By Edie Humiston
For The Independent

Because we become emotionally attached to our "stuff," removing clutter is one of the hardest things for a person to deal with. Often we are not even aware that our stuff is clutter.

When we live in a home we get so used to things as they are, that we don't notice things other people might when it's their first time through the house, Herbst said.

Dirty windows, stoves or sinks, or unmade beds is not how you want to present the home for sale.

Clutter collects in drawers, closets, attics, basements, garages, shelves and cabinets. It can include knickknacks, extra pots and pans, utensils, books, foodstuffs, clothes, shoes, tools, pictures and even furniture. When closets and drawers are packed to the limit, and counter tops and shelves are full, it makes it look like there isn't enough room. Too much furniture can make a room appear cramped and too small.

"The way we live our daily lives is not the way you want to stage your home," Painter said. "You want it to look like something out of a magazine when people walk in to buy your house."

Toasters and mixers sitting out on the kitchen counter may be convenient in your daily life, but can be a deterrent for potential buyers.

"If (the counters) look cluttered," Herbst said, "buyers think there isn't enough kitchen cabinetry."

Anything that is rarely used needs to be placed in a box and put into storage to create as much open space as possible.

"Clean and declutter your home the best you can," Herbst said. "Then ask a friend or real estate agent to walk through and point to areas that appear less than par to them."

Lighten and brighten

Make a home as bright and cheerful as possible by turning on the lights and opening the curtains. Clean the walls or paint them if needed.

"Painting a room a lighter color can make it look larger," Crumrine said. "You want to choose a neutral color."

Outdated color schemes can be a detractor.

"Neutrals are the way to go when selling a house," Painter added. "That's what appeals to most people."

Depersonalize

Remove plaques and "name" items from mailboxes and entryways to help depersonalize the house.

Removing photo albums and pictures also helps to depersonalize the house. However, some people feel it gives the home a sense of history and spirit. Whether you decide to leave photos out or put them away, remember less is best, and too much of anything creates clutter.

Make repairs

Remember all of those little things that you've been meaning to fix around the house now is the time to fix them, Crumrine said. Creaky doors, door knobs that won't easily turn, windows that won't open, nail holes and cracks in plasterboard, light switches that don't work, worn out carpeting, broken tiles, dripping faucets, stained ceilings all can give potential buyers a negative impression.

Outside repairs are just as important as the inside. Peeling paint, raised shingles and cracks in sidewalks or driveways can turn a would-be buyer into a won't-bother-to-look.

Major repairs are a required item by most lenders and should be taken care of beforehand.

"In this tighter market, many lenders can't accept a property that isn't in average condition," Herbst said. "If there are things about a home that are below average, they may be required to be repaired. It's better to make the repairs before buyers have already deducted them from the offer, as well as having the lender require it repaired."

Get rid of odors

Smells that you may consider normal can be offensive to others and can hinder the sale. If you smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors. If you have a pet, be sure to keep the pet areas clean.

"The minute the door closes, the animal smell permeates the home," Herbst said. "If you have animals in your home ask a friend if they can smell it. If the answer is 'yes,' get rid of the flooring or whatever it is that retains the smell. If it's the carpet, the pad under it will also have to go, and the floor under that treated. It will be expensive, but it will keep buyers from turning their nose up at your home."

Empty kitty litter, clean bird or hamster cages, and keep feces in the yard cleaned up daily.

Keep the outside tidy

Keep the front and back yard neatly manicured. Weed gardens and flower beds. If it's winter, remove all the dead plants from flower beds and gardens.

Take a drive around the block and look at the landscape of other homes in your area. Is yours comparable? Remember, this is part of the homebuyer's first impression of the house. A previously owned home can have advantages a new home won't, especially when it comes to landscape.

"If you have a nice yard, take pictures of it in other seasons and leave them on the kitchen counter," Herbst suggested. "Like beautiful fall trees or summer flowers spring daffodils. It reminds buyers of what they aren't getting in new homes."

Decide on a price

If a house is underpriced, it may sell fast but the seller will feel dissatisfied. If it's overpriced, it delays the sale and can lead to other problems.

You may have an idea of what you think the house is worth. Seeking the advice of real estate professionals can help you set a price that's fair to you and to the buyer. Appraisers and real estate agents have a broad knowledge for house pricing and are aware of problems that may affect pricing. They take into consideration the condition of the house, its location and any desirable amenities that are available.

So, your house is ready to put on the market. Now what? Potential buyers want to explore the house without someone constantly looking over their shoulder.

"Use a real estate agent," Herbst said. "Buyers are able to be honest about what they like, and don't like, with a third party."

Reasons to stage your home

You will make more money. U.S. Housing and Urban Development reports that a staged house sells, on average, 17 percent higher than a non-staged house.

Your house will sell faster. The New York Village Voice reported the average number of days on the market for a staged house was 13.9 days versus 30.9 days for an unstaged house.

The cost of staging doesn't cost a dime. In a 2003 HomeGain Survey of more than 2,000 Realtors, it was discovered that sellers who spent up to $1,000 staging their home recovered almost 200 percent of the cost in the sale of their home.

Most home sellers cannot view their house objectively. If you can't see objectively, you can't "package" effectively. Have a staging professional give you a detailed, step-by-step "action plan" for less than $500 so you can do the work yourself.

Less guesswork. A professional home stager can manage your projects from start to finish or give you a detailed report based on their extensive knowledge and training to have you "do-it-yourself."

Only 10 percent of homebuyers can visualize the potential of a home. That's why staging a vacant home is critical. You don't want the benefits of your beautiful home left up to the buyer's imagination.

Studies show the longer your home stays on the market the lower your selling price will be.

Leaving your house "as is" will help sell the competition. Right now the number of homes on the market is at a record high, competition is getting stiff and buyers have expectations when they walk through your door.

Staged homes sell in half the time. According to online research, homes that are staged sell in half the time of a vacant home.

Source: Liz Painter, stager, Premier Home Staging and Interiors