When getting your home ready to put up for sale, there’s no need to panic. There are no magic secrets to successful home staging to get it prepared for selling. It can simply be summed up in one word - 'UN-DECORATING' It's easy, when you follow these 3 simple steps: De-clutter: In this case, less is more. Clutter can eat up valuable space that can increase your home's equity. Begin by packing away items you want to take with you to your new home and get rid of anything you don't want or need anymore. Having fewer items around will make your rooms appear larger and more spacious, which appeals to home buyers. Depersonalize: Emotionally detach yourself from your home. Think of it as a 'house', not as a 'home'. Most buyers want to see what’s right in front of them and the home they’ll be creating, not the one you lived in. That being said, seeing walls full of old wedding and family photos, as well as personal knick-knacks, make it difficult for them to (forgive the pun) 'picture' themselves living in that space. Opt instead to display simple artwork and accessories. Last, but definitely not least... Revitalize: Make any necessary repairs and freshen walls with a new coat of paint in a neutral colour. It goes without saying that staging a home can seem time consuming and costly. But believe me, if done properly, it can definitely pay off in the end. And when all is said and done, and you've finally sold your home...that's when the real fun begins...Shopping for new furniture and accessories to 'decorate' your new home!

Article Written By:

Beatrice Espinola (beatrice@decorium.ca),

Design Consultant at Decorium on Supertest.