The moment you make the decision to put your house on the market to sell, it immediately feels like you’re in a race against time; everything needs to be done fast, it seems like. True enough, the sooner you can get your home sold, the better, but the reality of selling your home is that it takes time, and if you want it to “sell fast,” you’re going to have to take some time to make sure you’re going through the process the right way.

One of the biggest aspects of getting your home ready to sell is the home inspection process, and it’s something you definitely can’t just rush through. Depending on the aftermath of your home inspection, it could call for major repairs, and you have to determine if those repairs are ones you can afford to have repaired or if they’re repairs that you want the potential buyer to take care of.

Aside from repairs in your home, the second biggest aspect that can actually make or break the sale of your home is the staging process. Granted, the staging process doesn’t take nearly as long as repairs and upgrades from the home inspection, it’s just as important.

Why does staging matter?

Because it helps potential buyers see themselves in your home. In fact, the National Association of Realtors reported that 77% of buyers’ agents stated that staging a home definitely made it easier for potential home buyers to envision their families living in the homes up for sale.

Yes, the foundation and structure of your home are extremely important, but the aesthetics of your home are a major component as well. Ultimately, a potential home buyer could visit your home and fall in love with it just by certain features of your home and the way you stage it.

Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of properly staging your home to get it ready to sell.

Staging Tips and Tricks to Get Your Home Sold

Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Your home’s exteriors are going to be potential home buyers’ first encounter with your home, so you want to “wow” them from the moment they first see your home. Basically, your home’s exteriors need to be so welcoming and inviting that they’re compelled to see the interiors.

To boost your home’s exteriors, you can powerwash the siding and walkway/driveway, ensure the lawn is mowed regularly, update your front door and house numbers, and add flowers. If your home exteriors aren’t in too bad of shape, a few simple touches like these will be enough to draw them in.

Declutter Your Home

Since you’re selling your home and moving, the staging process is a great time to declutter your and get rid of everything you no longer need and don’t want to bring to your new home. The thing about clutter is that it takes up space, and if you weren’t aware… space is where the money is!

In properly staging your home, your goal is to make your home look bigger. For the things that are still in fairly good condition, consider selling those things in a yard sale to get a little extra money from them, and whatever is left, donate to the Goodwill. For the items that are just worn out and of no use to anyone, consider the cost to rent a roll-off dumpster, especially for large items like chairs, tables, or mattresses you’re getting rid of.

De-Personalize Your Staging Efforts

One of the hardest parts of staging your home is de-personalizing it. Because it’s your home, it’s easy to choose decor that fits your personal home design style, but you have to put yourself in the shoes of potential home buyers. You have to decorate and make adjustments that will appeal to them.

So in staging your home to appeal to potential home buyers, you have to take down personal pictures of you and your family, keep colors neutral, and just remember that less is more… Contrary to the beliefs of many, there doesn’t have to be a knick-knack or piece of furniture in every “nook and cranny” of your home. It’s perfectly fine to have some empty walls or clean countertops with no decor or appliances on them.

Make Sure Your Home Smells Fresh

One of the first things that potential homebuyers will notice about your home is its smell. You want to make sure you’ve taken out all the trash and vacuumed and cleaned your carpet to ward off any unwanted smells.

If you want to use house fresheners to give your home a pleasant smell, make sure you use fresh scents like fresh linen or floral-scented candles or wall plug-ins. You want to make your home appealing to the senses, not overwhelming.