Many detail-oriented tasks and larger decisions will be made when you’re putting your house on the market for sale. One of the most important things to remember, however, to successfully sell your own home is that there’s a difference between the building as a property and the building as your home. While moving out can be emotional, being able to look at your house objectively is crucial for good house staging. Selling your own home is not likely to be a walk in the park, but many people have done it successfully; here are some tips that can help you attain that ever-beneficial objective eye, and hopefully lead to a good selling price, too.

House Staging Step 1: Thorough Cleaning
One of the most important facets of home staging is cleaning. If you want to sell your own home, the cleaning you do before you start showing your property to prospective buyers is an investment and should be treated as such. Remember, while certain areas might look clean enough to you, a prospective buyer is looking through a whole different set of eyes. Once you consider your property thoroughly cleaned, it is a good idea to have a friend or co-worker come in and give your house a once-over; chances are he or she will be better able to spot areas where more attention is needed. Your house staging scouring should include the basic spring cleaning list of washing walls, cleaning blinds and curtains, and removing clutter, but you’ll also want to begin to empty your house of items you don’t need for daily use. Determine what household items you want to keep but don’t need for the remainder of your time in the house, pack them away, and take them to a friend’s house or rent a storage area. You may also have several items of considerable value that you decide not to keep. Unless you want to simply give them away, most people find having a yard sale is an effective method of taking care of these things.

Remodeling to Sell Your Own Home Faster
Bathroom and kitchen remodels are always among the most common home improvement projects. Not coincidentally, they also tend to have a significant impact on the final value of your home. Take the time to focus on these rooms and see what can be done to make them more appealing. While completely remodeling is a bit of an extreme for simple house staging, be sure to fix any leaky faucets or appliances that don’t work. Paint walls that are dirty or chipped instead of just trying to clean them. You’ll also want to walk around the rest of your house and identify areas that need to be worked on. If you’re planning on hiring a real estate agent they can offer advice about what kind of improvements will be cost-effective; if you plan on selling your own home, you’ll have to depend more on your own research skills to find out what improvements are worth the time and money to perform.

Home Inspections for House Staging
While much of house staging is focused on appearances, there are benefits to hiring a service professional to complete a structural inspection of your home. Many home buyers will ask for this inspection anyway and this will allow you to ensure the buyer upfront that you’ve not hiding anything. Be aware, however, that not all home inspections are the same. While a typical home inspection will include a general structural evaluation including the foundation, roofing, gutters, siding and windows on the exterior and electrical, heating and air, ducts and vents, insulation, and smoke alarms on the inside, it may not include factors like asbestos, termites, and other specific issues.

Putting Your Home on the Market
Just before your house goes on the market, go through everything again. Remove any worn or cumbersome furniture and rearrange the furniture that remains to make it look more attractive. Shampoo your carpets and stop wearing shoes inside. Once your house staging is complete and you begin showing the house, don’t let your diligence go to waste! Continue to vacuum and dust everyday; you should also consider putting out fresh flowers and baking cookies or pies on days when you’re holding an open house. Keep a list of things to do and places to go while prospective buyers are viewing your house.

While the house staging process may seem overwhelming, it’s often the difference it takes to successfully and quickly sell your own home. Remember, the time and effort it takes to properly prepare your home is worth it; when the alternative is the frustration, stress, and cost of being unable to sell your home for an extended period of time, house staging is a more than acceptable means to an end.