So...You Think You Have Your Home Staged

So, your house is on the market, and once again the figures have just been released showing that prices are down... down... down - but don't go down with them. Instead, get active and bring yourself up, up, up by doing something practical and truly helpful in the marketing process: home-stage. No, I mean really home stage not a half hearted attempt!

It is bad luck if you have to sell your house now, when figures have dropped another couple of percentage points, but there are others out there who are also on the move and want to buy your house - if their attention is drawn to it.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the prices are reported to show a national average of being 15.5% lower than this time last year. However, your area may be above or below this, so take your realtor's advice about a realistic asking price. He or she will also have some tips for home-staging but these will get you going.

How to get your home noticed - that is the first key to selling it so the home staging must start on the exterior; more on that later. The second key is the viewing and this is where the home staging really comes into play. Prospective home buyers want to enter your home and see it looking like a show-home for a new housing development. In other words, it has no clutter and no personal affects showing; this way they can imagine their own effects in the home and begin to picture themselves in it.

The large photograph of Fido above the fireplace will be a hindrance, not an asset. Perhaps they are allergic to dogs and it will invoke a bad memory - get rid of it! And while you are in the living room, take away the CDs, the books, the ornaments, the rattan waste bin, the cat's toys, the magazines under the coffee table, the grand-daughter's photo, the crochet behind the armchair, the ash tray, the spare rug and all those plants catching the sun on the window sill!

If you are still reading at this point..... then here's some more expert advice: hire a storage for $20 a month and pre-pack some boxes prior to moving. Most of us could fill one box with our kids school paintings and fridge magnets!

The fridge, the counter tops and the kitchen floor must all be bare! Bare is what house buyers want to see- it makes a kitchen look big and spacious and as if they could concoct a cordon bleu meal in it.

The first thing that anyone will notice when entering a home is ...smell. Be sure it is fresh and clean and pleasant. Use a plug-in air freshener; if you have a pet use two or three plug-ins! Also fling open the windows for real fresh air, and try the corny old trick of buns or cookies baking in the oven.

It is sometimes the case that stoves and furnaces give off a smell of smoke when they are first lit, if so - do not use them; instead turn on the central heating. Thoroughly clean the furnace and sparkle it with a special fire black product from the local stove store.

Light is a bonus in a home so clean all your windows, and your lampshades and try putting a higher wattage bulb in all your light fixtures, especially the hallways. For a cozy ambience, put a pink bulb in one or two living room lamps, but ensure that this gives a warm atmosphere and not just a dim room.

Bedrooms must be treated in the same way, at least the master bedroom anyway. Every day put all the shampoo bottles, creams, toothbrushes and used towels out of sight. Strive daily for the clutter-free look, bare bath tub edges and bare counter-top surfaces.

If you can possibly manage it, a new coat of paint has been said to increase the value of a home by 700% of the price of the paint job! Obviously that clean untouched look counts for a lot with a prospective buyer.

Finally, the exterior: yes, yes, you know the routine - everything out of sight: bikes, skates, garbage bins, recycle cans and even the car as it hides the nice view of your garage. A good realtor knows to take the photo when the sun is shining on the house, and to take the interior photos when the sun shines into the rooms, many people love sunshine in the home. Buy a few potted plants and place one each side of the front door. Group a few in the front yard.

Trim your lawn so that it is short and keep it green, also 'edge' the paths into nice, defined lines that will photograph well. Ensure that your drapes are tidy in the photographs. Hose down the paths if they are pretty cobblestones to make their color notice more in the photo. Now, sit back and prepare for the rush.

The Affinity Group is a prominent name in Denver real estate, with agents specializing in working with both buyers and sellers of real estate throughout the Denver area. Visit JakeMarsh.com for details about their services, property listings, and information about finding beautiful Parker homes for sale.