#3. Get Rid of Evidence of Kids

OK, well, let’s not get rid of the kids! It's just that your home needs to appeal to the largest audience. It's ok to let potential buyers understand your home is "kid-friendly", but make sure it doesn't look like every neighborhood kid has a place in your home. You are not running a day care center; you're trying to sell your home.

Get rid of strollers on the porch, inflatable kiddy pools in the back yard and any toys that may be lying around in the hallway. Get rid of baby gates and make sure there are no handprints or crayon drawings on the wall. Studies have also shown that homes that have kid’s stuff strewn about are considered to be less hygienic or valuable than those that don’t.

#2. Get Rid of Evidence of Pets

It's True, you love your pets. Your Friends probably love your pets too. They are a big part of your family. But when you're selling your home, you have to appeal to the largest group of buyers.

If you have a dog or cat send them away for the day. Hide the litter box and any evidence of it’s aroma. Make sure there are no dog feces in the front yard. This type of thing, along with its smells can convince a buyer that there are allergens, mites and pet urea in the house. Houses with more pets are also considered to be less desirable than ones with no pets at all.

#1. Clear All Clutter

You can get rid of all of the junk in your home for free. Simply get rid of anything you don’t need and haul it away in your car to the nearest dump or Goodwill. This means getting rid of “stuff” in the front yard, back yard, hallway and basement. Studies have shown that people perceive clutter as being indicative of a property that is decrepit or not worth much money. They also associate it with decay and the presence of vermin or bugs.

One thing in particular you need to get rid of is ashtrays. People consider houses that have been smoked in to be less desirable and also smelly.

You should also get rid of all junk in your yard. This includes things like broken garden hoses, old equipment and bicycles.

Even things you are actively using should be tucked out of sight before a house showing. This means clearing your kitchen counter of appliances like George Forman Grills or blenders or anything else that takes up counter space.

Outside you should make sure that your garden hoses are coiled up, your birdbath is clean of leaves and that you do not have sports equipment or bikes laying around your front porch.

10 Ways To Make Your House Show Like A Model Home

If you are trying to sell your home then it really pays off to go to a little extra effort to impress your buyers. There have been studies that show it takes buyers only seven seconds to decide whether or not they are going to buy a home once they set foot in a house. That it is why it so crucial to make a good impression and also why “staging” a home for sale is such a fine art.

However not all of us have the cash on hand, or the time and energy, to do things that are really going to flip your home over to the next buyer quickly. For instance, not everybody has the cash on hand to install a brand new flashy Jacuzzi complete with freestanding brass towel warmers and new stone tile floors. However you might have the money on hand to install designer faucets, paint the walls and replace the old iron door handles with trendy new crystal knobs.

Here are some quick and easy ways to make your home show like a model home for under $200. These are easy-to-do tips and the type of thing an interior decorator would advise you to do to help “stage" a property so it is more attractive to buyers. The goal of this “top ten list: is to give you hints on how to make your home show better than your competitor’s home on the real estate market!

1. Clear All Clutter
2. Get Rid of Evidence of Pets
3. Get Rid of Evidence of Kids
4. Clean Up the Front Yard and Porches
5. Get Rid of Sunken Paving Stones
6. Paint Rooms That Need It
7. Replace Some Fixtures
8. Change the Faucets and Spouts
9. Provide Flowers and Greenery
10. Provide Some Aromatherapy

Of course if you do have some money to invest in preparing your home for sale, you can also hire a professional to stage your home for you. The benefits of this are usually a faster sale and more money for your property. Many of these organizations can rent you furniture and accessories that can help make your home look better. A home stager can also offer you an objective perspective on what exactly it is that can make your home look fresh, appealing and attractive to others.

With an eye for design and just a few hundred bucks you can usually fix up your home so that it is more appealing to buyers all by yourself.