Staging your home for sale.

You put the time and attention into your curb appeal, now let’s address what awaits a potential buyer when they walk through your front door. Some of the most beautiful homes can sit on the market for extended periods of time. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are priced incorrectly or some other factor that you may suspect. It simply could mean that buyers are turned off by details that have been overlooked.

You don’t need to hire an expensive interior designer to sell your home. There are simple steps you can take to successfully stage your home.

A detail that carries a lot of weight is the way your home smells. The source of the most common problem odors are pets, smoking, cooking, garbage and mold or mildew. The first step is to clean. Then to maintain the freshness use these quick tips:

Place air purifies in the rooms.

Sprinkle baking soda directly onto carpets, rugs, sofas. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.

Candles, plug-ins and home fragrance sprays can work but make sure you aren’t using them to mask an odor. The results could be quite unappealing.

A zippered pillowcase filled with cedar chips, placed under a pet’s pillow bed will absorb most of the unpleasant odors. Check with your veterinarian to make sure your pet will not have an adverse effect to the chips.

The next factor is space. Junk, clutter and disorganization can make it difficult for a potential buyer to envision living in the space. You can clear areas by storing or disposing of appliances, gadgets, newspapers, mail, papers or anything that takes up space or distracts your buyer’s attention.

You can also create an illusion of space by rearranging the furniture. You may need to remove and store pieces to make the space feel less crowded.

Having space for entertaining is a popular selling point for buyers. Arrange your furniture into groupings that suggest an ideal setting for conversations.

Next de-personalize your home so buyers can imagine what it would look like with their personal keepsakes. You should store pictures, trophies, collectibles and other personal items.

Bathrooms and bedrooms can be updated with some small touches. Thick plush towels, fresh flowers, new bed linens, candles, attractive bath soaps are just a few items that can turn these rooms from ordinary to luxurious.

Following these quick tips can really make a difference in the length of time your home is on the market. Happy staging!