When you are selling your home, buyers decide within the first 30 seconds whether they are interested or not. What could they possibly be looking for that can be revealed in so short a time? Clearly they have not had the chance to test the plumbing or measure the size of the bedrooms.

Home buyers are emotionally involved in the decisions to buy a home. This is the place where their dreams will unfold, and their families will thrive and friends will congregate. It goes beyond the appearance of your home, and includes the sounds and smells that create the whole multi-sensory experience. If you can harness this power, you will be amazed at the response. You can take your home from "weak" to "WOW!" in the buyer's eye. It can be fun and profitable, too if you do it right.

Basics of Staging
Much like a picture benefits from a beautiful frame, your home can be framed for maximum impact. Staging is what separates the merchandise in a designer boutique from a garage sale throwaway - even if it's the identical item. As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property by proper staging. When you take the right steps, you'll sell your home faster, at the best possible price.

To get some great ideas, visit a few Model Homes at any of the new-home communities. After you have done the hard work of cleaning and de-cluttering the fun can begin. You will be amazed at what can be done with a simple boxy room to add sparkle and appeal.

Colorful accessories are the rage, as are "theme" decorating schemes. Some of the many to choose from include a peaceful and serene Asian flavor, beachy Hawaiian theme, retro Plantation style, ultra contemporary viewpoint, or some sort of eclectic blend of your own. It is fun easy to find inexpensive items to add pizzazz and enhance your chosen image. You could also stick with a clean and simple look as another alternative especially if your basic home is in great shape and needs only a few classy touches.

First Impressions Count
How's your "curb appeal?" Unless your home looks great from the street, don't expect many people to come inside. A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch is welcoming. If you have painted the exterior within the past 3 or four years, you may still benefit from a freshly painted front door. Pressure washing the exterior of the home especially if you live in a "red dirt" area, may do wonders. Very few exterior paint jobs last longer than five years.

Place a few bright pots of flowers near the entry - this adds $$$ onto your selling price! If you have a carport, make sure you don't have unsightly visible clutter. Garage doors should remain closed.

Is your back yard an oasis for family dining and entertaining? Throw out any old pots, dead plants, and rusty barbecues. A shaded seating area with some bright blooming flowers might really help. Green sells so if you have lawn, be sure it is watered and fertilized.

For condominiums, it begins inside the door. Live green plants or a blooming orchid are a great way to great visitors. You may just want to express a comfortable style that will attract buyers to your home. Some people choose to use the principals of feng-shui, the ancient Chinese art of placing objects in harmony with the flow of energy in your environment.



Ditch the Clutter
Clutter is a big problem in many homes, and it kills more home sales than you can imagine. .Many people live in homes that are far too small for their families much less their "stuff". If you have possessions packed into every closet, corner, and cranny, it gives out the message "this house is too small" - not the message you want buyers to receive. Solution: rent a storage unit nearby, and fill it with the things you can do without until you get to your next home. This may force you to make difficult decisions but now is the time. Why let is drag down your sale - and price?

Buyers will want to look inside every closet. The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now's the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity. It will make moving day that much easier.

Put away all the items that accumulates on kitchen counters. Piles of bills and bottles of pills should be out of sight They are very personal reminders of unpleasant realities and will shatter the mood. Likewise, cans and boxes of food should be in the cupboard, not on the counter. :Put dishes in the kitchen cabinets too, and not sitting out.

You don't want to create the appearance that there is inadequate storage please tuck the dish drainer out of sight, too. Other items on the "best not seen" list: kitchen trash cans, dish cloths, sponges, brooms, vacuums and cleaning products.

Safety Matters
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, extension cords draped over the bookcases, sticky doors, loose handrails, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. While you are at it, be sure you have operating smoke detectors. If you have a pool, it is crucial that you have it fenced off and gated according to the current building code. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.


Squeaky Clean Sells!
It sounds so obvious, but it can't be overstated. Focus first on the bathrooms and the kitchen. Everything must be immaculately clean looking and fresh-smelling. Floors throughout the house may need deep cleaning and professional carpet cleaning makes a big difference. Hire a professional if it seems overwhelming.

Get rid of any mold and mildew, freshen up the caulking in the tubs and showers. .Clear off counters of all personal items such as medicines, makeup and toiletries.

It is also smart to hire someone to clean all the windows and screens - even the hard to reach ones. This makes a huge difference and is a bigger job than most of us can accomplish on our own. Once it's clean, keep it clean on a daily basis as much as possible.

Now that you have a clean slate, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains. If you don't have just the right ones, it is a small investment to buy matching new ones to use specifically for this purpose.

Paint + Carpet = $$$$$
Next, if your woodwork is scuffed or it's been a few years since you have painted & carpeted, consider some minor redecoration. New paint will add value to your property far above the cost. If your flooring is ready for replacing, now is the time. As inconvenient as it is, you will make back more than the cost if you replace worn out carpet and any other beat up or outdated flooring now.

Buyers would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look, "with a little work." They will overestimate the cost of redecorating and deduct that from their offer price, assuming the highest possible cost to renovate.

Call the Handyman
... and the plumber, electrician etc. Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Drains that don't will plug up a sale. Running toilets will chase buyers away. Have new faucets installed if yours are unattractive and troublesome.

Lubricate jalousies, and vacuum gunk out of sliding door and window runners. Doors, locks, and windows should be easy to operate. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing. Fix these little problems so they won't detract from what's right about your home.

Let it shine! Light fixtures are one of the best values to give a fresh, up to date appearance and provide better lighting to dark corners. Choose something with a little style that goes with the flavor of the home.

Most rooms will look bigger and better with the lights on even in the daytime. While you are at it, consider replacing any dim or burnt out light bulbs with the clear unfrosted type. This gives more sparkly bright light without having to up the wattage of the bulbs.

Sweet Dreams
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. Tasteful bedspreads and fresh looking window coverings are a must. Buy new ones if yours are out of style or don't create the image you want. If you have blinds, vacuum the dust off and vacuum dusty drapes. Store any furniture that blocks access to closets and windows. Bedrooms should have at least half of the floor space free of furniture, and nothing stacked on the floor. Your mother was right - you need to hang up your clothes and make the bed.

While you are at it, put any valuables and important personal papers out of sight. Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is. Involve kids in keeping their rooms clean, too.

It is wise to minimize the personal photos and mementos around the house and on the walls. They are distracting and ad to visual clutter. Clear the magnets off the refrigerator while you are at it, along with cute signs and talking trout plaques (you know who you are).

No-Nos - Here are a few things to watch out for:

• DON'T hang around during showings or Open Houses. Take the dog on a walk or run an errand when the buyers arrive to see your home.
• DON'T have the TV on - ever- while your home is being shown. When it's time to show your home, if you want background music, turn the music on low with classical or cool jazz to add atmosphere that whispers - not shouts - "buy me today".
• DON'T have food cooking in the oven or on the stove if it's smell can be detected. It is distracting at best. Possible exceptions are the irresistible smell of baking cookies or bread - as long as you have samples available!
• DON'T let buyers be greeted by a snarling dog or psycho cat. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot and can cause allergic reactions. So do everybody a favor: Keep them out of sight or take them out for showings. And pet odors are a "no-no" so be sure rugs and litter box are fresh.

A Big DO: Keep your home in showing condition at all times, and try to accommodate prospective buyers when they want to see your home. It can be inconvenient at times but your home will sell quicker if you are flexible.

You Need Help!
Unless you have experience and a real knack for decorating, resist the urge to buy items to stage your home before you work out a plan with your real estate professional. For example, you might want to fill your home up with artificial flowers and plants that will actually cheapen the appearance of your home rather than enhance it. You should first to learn what will help the sale and increase your home's marketability.

Many real estate agents offer free "staging" service to their own clients and they will know what works and what doesn't. Some homes, especially luxury homes, can benefit from the professional advice of an interior designer who specializes in home staging.

These are just general suggestions. The right staging makes all the difference in the sale price and time on the market for your home. Let your Realtor give you specific suggestions tailored to your home and the current real estate market.

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