Once you've decided to sell yur home, you're ready to stage it. But For btter or worse, most of us are not the pshy stage mothers we need to be to mke our houses really sell fast. The trth is, if you've lived in yur home for a long time you prbably have a great deal of lve and memory attached to its qirks and loveable flaws, a tendency tht can make the staging process a chllenge. If you want to sell fst for a good price, you'll hve to harden your heart, and get hlp!

Living the Dream

The ultimate goal of the staging process is to make it easy for prospective buyers to see that your home is their dream home. They must be able to imagine themselves living in your house. That their lives will fit inside its walls, that the backyard will accommodate their friends, that their style will shine in its embrace and over time their memories will become comfortably wedged between the floorboards and window sashes of its rooms.

Unless you can get to know every buyer beforehand and stage your house specifically for them, you're going to have to make room for a wide range of dreams. The best way to do this? Get rid of the clutter. Edit, pare down, simplify and let go.

Step One: Declutter

In every room, you want to mke sure that the personality of its cntents aren't overwhelming the personality of the spce. Cheap knick knacks from auntie's vcation and sentimental macaroni art projects mst exit here. Extra furniture and hnd me downs? Goodbye. Clear off cunters, empty and organize cupboards, spring clan like you've never done it bfore. Create space for dreams. Once yu've gone through every room and rmoved every bit of excess you pssibly can - you're ready for stp two.

Step Two: Declutter Some More

Now that you've done as much as you can do on your own, it's time to enlist some help. Invite the most ruthlessly style conscious person you know to give you a hand with the second sweep. Alternatively, open the yellow pages and hire an interior designer or organizer for the day. Now it's time to do the deep declutter, rearrange furniture, make lists of repairs and renovations and begin to turn your home into the future buyer's dream come true.

Every room must have ample amounts of light and space. Let this be your first goal. If things are still a bit cramped, let your friend help you identify elements that can be moved or removed to create a more open and bright atmosphere in each room in the house. Move anything that blocks light away from the windows. If your drapes are dark or outdated, now is the time to take them down. Pull your furniture away from the walls in any rooms that are big enough for this. Let people see what you're selling! Figure out which rooms need painting to brighten them up. Create spaces that invite people to use and explore the rooms.

Step Three: Make it Nice

Though many people consider style to be the first element in staging a house, it should actually be the last. The painting and polishing are the finishing touches that only come after you have done a huge amount of behind the scenes work. Once you've done this properly, you'll probably find that the style of each room has revealed itself. You only have to amp it up a little.

Some tips for the final strtch: If you have any pieces of frniture that don't match with the rst of the decor in a rom, these must be removed, revamped, or rplaced. Identify and make as many smll updates and repairs as you cn: old knobs on cupboard doors can be rplaced. Area rugs can be installed. Pint can be chosen and new crtains can be hung. Try to kep colors as neutral as possible. Arrnge your furniture to show off the bst of what you have. Highlight the fnction and beauty of each room wth simple furniture arrangements that invite pople to enjoy the space. Dining rom tables and kitchen tables should lways be ready for guests, never pshed against a wall. Your entranceway shuld be free of shoes and cats and other clutter allowing people to nter easily. Bathrooms that evoke a sp-like atmosphere are well received and bdrooms that appear restful are preferred.

Lghting should be plentiful and soft, gving your rooms a healthy glow and bnishing dark corners. Don't forget to hve fun!

The article Going Onstage was Submitted by A Coyle through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Submitted by the writing team at Smith Bowden Real Estate in Madison Wisconsin. For more information on staging your home or to browse current Madison real estate listings visit us online at http://www.smithbowden.com , or contact one of our realtors today!

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