Then, home staging is definitely for YOU! If you don't require or need either of these two - selling your house quickly and for the best price - then you don't need to read this home staging article filled with tips and tricks to stage your home.

Let's begin with the exterior - The all important 'exterior' first impression

Ensure that the exterior of your home is clean and clear of clutter. Also, you may want to make it even more appealing by adding a new outdoor light fixture, painting the front door or adding some colourful flowers - just a few ideas to give your home great curb appeal.

To go a step further and ensure that the exterior makes a good first impression, you should ensure that all of those little 'to do' things are done.

Perhaps the windows need a new coat of caulking or if they are wood, they may require a sanding and staining. If there is a piece of trim falling off, repair it. These can be little things that won't cost you a lot of money but, will make your house look much, much better, and make a much better impression.

Once you have passed the exterior impression, the buyers will immediately move to the next phase of evaluation - The Interior First Impression. If you did not make a great one outside, you may still have a chance to impress them with a great first 'interior' impression.

Of course the first impression in the interior of your home is your front entrance. If this is the only place you have to spend money on, do it here. Make it clean and inviting.

Clutter should be eliminated - as much as possible, of course. This is the number 1 staging tip in order to sell your home quickly and for the best price.

Clutter makes rooms look smaller and also does not allow buyers to see the actual space as it is.

One area that tends to collect clutter in a home is the kitchen counter. Keep a minimal number of appliances and utensils on the counter. Try to put the extras in a drawer or cupboard - or in storage if you are not using them often.

Some houses even manage to collect clutter in the form of furniture. Yes, some people have too much furniture. You need to be able to move around a room freely and naturally. If you have too much furniture, consider selling some. If you want to keep it, consider renting a storage unit and storing some away until you move.

On the other hand, empty houses don't sell as well. So, if your house is empty, you may want to rent some furniture to fully stage it - setting up a kitchen table, living room, etc...This allows buyers to actually see how the rooms work as they are intended.

The living room shown on the left was in an empty house. It was fully staged including the furniture, area rug carpet, artwork, lamp and a few decorative accessories! This house sold in 1 day!

Clean your house. Make sure your home is well cleaned. After ridding your home of any additional clutter, give it a good cleaning. When a buyer sees a clean home, they see a home that is well looked after.

Another main goal of staging is to ensure that the highlights of the home are actually highlighted. If you have a beautiful view, make sure the view is visible and highlighted. If you have a lovely fireplace, make sure it is clean, visible, and the focal point of the room.

Check off your small 'to-do' list. Small repairs and maintenance can make a huge difference. Small things such as: Lights without bulbs; Trim unfinished or unpainted; sockets without covers; drawers that don't slide properly; leaky faucets - all leave a bad impression on the buyer that the house is not well looked after.

For more home staging tips and tricks, ask about my staging tips and tricks book - coming soon!

Enjoy your home selling experience! If you follow some of these tips, you will definitely have a better home selling experience!