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Selling our home was stressful. In this market we had no guarantees of when we would get an offer. We went through all the proper and normal processes. We found a wonderful Realtor who advised us on everything from pricing to touch ups around the yard. All suggestions were helpful and appreciated however there was one area where the payoff, we felt, was the greatest.

Staging our home. By “setting the stage” for potential buyers visiting our home, it helped to make them feel comfortable. Little things encourage buyers to imagine themselves already living in a house.

Curb appeal in so important. Have you ever gone house hunting when you drove up to the first house and saw a flower bed in the front yard with weeds knee high? What a let down. This first impression sets the mood for the rest of the house. Make sure the grass is mowed, the flower beds are weeded and fresh blooming flowers are growing. Sweep the sidewalk and porch and remove any cob webs or wasp nests. Above all, make sure the front door is freshly painted and dust free, the hardware is in working order and there are no remnants of past holidays hanging around.

Some of the things we did were to make sure all our cabinets and closets were neat and organized. This gives the impression of additional space. Closets were a big selling point for me in the home we bought and a messy space looks small and cramped.

Another spatial display is in how our furniture was arranged. We naturally had sofa, loveseat and chair in a semi-circle facing the fireplace and to close it off more completely – a coffee table in the middle. And then there is the other extreme, by pushing all the furniture to the walls to give the illusion of a larger room. When presenting your living room to a potential buyer, you want a nice balance between space and coziness – after all, it is a family room. Try grouping select pieces away from the walls and centered on a decorative rug in the middle of the room. It is always best to show your living space off in the best light. Be sure that you open the drapes and have plenty of high wattage bulbs brightening up the place.

If there are any rooms used for junk or that are not used efficiently, create a purpose for them. We had an area off the kitchen that I believe was meant as a breakfast area. It was so tiny, I suspect it was meant for gnomes because I never found a table small enough to fit and seat 4 people comfortably. Rather than make it look crowded with the wrong furniture, we put a computer desk against the wall and made it a home office. The spot was convenient to the family traffic area and had a tall window with beautiful morning sunshine coming through it. We put a computer on the desk, added some lovely plants and Voila, Mom has a workstation to pay bills and stay organized!

Along the same lines of turning unused space into a functional area, your bathrooms are another important selling point. Take time to add spa touches to your baths. Some suggestions are calming candles of varying heights, rolled towels – large and small – in a basket on the floor and greenery. This creates a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.

Lastly, when you know there will be a showing, the smell of a sugar cookie candle burning or biscuits baking in the oven gives a homey, inviting feeling.

The main purpose of staging is to show off your home’s best attributes in the most positive manner. You can accomplish this by creating an atmosphere where the buyers envision themselves living there comfortably.