STAGING sells homes faster and for more money…  In the current Real Estate market, sellers need to present their homes in the best possible light with the most competitive price.

Preparing you home for sale can be a daunting task.  No one wants to hear that their home is cluttered or just unappealing to buyers. Some people just want their home to be comfortable during the selling process and to have all of their cherished  keepsakes and treasured items near them. When confronted with the reality that their home may not be appealing to buyers, their response is "who cares? It's my home".  And that gets to the heart of the matter.  If you're listing your home for sale, it's really a space in transition.  That means you need to care what other people think, and you need to begin letting go of your home.

Professional Stagers and sometimes Real Estate Agents, will suggest that only a "professional" can have the objectivity and know-how to properly stage your home. That's just not true.  If you're willing to put in some time seriously learning the basics of home staging and stay focused on the goal — SELLING YOUR HOME — you can stage it yourself, sell your home and save your money.

So, how do you start to bring it all together?

Here's a Home Staging Plan Outline to help you get started.

1. Get it on a calendar Plan the time it will take to put your staging plan into motion, and map out any major milestones
2. Money Put together a staging budget. What can you spend to give your home a fresh look? Paint, plants, and decorative touches like candles & throws are a low-cost option. Consider value-added (home improvement) staging. How much return can you expect from your investment?  Be realistic about the costs.
3. De-clutter Think about renting a storage unit. You don't need to throw it away… Just pack it up and put it in storage. It will be waiting to go to your new home.
4. Home Maintenance No holes in the dry-wall, broken light-switches, or electrical appliances that don't work. Now's the time to get everything in top shape and eliminate any potential "surprises" for your buyers.
5. Clean This can't be emphasized enough.  Do a "super clean" to everything… every surface, appliance, under and behind furniture. Seek out the deep down dirt and make it all spotless. Have the carpets professionally cleaned and then to wrap it up, make sure the house smells great.
6. Identify the "Image Staging" you want to do and apply how it would best fit your home.  What image and impact do you want your home to give to potential buyers when they walk through your door?
7. Identify the "Display Staging" — showcasing the most desirable features of your home.  Be sure to make all of those special features the center-of-attention when someone walks into a room.
8. Value-Added Staging Does adding tangible value to your home make sense for your situation? Think about what might fit into your budget and determine what's appropriate for your home.
9. Identify Resources Who and what might you need to carry out your Plan?  Electricans, Plumbers, Contractors or just people (friends) to help with packing and moving stuff to a storage unit. Check-out the Real Estate shows on TV for some great and free ideas to add into your Staging Plan. Don't forget the Internet and Magazines for some additional design inspiration. Spend some time writing out all the little details (…I'll need to rent a truck… pick-up some boxes… get paint…etc.)
10. You Can Do It Organization is the key to a good Home Staging plan.  Write it all down, then ask your Real Estate agent to look it over for their input.  Once you've written down a well-thought plan, you're off and running.