Stage your home on the cheap to get sale!

This article is from the Sunday Paper.  I wanted to sum up Lesley Mitchell's article from the Salt Lake Tribune.

...Agents will tell you that many home sellers neglect these time tested ways to help sell your home, so here is a list of do's and don'ts to help you get the most out of property.

1. GET RID OF CLUTTER-Remove 10 percent to 30 percent of the "stuff" in your home. Clean up the knick knacks. Clear off the items on your kitchen counters and remove everything from the front of your fridge. Children's rooms can be the biggest challenge. Need some inspiration? Stop by a model home. In terms of stuff, your home needs to look like that - inviting but fairly sparse on the personal effects...

2. DE-PERSONALIZE- You want buyers to be able to picture themselves in your home. Take down family photos, remove children's artwork...

3. THINK NEUTRAL - You might like bright blue paint in your kitchen...buyers however, may be put off by all the painting they are going to have to do...

4. CLEAN IT UP - Even buyers who don't keep their own homes clean want to buy something that's spic and span. So, scrub your bathrooms.  Wipe down the kitchen.  Clean your refrigerator and pantry- yes, buyers may take a peek inside...

5. DOWNPLAY THE PETS-  There's nothing quite as unappealing as a a bad smell from pets or the sight (and odor) of a litter box... keep the litter box and food bowls tucked away when people come to look at your home.

6. DON'T FORGET THE YARD- Pull weeds.  Mow your lawn.  Get rid of clutter.  Invest in a bag or two of mulch for your flower beds. 

7. BAKE A BATCH OF COOKIES-  Smells are important, and the scent of freshly baked cookies beats a store bought air freshener any day.

8. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE - Home buyers do not like the owner lurking in the background while they are trying to look.

None of these actions, of course, are not going to guarantee that you will sell your house or get more money for it. But many of them can help you avoid turning off potential buyers... and that's something worth doing.