Try these 25 easy & Inexpensive Staging Tips to Help Sell Your Home Quickly and For Top Dollar!

There are literally thousands of homes on the market in Bryan-College Station, TX and to ensure that your home doesn't get left behind it's crucial that you implement some of these easy staging tips.

Depending on the area and price of your home, you may be competing with hundreds of other similar homes for sale. Below, I've listed some easy staging tips to help you separate your home from the competition.

You probably heard the famous quote, "you never get a second chance...At a first impression." Well, it's true, and the first thing a potential buyer sees is the front exterior of your home. If it isn't dynamite, then you might as well just forget it.

Curb appeal - this is the most important factor as to whether or not your home actually sells. If you can't even get them in the door, then you've got absolutely no chance at converting the sale. Make sure...

The lawn is mowed, edged, sweeped and free from debris.
Paint the front door. A bright coat of paint on the front door can do wonders.
Clean the leaves out of the gutters.
Power wash windows the exterior (including windows).
Mulch the flower beds. I recommend a jet black or redish brown mulch.
Plant fresh, colorful flowers.
Freshly seal decking and replace broken boards (if necessary) or powerwash the patio.
Replace a worn out "Welcome" mat.

Kitchens and Living Rooms - Make or break deals.

Your kitchen and living room are the two most important rooms in the house to prospective buyers. Make sure they look their best by...

Making them warm and inviting with good use of space, light, and decor.
Clear the rooms of family photos (prospective buyers will spend time analyzing photos to see if they know you rather than seeing if the house will work from them).
Sparse is better than cluttered...Too much furniture is usually a turn-off to buyers
Don't overload mantles, shelves, or countertops with personal things.
Replace dim 60 or 75 watt bulbs with 100 watt bulbs (or CFL's) to brighten up the room
Open blinds...Let the house be seen!
Hire a professional cleaner. It's relatively inexpensive and it makes quite an impression. No one likes dust bunnies.
Keep the house a comfortable temperature. No one is turned off quicker than a prospective buyer looking at a home in a Texas summer without air conditioning.

Bathrooms and Bedrooms -

Think about comfort in everything you do. Nothing sells a home like comfort.
Use neutral color and paint schemes. Earth tones are safe...Pastels are not. Never have I seen a buyer LOVE a purple bedroom.
Remove excess furniture in bedrooms and bathrooms to make the space appear larger and feel roomier.
Clear out your closets!
Obtain matching bedspreads, etc. It will more than pay for itself with the sale of your home.
Remove personal pictures. Art, landscape and sculptures, etc. Can stay as part of the decor.
Your home will sell because of what you do or don't do just before it shows
Strong fragrances are a complete no-no when showing any home. If you have to cover up a smell...Bake some fresh bread or cookies or use some "plug-ins" before the home shows.
If you have pets...Remove them when showing the home. Whether or not buyers your prospecive buyers love, no showing was ever more productive with Spike following buyers around the house or barking.
Keep the house 'show ready'...Socks in the hallway, towels on the floor in the bathroom, papers on the kitchen countertops...All these things are like personal pictures...It reminds the buyers that this is not their residence and distracts them from the viewing.
Staging can be a lot of work, but the benefits far outweigh the expenses in most situations. If you need justification to spend the time and effort see below:

Staging de-clutters and organizes your home - the right way - to maximize potential.
Staging also helps you justify your asking price. The better the home is staged, the less likely the buyer is likely to ask for concessions.
Staging reduces the duration of time homes are on the market.
Staging differentiates you from the competition...Creating demand for your home, generally increases the number of showings, typically increases the likelihood of receiving an offer, and creates a home that sells for a higher price.

If you would like more information about staging homes in and around Bryan-College Station, Texas, please contact me for more information. Are there any tips that you would like to share? Please email me direct or leave a comment below.

Andrew Smith is a real estate Broker with Keller Williams Realty in College Station, TX (home of Texas A&M University). You can reach him at Andrew@AndrewSmithTeam.Com or (979) 777-7677. Visit The Smith Team on the web at www.RealEstateBCS.Com