Although buying a home can be a demanding process, selling a home has its own set of challenges. Sellers must understand from the beginning there is only one chance to make a first impression with each potential home buyer.

Despite what some sellers may think, preparing to sell a home doesn't have to cost a fortune. However, failure to prepare your home for sale will cost you in your selling price and the time the home spends on the market. If you are working with a real estate professional, they can usually tell you exactly what you need to do to get your home to sell faster and for a higher price.

When potential home buyers are looking at homes for sale, their first visual of the home will be an outside view. This is the sellers' first opportunity to make a lasting impression. The curb appeal is one of the most important steps in preparing your home for sale; make sure the view of your home is appealing and inviting. For some this may include planting flowers along the sidewalk and trimming the bushes, for others it will mean painting the shutters and giving the door a fresh coat of paint. Be sure to store sports equipment, toys, and gardening tools out of sight or organize them in the garage.

Once you are confident the curb appeal is good, it's time to tackle the inside. Preparing the inside of the house tends to be a little more time consuming and detail-oriented.Start with the bigger projects and work your way down to the details. Be sure all repairs are taken care of in advance so you don't spend time trying to cover up cracked walls, broken tile or leaky faucets right before viewings. Be thorough in your maintenance so it does not become an issue down the road.

The next step is to de-clutter your house. Selling your home and living in your home are two completely different things. When future home buyers come for a tour, they want to mentally move themselves into the home. They want to visualize their pictures on the walls, where their furniture will fit and how they can accessorize the bathrooms. If you want your house to sell itself, go through each room and remove small trinkets, gadgets, excessive family photos and unnecessary décor.

Do everything you can to make your rooms appear spacious: take out small rugs, store extra furniture, replace lots of small plants with one large plant, and add mirrors where possible.

The last phase, and most detailed part of preparing houses for sale, is finding small ways to fix up your home that will go a long way when you show your home. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Wash all molding/trim/floor boards/crown molding
  
• Change dull light bulbs and clean light fixtures
  
• Open the curtains and blinds to allow in natural light
  
• Clean light-switch covers
  
• Place fresh, clean towels in the bathrooms
  
• Use your senses ? feel the countertops and make sure they are completely wiped off and use air fresheners or candles for a nice scent throughout the home.

Is there such a thing as doing too much? Yes, of course there is, when you start making improvements for the next owners and not for your own benefit.

If the process seems too stressful and completely overwhelming, or you don't know what to change and how to improve your home on your own, there is an answer: hire a professional home stager. Staging homes for sale before they go on the market is becoming more well-known profession and is used more often. Professional home stagers have learned how to best prepare a home for resale. Through a little extra decoration, furniture rearranging and de-cluttering, stagers can create a spacious look, a homey feel, and comfortable flow within the home. Similar to finding an agent, you can find professional stagers through referrals from those you know and trust.

Don't leave the preparation until the day you are showing your home! Plan ahead and prepare your home so that you can get the most for your home in the shortest amount of time.

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