Home staging fills many homeowners with dread, but when you approach it from the perspective of the buyer, it becomes much simpler. Staging your home creates the best possible impression on potential buyers and, according to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 50% of real estate agents report that staging influences buyers' decisions.

Clear Your Home of Clutter

The family photographs on your mantel and the box of kids' toys in the living room won't impress buyers. Before you can stage your house, you must eliminate all non-essential elements. Take a tour of a local model home when the builder advertises an open house. Walk through the rooms to get an idea of what buyers want to see. Staging should eliminate all personalized decor.

 Establish a Purpose for Each Room

You might use your dining room as your home office or your garage as an amateur potting shed. When staging your home, however, think about how buyers would most likely use each space. Don't leave any furniture or accessories in a room that don't align with the intended purpose. For example, remove the desk from the dining room and the stacks of pots and mulch from the garage. Keep buyers focused on how they might use the space.

Choose Understated Furniture

If you want to appeal to a broad cross-section of buyers, select understated furniture that won't offend any shoppers' design sensibilities. For example, avoid ultra-vintage or super-modern pieces. Both timeless and contemporary furnishings work well in staged homes. By using coupons for softsurroundings.com, you can save on classic furnishings and accents for your staging design. Choose neutral colors so buyers can imagine their own styles in the space without any distractions.

Scrub Bathrooms and Kitchens

Don't risk repelling potential buyers with soap scum in the showers or grease stains on the stove. Clean both of these rooms thoroughly and give them a swipe every day to maintain them.

Add Minimal Accessories

A few pieces of artwork that tie together your furniture and a couple area rugs in your living spaces help a staged home feel lived-in and comfortable. Just don't go overboard. Avoid accessories that lend themselves to particular hobbies and preferences. For example, a living room filled with nautical elements might turn off potential buyers, but a small vignette of pottery on an occasional table gives the room a classy touch.

Keep It Gender-Neutral

In addition to neutral colors, don't favor a particular gender in your decor. Avoid frilly pinks and purples, for example, as well as overly masculine bachelor-style furniture. Allow buyers of all types to appreciate the space.

Staging a home makes it more likely that your property will sell quickly and at a fair price point. Stick to the guidelines above for the best results.