Staging your home on the cheap

As a seller, you want your home to look its best for every showing. But you don’t have to hire a professional stager to get your home ready.

Here are some inexpensive things you can do to help your home make a great first impression:

• Get rid of the clutter. Cleaning and de-cluttering always rank near the top of suggested home improvements for sellers. In fact, 99% of real estate agents recommend that their clients do so, according to HomeGain.com. So go through your stuff and get rid of what you don’t need—or box it up and put it in storage.
• Rearrange your furniture to create easy walkways. Remove excess furniture to make rooms seems larger.
• Remove photos. They personalize your space, but they may also make it more difficult for potential buyers to visualize themselves living in your home.
• Make the space smell nice by using air fresheners or baking cookies before showings.
• Make sure everything is clean—floors, bathrooms, kitchens. Nothing turns off a buyer faster than grime.
• Consider paint. Paint is an inexpensive way to freshen up both the interior and exterior of a home. Try to keep colors neutral.
• Don’t forget curb appeal. Lawns should be cut, hedges should be trimmed and beds should be free of weeds. Plant some flowers to brighten the exterior and give it a warm feeling.
• Start packing up clothes and linens to make closets look larger.
• Open blinds and curtains to allow lots of natural light in, and turn on lights when buyers are expected.
• Don’t forget the garage. Get rid of clutter and organize your tools, bikes, etc.