How to increase the sale value of your home!

If you're thinking of selling and know that 'Staging' is becoming very popular, here are some things that you can do yourself to improve the saleability of your home:

Fast fix for the linen closet.  Do the towels on your shelves look as rumpled as those in the hamper?  Try folding them so that all decorative bands line up.  Or, roll and stack towels to evoke the image of a high-end hotel or spa.

Colour-code clothes.  Crammed closets look chaotic.  Hand clothes in order, from light to dark, for an upscale-store feel.

Create cozy nooks.  Cluster furniture in snug conversation areas, leaving a clear pathway 20 inches wide.  Your goal: intimate but not cramped.

Don't forget the kitchen.  Organizing underneath the sink makes everything look orderly-even the plumbing.

Keep the fireplace mantels sparse.  Put away all but a few well-chosen accessories.  The empty space allows buyers to imagine their own knick-knacks decorating the house.

Spruce up your shelves.  In the kitchen, turn all cans and boxes so that the labels face outward, giving cupboards a tidy grocery-store appeal.

Remove family photos.  Depersonalizing the space makes it easier for others to see the house as their own.

Hide the cosmetics. Put all toothbrushes, razors, and night creams in a makeup bag in the hallway closet.  No buyer wants to imagine other people attending to hygiene issues in their future home.

Set an attractive table.  Help visitors imagine a warm evening in their new home by clearing off the table, then setting it for dinner. 

Maybe you'll be so impressed with your home's new look, you'll decide you really don't want to move after all!