That first impression on prospective buyers should be a lasting and positive one.

“Homebuyers will be in a home for three to four minutes. You want to make those moments memorable and profitable.”You don’t need to be a decorator to stage a home. Check out leading department and home furnishing stores to see what colors they are using and copy them. Bringing in trendy colors immediately modernizes any home, as will fresh linens in the bedroom and bathroom. Take a tour of your home and pretend that you’ve never seen the house before, and give it a critical look. Examine the exterior, interior, and smell around for odors. Get picky. Make a list of things you’d like to improve. Here is additional advise by the author of Peggy’s Corner, The Art of Staging, Peggy Selinger-Eaton offers these additional ideas:

• Think clean and open spaces for your home as you stage.
  
• Clear off all surfaces and keep only a few decorative accessories.
  
• Think of ways to clean, eliminate clutter and modernize.
  
• Eliminate odors from smoking, pets and cooking.
  
• Remove all personal items and photographs.
  
• Let the homebuyers see rooms as to what they should be.
  
• Clean your carpets and touch up the paint.
  
• Clean your exteriors and sweep and dust the front door entrance.
  
• Clear off the countertops in your kitchen and bathrooms.