When selling a home, it’s important to have that special something that will set your home apart from the competition. And one great way to make your house more appealing to prospective buyers is by hiring a professional home stager to prepare the home in a way that will increase the chances of it selling quickly at the price you’re looking for.

Even more appealing is the fact that the cost is almost always off-set by the final price of the sale compared to what you may have gotten had you not brought in a stager.

Staging isn’t always easy for sellers though, as they might not agree with the stager’s decisions or choices of furniture or accessories. But, if you’re going to hire a stager, remember that these are professionals who get paid for doing their job well, so it’s important to trust them and take their advice to heart.

Here are five key things a stager is likely to focus on.

Cleanliness. Even the slightest mess can be a turnoff to potential buyers. Cleaning a house for staging doesn’t just mean dusting, sweeping and vacuuming. You also need to clean places that are typically ignored, such as the area under countertops, as well as the bottom of closets and cabinets. Carpets should be steamed, windows cleaned and ceiling fans and molding dusted.

Painting for Success. Adding a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to increase the salability of your home. Colors should be neutral so that buyers aren’t distracted, however, this doesn’t mean all the walls have to be white. Instead, try subtle colors with neutral hues like beige. If wallpaper is outdated or worn, take it down and paint the walls. Low-sheen paints are recommended.

Removing Clutter. Do you have boxes of stuff you don’t know what to do with? A stack of magazines you haven’t gotten around to reading? A pile of mail that you don’t think you need, but are afraid to throw away? It’s time to get rid of all that stuff. Clutter is a big turnoff, making a house look more like a storage facility than a home. Take a look at your house - room by room - and be honest with yourself. The goal here is to make all of your rooms presentable.

Personal Touches. You’re proud of your kids, grandkids and even your dog, and you love the pictures of family and friends hanging on the walls. The problem is, prospective buyers only look at a home for a few minutes, and the time they spend looking at pictures or other beloved possessions will ultimately take away from the time they spend looking at the house itself.

Shedding Some Light on the Subject. Now that your house is clean and clutter-free, make sure people can see it in all its splendor by opening curtains and shades to let in the natural light. You may even want to remove window dressings, assuming there aren’t holes, nails and hooks that’ll be exposed when they’re all taken down. Not only does this let light in, it also allows prospective buyers to picture how they would dress the windows.

For more information about staging your home, contact our office today.