There are no second chances when it comes to first impressions -- especially when it comes to real estate. Professional home stager Bridget Savereux offers her tips on how you can stage your own home on a budget.

 

 

The biggest mistake homeowners make is holding on to emotional attachments to the house. Your personal style and preferences will not sell your house. Prospective buyers need to be able to see their belongings in each room and they can’t do so if they only see your stuff everywhere. Tear down the wallpaper, get rid of any hand-me-down furniture and purge, purge, purge. Your home is the place you’re moving into, not the one you’re trying to sell.

 

This can be therapeutic as you detach from the home and belongings. Take down all of your family photos, trophies, vacation souvenirs and pack them away. Replace these photos and mementos with neutral artwork and interesting pieces you can find at design stores.

 

Take all magazines, electronics, DVDs, toys and put them in storage. Invest in a storage bench or decorative storage boxes. You may be living in the house while you’re showing it, so keep your toiletries or any other personal items packed away in these storage boxes. You’ll have easy access to these items when you’re not showing the house and they’ll be out of sight when buyers stop by.

 

Buyers buy with their eyes and also their nose. Invest in a carpet or furniture cleaning surface to get rid of any pet odors that may be lingering in your home. You may be accustomed to what your house smells like, but a stranger won’t. Avoid aerosol and deodorizing sprays. A lot of people are sensitive to scent, or they may not like what scent you’ve picked. Instead, open all of your doors and windows for two to three hours before showing it. This will neutralize any odors in the home. Avoid fresh baked bread or cookies. This trick is clichéd and may cause buyers to be suspicious.

 

Smaller furniture is one great way to make a room look bigger. Put a double bed in a bedroom as opposed to a queen- or king-sized bed. You can also use light to create space. Use table lamps to highlight corners. Also, decorative mirrors are great ways to make a room look larger.