Step #1 - See Like a Buyer

The first secret to staging your home for sale is to take off your 'owner's' glasses and look at your home with 'buyer's' glasses.

Why is this so important?

As an owner you have probably learned to ignore certain aspects of your home - its state of repair, cleanliness or decor. Aspects that may jump out to a buyer and turn them off. It can be very difficult to look objectively at your own home which is why hiring a home stager, even as a consultant, is a good idea. However, if you can separate yourself from your home and look at it as a product being marketed rather than your personal space, you should be able to see things critically.

What to look for?

Chipped paint, dead plants, cobwebs in corners, unfinished projects, dated decor and don't forget odors! Asking a trusted friend to give an honest opinion goes a long way since we are often desensitized to smells in our own homes - think mildew, dogs, litter boxes, garbage and food odors.

Be sure to take special note of areas that might worry buyers about the structure of the home; rotting wood, cracked foundations and missing gutters (especially if there's a puddle developing near the foundation) will alert buyers to problems ahead.

Next up? De-cluttering!