foyer is small, use home staging tricks, like adding mirrors to make it appear larger. To make it look longer, place the mirror at the end directly in front of you. If you want it to feel wider, place a mirror on each of the side walls. These tricks are also great for ladies doing last minute touch-ups before going out on the town.
Mirrors even work in large foyers but in this case other things should be added, sparingly, to give it personality, such as artwork, metal wall hangings, etc. Additionally, mirrors are a wonderful way to increase light where lighting is limited. Place them across from a light source to reflect the light and give you double the wattage.
Another trick to add depth and space is to place a small, rectangular table against the far wall. This draws your eye forward and gives the illusion of space. Once you've directed the attention to this table you want it to look good so add a simple flower arrangement or a decorative vase. A large, ornamental bowl filled with beautiful stones is another option that is very attractive. If the objects on this table are not too tall, you can also hang a mirror here to add height and additional depth. You could hang a picture here instead if you prefer or if you've already utilized mirrors elsewhere in your foyer.
If your house does not have a foyer or entry Create the illusion of one using a narrow table, open bookcase, or railing to create an entry space at the door.
Foyers should never be throw away spaces. They are the first room buyer’s see. With these home staging tips, yours won't be!
Kitchen
Create a Place to Eat - Because modern living habits have changed over the years, today's buyers are looking for flexible space. In a kitchen that just means finding space for a table & a couple of chairs. This shows that the room is more than just a space for food preparation. It makes the space more valuable in the eyes of your buyers.
Accessorize - By now your kitchen will be looking fresh, clean and nearly ready to sell. You just need to give it that model home finish. This doesn't take much (in fact in a kitchen less is more, just a few artfully placed objects.)
Use props to set the scene- open cookbook, basket of eggs, bowl of fresh lemons, carrots on a cutting board, ceramic mixing bowl with whisk, etc.
* Make it smell great- simmer potpourri brew, bake bread, bowl of fruit, fresh coffee, cinnamon sticks etc.
* Expand your counter space, store small appliances, use a moveable cart.
* Create more storage space-neat organized shelves, hanging pot rack.
* Accent kitchen windows-plants, bird feeder outside window.
* Make small kitchen appear larger-repaint white (walls recede), light curtains.
* Highlight that eat-in area, set the table, fruit as a centerpiece.
Dining Room
Everything should be out of your dining room except your dining room table, 4-6 chairs if large room then a china cabinet and/or one buffet table.
Polish your table and make it sparkle! Only Add a rug that is large enough to keep all the chairs on it when dining.
To give some excitement to the room, hang a piece of art or two. Remember, you're trying to keep it as de-personalized as possible, so the more generic the better. These can still be bold and stunning, just don't hang family portraits and you'll be fine. And, as with any room, add some flowers and/or greenery to let the room breathe.
* Set the scene by setting the table and add a centerpiece.
* Make a large dining room cozy using flowers, or a live floor plant.
* Visually enlarge a small dining area-remove leaves from table, place against wall, remove extra side chairs or too large pieces put in storage.
Formal Living Room
If you have a formal living room it probably is already staged just make sure it is not overfilled with furniture. It should only have a sofa, 2 chairs, coffee table and end tables only if room is large and you feel them necessary. As with all rooms de-personalize as much as possible. On the walls keep art work simple and no family portraits. Again, add greenery to give the room life.
Family Room
Arrange your furniture to feature focal points especially fireplaces. Try to set up a few conversation areas in larger rooms to emphasize their spaciousness.
Leave the family room as open as possible to show that there's space to work and play. Groupings of three work best for furniture and decorative items. Unless you're going for a completely symmetrical picture, groups of two seem like they should be symmetrical but aren't. Groupings of three are obviously asymmetrical and, thus, don't make you feel out of balance. A game out on the coffee table suggests good family life, a guitar is warm, a dictionary, half finished crossword puzzle- let the buyer imagine living in your house.
* Highlight your fireplace, decorating the mantle or above with picture.
* Draw attention to special features like exposed beams, French doors, Big windows or a cathedral ceiling.
* Don't let the TV dominate or be the focal point of the room.
Bedrooms
* Create a master bedroom "suite" affect If there is room add a comfy chair or bench, small desk, chair with lamp, etc. avoid busy patterns and too much.
*Tackle your closets, clear floor, organize shelves, add cedar chips.
* Minimize furniture in other bedrooms and freshen up with crisp, stylish bed linens. Here you want to be a little trendy.
*Best to let your teenagers depersonalize their own rooms– just give them the guidelines and some boxes, you’ll be surprised how well they will do.
Bathrooms
Good color combinations are crucial to the look and feel of the bathrooms. The simple use of contrasting color combinations can drastically enhance the appeal and inviting look of your bathroom and there are so many inexpensive items to work with. Build from the walls out with accessories and other details.
Bright white and cream are good choices that brighten any bathroom, giving it a fresh, spa-like feel. If this seems too white, you can always add bold accent colors such as cobalt blue, sage green or cherry red. For a very modern look, use black to add that pop and deep contrast. These accents can be used in shower curtains, floor rugs, curtains, soap, candles, towels and more. Wall art can be used to incorporate many colors and tie everything together.
Another safe color scheme is to go with neutral tones and accent these with darker shades of the same colors. Brushed steel and glass accessories will look wonderful when paired with these subdued colors.
For an elegant feel, use gold accented with either black or eggplant. These colors convey an image of royalty that fits perfectly in stately homes. A black and silver used with chrome faucets also has an elegant look and feel.
Try to stay away form odd or trendy colors. Keep it simple. Remember staging is all about appealing to a wide market base so stay with main stream ideas. Make it neutral but appealing.
* For accents use - plants, a glass bowl of shells, pictures, fresh towels, magazine rack, etc.
* Invest in a new shower curtain, window treatment, rugs and bathmat .
* Just like you would for guests put out fresh quest towels and decorative soap.
Staging a bathroom is not only about how it looks but how it smells. Make sure the bathrooms are kept very clean and invest in scented oils and soaps with subtle yet complimentary fragrances. Imagine how you felt the last time you stepped into a fancy hotel bathroom and inhaled the delicious aroma of shampoo, soap and lotion. This is the impact you're going for.
LAUNDRY ROOM
* Make it cheerful and appealing.
*. Double duty- corner table or chair, sewing area, set the stage.
*. Make sure there is no dirty laundry stacked up in laundry room or closet.
STAIRWAYS
* Make them safe- lighting, clutter-free, rail, carpet or runners secure?
BASEMENT
First you must remove clutter and pack up anything that can be packed up. If your basement is finished try to set up a few conversation areas in larger rooms to emphasize their spaciousness.
Homeowners are often perplexed when it comes to what to do with their basements when putting their homes on the market. One rule of thumb is to make the basement into an exciting space. An easy way to do this is to stage that empty dark basement into a bustling game room. Basements have all kinds of potential uses. This goes for basement staging as well. Now it's up to you to decide how you want to use and/or stage yours. If you have limited space to work with, you may just want to consider turning it into a study/office with a reading nook. This is a very simple transformation to do.
*Set it up as a games room or teen room -Ping-Pong or Pool table, bright posters, game table etc.
* Make it as pleasant as possible- erase all signs of dampness or mildew.
* Add lots of lights, increase wattage of all bulbs to brighten up.
* Organize a workbench area, dust, and clean.
What if you move while your house is on the market? If possible leave the house staged with minimal yet tasteful furnishings. It has been proven that a vacant house never shows as well as a nicely staged house. Ask any Builder. The difference can mean thousands of dollars when it sells. It can also be the determining factor of how soon an offer will be made by a potential Buyer.
Think of the Model Homes you looked at. A great overall impression is often enough to make a buyer care less about minor repairs that may be needed. You need them to fall in love with your house as soon as they see it from the street, then verify their feelings when they enter an immaculate house with fresh smells like cinnamon/apples baking in the oven and possibly soft background music. Studies have shown that classical music puts people in the mood to shop that is why they play in it shopping malls. You want to address all their senses and make them feel good. House buying is an emotional purchase. A buyer may be saying how they have to have a room for an office and then buy a house without one because the tree in the back yard with its tire swing reminds them of their happy childhood.
In today's real estate market flooded with houses for sale, an immaculate house, nicely staged and priced right for the market place still sells quickly. I see this every time I research a house that sells in record time; I’ll see a house come up on the listing service and then it’s gone and when I follow up on it I discover it was prepared properly for sale. So remember all the hard work you put into preparing your house by de-cluttering it, thoroughly cleaning it and then staging it.
"Staging" can mean 
EXTRA DOLLARS $$!
IN YOUR POCKET!!!
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