Five Golden Rules:
De-Personalized
The buyer needs to picture themselves in the house - not you. That wedding photo may mean the world to you, but to the buyer, it's a distraction that prevents them from seeing a home for their family.
Maximize
De-clutter and maximize the space in your home. Closets packed tight with all your clothes make a place look like it lacks closet space. Consider temporarily storing the overflow offsite.
Sanitize
This golden rule is the easiest and cheapest way to stage your home - clean it. A sink full of dirty dishes is as unappealing to you as it would be to the buyer. It is well worth the elbow grease in cleaning floors, walls, baseboards, ceiling fans and windows.
Modernize
Unless your home has exceptional period built-ins, all homes could benefit from some updating. If someone feels the house is dated, they will reflect that feeling in a lower offer. Consider a few simple changes like swapping out outdated fixtures for nickel or chrome.
Neutralize
Color can make or break a buyer's interest in your home. You may love that shocking red wall, but all the potential buyer sees is a great deal of painting in their future because red clashes with their style. Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to change a look of a home.
