PREPARE TO SELL 3.1 Curb Appeal. By keeping the landscape pristine and adding a few creative touches to your yard, such as placing flowers along the front walkway, you can make an immediate impact on the curb appeal of your house. Hanging a seasonal decoration on your front door or placing a few potted plants in the corner make the house that much more attractive. House curb appeal is very important in attracting buyers to take a closer look. A well "staged" house is the next essential step. 3.2 Staging. Staging your house is critical for making that first great impression. Staging makes the house look bigger, brighter and cleaner which make potential buyers more interested. How the house looks will have a tremendous impact on how quickly it sells. Markets vary, but the effects of staging are quite consistent. How you decorate to live in your house and how you decorate to sell your house are very different. Decorating implies adding while staging is about taking away personal decoration. Why? Because the driving concept behind staging is allowing people to imagine themselves living in your house. Nearly everything in staging evolves from this basic idea. Staging is de-cluttering, depersonalizing, cleaning, refreshing, painting and making minor repairs. It is preparing the house for sale while creating a captivating environment for all those who enter. This is accomplished by the art of creating moods, emotions and feelings through sights, sounds and smells. Staging is about perfecting a 'look' and an 'atmosphere' that sells. One of the important parts of staging is de-cluttering which makes rooms look more spacious. Counter tops should be cleared. Knickknacks, souvenirs, family photos and refrigerator art should all be packed away. In the kitchen you might put out large bowls of fruit with apples, bright oranges and luscious grapes. In the bathrooms you could add baskets filled with spa treatments, towels tied with ribbons, scented soaps and lotions to add a fresh accent. There are many details in staging your house correctly. Utilize Mary's expertise to stage your house beautifully from a buyer's perspective. Request '101 Expert Staging Tips' at the bottom of this page. 3.3 Showing Your House. While agents are showing your house to potential buyers, it is important for you to leave the premises. Buyers are more comfortable openly discussing the features of the house with their agent. However, if you are home, greet the prospects at the door and politely excuse yourself. Here are a few showings tips: Open all blinds and drapes to let in maximum light. Turn on as many lights as possible. At night turn on porch lights and outdoor lighting. Make sure that everything is spotless. The kitchen should have all dishes put away with countertops and sinks cleaned. The bathrooms should be freshly cleaned with towels displayed neatly. Make sure the house smells good. Be aware of pet odors, smoke or cooking odors. Keep toys in the children's rooms. It is better to keep pets confined to a particular area or backyard. Buyers may be timid around unfamiliar animals. Check the thermostat to make sure that the house is at a comfortable temperature. Soft background music is always a nice touch. Once the showing is finished, email Garry and Mary with the agent's contact information so they may follow-up for buyer comments. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Garry and Mary at any time.