Staging home can boost sale!

The hottest market in real estate is under $100,000, followed by the under $200,000 price range for homes, townhouses and condominiums. So where do you go if you are a seller in another price range?

Investors and homebuyers who have time to wait are looking for properties that can be purchased for 15 percent to 20 percent under market value, and they are not looking for "fixer uppers." In fact, the typical buyer in the price range of $400,000 to $900,000 is looking for a property that shows like a model home. And they want all of the furniture, too. This is all negotiated in many sales in today's market.

Stage your home for selling. Here are some tips:

• Exterior appeal from the curb, up the driveway and to the front door should be impeccable.
• Flower beds should be mulched and weeded, plants trimmed and spruced up to lead buyers to the entrance.
• Your front door should sparkle and shine with new, neutral paint, as should the exterior and interior of the property.
• The first thing visitors should see as they enter is a light, airy and bright view of your home. This should capture the heart of the buyer, especially if he or she is from the North where the snow is still falling.
• The carpet should be clean and possibly, just vacuumed. Be prepared to vacuum when you hear a potential buyer is coming for a look.
• The smell of the home should be as fresh as the outdoors, not camouflaged by scented candles or plug- ins.
• Showcase floor space by removing small area rugs. Consider storing some furniture and accessories to keep the look clean.
• Kitchen counters shouldn't be bare, but consider hiding some small appliances, cookbooks, notepaper, pencil boxes and more to create a clean look -- one item per section of counter is a good rule of thumb. Likewise, get rid of dirty dishes and shine up faucets and sinks.
• Bathrooms should be impeccable with shiny showers and tubs and closed toilet lids.
• Owners and pets should exit the property before each showing.
• Back porches and barbecue areas should offer seating and be surrounded by tropical plants offering visitors the image of outdoor entertaining to the fullest. After all, this is the Florida lifestyle.
• Beds should be made, and bedrooms staged like a model home with lamps and nightstands that coordinate in colors that are soothing.
• Utility rooms can show some signs of use but one should be able to view the storage areas and the versatility of the room. The same is true of the garage and closet areas. Just make sure that all are not too cluttered to detract from the use of the room.
  

Now that your home is staged, it may be necessary for you to camp in the nearest hotel because it is difficult to live this way. Competition is fierce, but buyers are out there in force.