Home Staging: Tips to Prepare for an Open House

Home staging involves a home that is prepared and ready and showing in the best of condition. There are many types of home staging to include garage, home and open house. Having open house staging is no different than staging for selling the home. The feeling of extreme comfort, welcoming and the air of prospects should fill the home. When the prospective buyer sits down in the chair, he should image himself in this home forever.

There are some guidelines to follow when preparing for an open house and they should be followed to a tee. If you want to sell your home for the most money possible, that is.

1. The home must be in perfect condition. It should sparkle as if "Mr. Ajax" himself cleaned the home.

2. Get rid of all excess clutter, including boxes and cartons and especially pictures and mementos of your family. The buyer should imagine himself in the home. A photograph of your family only reminds him that it is your home.

3. Turn on the lights and open the curtains and bring the outside in. The house needs to shine with light. By opening the curtains, the home looks like a home and not a dungeon.

4. Let the home smell of baked bread. Bake some bread or some cookies right before the open house and let the entire home smell of baked goods. Light some incense candles with a pleasant but not over-powering smell such as vanilla or cinnamon.

5. Make everything neutral in tones. White and off white sell better than bright yellow and orange curtains. Make your home a neutral home so any decor would fit.

6. Have beautiful furnishings and fresh cut flowers everywhere. A few flower plants and hanging baskets always brighten a home and a kitchen. A few pots of parsley and coriander on the window sill.

7. Let your agent be in charge so leave the home when it is open. Let the agent feel free to talk with the buyer about the home's disadvantage and advantages freely.

8. Understand that even if you spent $50,000 on your kitchen, that does not mean your price will go up that much. When you look at comparables, a new kitchen nets around $5000 more. So be careful with any and all additions you are planning to do to the home, to sell the home. Things that do help are leaving the appliances and curtains in the home.

9. Make sure the garage is staged along with the home, so the garage needs to be clear of clutter and very neat.

10. Be smart. Do not turn any offer down, always counter. Do not say, "No way, no how and not today." Wait, think and counter.

11. If anyone ask about your agent, say they are the best. If you have confidence in the agent, the new buyer will too.

Many homes are sold through open houses, so having your home in the best of condition is a must. Follow the advice of your agent and the steps involved here and hopefully the next article you read about is closing a deal.