Let’s talk a bit about budget. When exploring staging options, it’s possible to become overwhelmed by the price tag of renting furniture or hiring a professional stager.

The great news is that by taking the time to re-evaluate and rearrange your current possessions, you will find that you may not have to rent much – if any – furniture at all.  This can save you money.

What else can save money and help make the sale? Here are a few tips:

• Re-establish boundaries. If your living room is also the playroom, the toys need to go into hibernation. No one enjoys seeing colorful dolls and cars all over the floor – except the children, of course.
• Polishing. Do a deep and thorough cleaning of every single room, and pay attention to the smallest details. When was the last time that you polished the wood or washed the windows? It’s time to do it now. Even the toilet should shine. Don’t forget the ceiling fans with their dusty blades.
• Put away memories. It might be difficult to do if you are staying in the house until it sells, but it is now time to take down all of your family photos, certificates, sports banners, and anything else that has a personal touch. You want the potential buyers to see the house as an immediate home for them, not to have them subconsciously weighed down with the need to clear the house of all your belongings.
• Fresh air. There are those people who love to open the windows every morning to let the breeze rush through, and then there are those people who couldn’t be paid to open the windows. Well, it’s time to think seriously about getting paid by potential buyers. If you never allow fresh air to blow through your home, then it has most likely developed an unappealing odor. Open up!

Step back and look at your house with the eyes of a potential buyer who has never entered through the door. Do a walk-around on the outside, and then go slowly through the house to see what can be cleared away or scrubbed down.

All of this might take some time, but it will save you money whether you are hiring a staging expert or doing it yourself.

DIY (Do It Yourself)

Pinterest has become a great online resource for learning how to improve your living space through creative projects such as using picture frames to create attractive wall molding.

If you find out that you have enough furniture but just need to embellish your home a bit more, here are some ideas:

• Brighten it up. Do you have a sad paint color in any or all rooms? Is the house monochromatic? Consider re-painting rooms according to their purpose, such as using soft neutrals like mild yellows or creams that set off a glow when the sun shines in the dining room.  Add an accent wall in the living room by choosing a complementary color such as a calming sage green or a deep red against taupe walls. Whatever you do, make the home welcoming.
• New updates.  It’s time to re-dress the windows and sofas. Updating the window coverings to compliment the paint color and re-covering or purchasing new accent sofa pillows that pop can create a quick upgrade to your home. Also, make sure to update your bathroom collection with clean and bright towels and bathmats.
• Bring it to life. Consider strategically adding a fresh plant or vase of flowers to the different rooms throughout the home. The keyword is strategically. This does not mean adding a floor plant in every corner and putting a vase of flowers on every surface. Also, be smart! You want to be careful to avoid flowers with heavy pollen such as lilies to discourage any allergic reactions among potential buyers.
• Slow things down. Adding lightly-scented candles here and there and lighting them when showing the home will create a calmer atmosphere. Again, be careful to avoid heavy scents that encourage sneezing or instant headaches. Recommended scents are cinnamon, vanilla, pine, and citrus.
• Play music. Have you ever taken the time to notice the varying differences in music choices among the stores that you visit? A very low background hum of classical music will add a level of sophistication to your home, releasing extra endorphins within the bodies of your potential buyers, and providing them with a sense of wealth as they stroll through the beautifully-arranged home. Can you say “Alexa, play soothing music!”

Remember, the goal is to make your home appealing to all potential home buyers, creating a neutral environment for all to enjoy and have a memorable experience while visiting your home.  This is the key to getting it sold, faster and for the price you want.   Everyone wants a clean, inviting and warm home to call their own, make potential home buyers want your home over all the rest on the market.