Clever Home Staging Tricks You Can Steal

One of real estate's old tricks is home staging. Your house could be located in a not-so-ideal neighborhood but just by properly staging it, you have a good chance at selling it fast. But that's of course if you're willing to pay a professional home stager a chunk of money.

The good news is, you actually don't have to spend a dollar to enjoy the benefits of professional home staging; you just have to be really good at executing their well-kept tricks.

Here are clever home staging tricks you can steal from professional home stagers to successfully sell your home by Realty Times:

Clear it out and clean it up

When selling your home, the very first thing you need to do is to clear it out and clean it up - yes, it's time to deal with those clutter and do the dreadful scrubbing. This is the initial step that you shouldn't dare skip, and Better Homes and Gardens completely agree:

"De-cluttering -- and having a pristine home from top to bottom -- are the no-brainers that can make your real estate look better than the house down the block."

"Your home must be cleaner and less cluttered than it's ever been. You need to banish not just the day-to-day buildup (the mail, the shoes, last season's clothes, the dog hair), but also several years' accumulation."

Depersonalize

The goal is to make potential homebuyers imagine themselves actually living in your home. But they can't really do that if your house reflects your personal style everywhere.

"Prospective buyers won't be able to picture themselves in the house if they're surrounded by dozens of photos of your children and grandparents," according to Bankrate.

Update the bathroom

A bathroom renovation is considered a major upgrade that costs more than a home seller is willing to spend. However, by being creative and going for smart change, a seller can improve a bathroom without breaking the bank.

"Avoid dated tile by painting. Bathrooms sell houses, but dated tile in a bathroom doesn't. A low-cost alternative to replacing the tile is to use paint," said HGTV. "First coat the tiles with a high-adhesion primer. Next, brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering. For a fraction of the cost of new tile, you will have an up-to-date bathroom that brings in big bucks."

Pay attention to design details

When it comes to design, attention to details goes a long way.

"For a visual impact on a table without a lot of fuss, remember a design basic: Groupings of odd numbers always do the trick! Three of a kind, like...hurricane jars, filled with something as simple as pinecones, makes a ridiculously easy and dynamic table scape," said Katie Jane Interiors.

Up your curb appeal

Don't turn potential buyers off by failing to up your curb appeal.

"You may have spent hours making sure the kitchen is clean, and doing so is worth the effort," sad Bob Vila. "But remember, the facade is the first part of your house a potential buyer will see. A little landscaping can go a long way. Strapped for time? Potted plants placed around the front door will add welcome charm to your entryway."