Home buyers are going to look at your house for sale and determine whether or not to buy it based on what they see. They are not only interested in the price, but they want to see something that looks comfortable and attractive if they are to live there. This means your home, and every part of it, needs to look good. They need to see the walls so they can picture their stuff in your home. Getting it looking right for viewing is what home staging is all about.

Home staging enables prospective buyers to see your home in its best light. Many of these practical tips are simple and will not cost much. You will need to follow all of them to make your home really attractive – from top to bottom. It will take some work to get it right, and you will need to remove a considerable amount of your possessions, but it will be worth it when your home gets sold.

1. The Yard

The yard is the first thing that people will see when they drive up to your house. If it does not look good, they may never ask to see the inside. You want to remove dead branches, weeds, and trim the bushes. Remove any junk that does not make the yard look good. You also want to repair sidewalks and plant flowers in pots. It helps to put some on the front porch. If you have children's toys in the yard, hide them, as well as trash cans, recycling bins, etc. You could add some things that will make your yard look more attractive such as a fire pit, or hammock.

2. The Exterior

This will have a similar effect as the yard – if the exterior of the house does not impress – you have lost the sale. This means you need to put a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of the house and on any outbuildings. Adding a steel front door will increase the beauty of the front of your home and good windows are sure to impress too. Remove any shrubs and trees that may hide the front of your home from the street. Use a power sprayer to remove any mildew on the siding. If it is not in good shape, it should be replaced.

3. The House

Go through the house and remove all clutter. You want to remove most of the extra things around the house so that the rooms appear neat and spacious. This means removing all knickknacks, loose papers, books, pictures on the wall, clothes and even extra furniture. Put them elsewhere – preferably in a storage unit, but the garage will do. Go through the house and ensure that everything is in good working order. Ceiling fans, light switches, outlets, door handles and locks should all be checked. Replace hardware as needed. Make sure the walls are in good condition and repair any holes or other damage. Paint if it’s necessary. Repair any problems with floors.

4. Living Room

The living room needs to look spacious. An excellent way to do this is to remove at least half of the furniture. Use light colors for pillows or slipcovers, because this will make the room look warm. One feature that is sure to make the living room attractive is to add plenty of light. If there is a fireplace, be sure to have it on when the visitors come. Clean it up and make it look good. Built-in bookshelves next to the fireplace are good.

5. Kitchen

One room that will be carefully inspected is the kitchen. You will want to remodel it if it is out of date. You can stain or paint cabinets if the current surfaces are faded or worn, and it will save money. The countertops need to look good. If the appliances are old, you would be better off investing in some new ones – preferably with stainless steel – and adding this to your home may even enable you to raise the price more than the cost of the appliances.

6. Bathroom

The bathroom is another room that can make or break the deal. You want to clean it thoroughly and make it look really nice. Replace any hardware that does not look new and repair any damaged tile. Replace all of it if it does not look good. Remove all of your personal toiletries from view. In order to make it look comfortable, put out nice looking fresh towels and some decorations. Candles will also add a pleasant smell and add to the appeal.