No matter how tough things might be in the real estate market, there are some very easy things which you can do to get more money for your home when you’re looking to sell.

This is called staging houses and it draws on some basic marketing and psychology. You need to think of your home as a product offered on the marketplace; and the way you should present your home to buyers is different from the way it looks when you live in a home.

Keep reading for some staging techniques which can help you to get more for your home.

Detailing Your Home

If you planned to sell your car, you’d detail it inside and out. You’d polish all the chrome and wax the paint so it sparkled. You’d touch up any chips in the paint job and also make sure the interior was clean and neat and garbage free.

When it comes to selling your home, you should detail your house inside and out as well. This means going beyond basic cleaning and making sure your home sparkles.

Make sure your outdoor space is weeded and looks its best. Clean your sidewalk and driveway, using a power wash to remove stains if necessary. Sweep away every cobweb in your home and dust every surface.

In your bathrooms, make sure that toilet seats and lids are kept down and any personal hygiene products are kept out of sight.

De-Clutter

People who buy homes want to be able to imagine their own furniture in each room and picture their own family living in a new home. This means you should strive to make your house as free of your own personal touches as possible.

Removing any objects or items that clutter up corners, walls or shelves can actually make each room appear larger and give an appearance of space. Take down any family pictures or trophies and put them in boxes. If you sell your home you’re going to be moving anyway, so you’re getting a head start on your packing. The same rule applies to figurines, knick-knacks, ornaments and any other item that clutters up your rooms.

Go through each room and pack up anything there which makes the rooms seem cluttered and crowded. Pack up toys which are filling corners and anything else which keeps your home from looking its neatest and most spacious.

Neutral Territory

The color scheme in your home might be perfect for your possessions, but it’s not what a buyer will be looking for.

The small expense of repainting your walls in a light, neutral shade can help make each room appear lighter and larger.

It may feel as though you’re turning your home into a blank canvas, but this is exactly what a potential buyer is looking for.

Window Dressings

If you have heavy, darker colored curtains, replace them with lighter fabrics in lighter shades. This makes the rooms appear to be lighter and more open, and it makes your windows into another featured selling point.

Added Space

There is more to staging your home than making your living areas present well to buyers. Try to set up your basement or attic in a way which displays their potential as living, home office or recreational space.