Talk to your REALTOR® or consult friends who seem to have a knack for decorating. Getting input from others can help you pick the best and edit out the worst in your home. Now is not the time to be thin-skinned... you need to be prepared for some constructive criticism. It's far better to hear it before you list your home for sale than to have potention buyers bypass your home for one that just feels better to them. You're not selling 'your style and taste', you're selling your house - and you want to get as much for it as you possibly can. Believe us, buyers will actually refuse to by a home simply because of the way it is decorated. As amazing as it may seem, many people just don't have the vision to see past 'your stuff' and see the potential for 'their stuff'.
Look through home decorating magazines. Not everyone is a natural decorator and fewer still are professionals. Look at current trends to familiarize yourself with how interior design is being marketed. Pick out a few inexpensive ideas and implement them in your own home. Visit builder's models for ideas too.
Really focus in on the main living areas. These are where most homebuyers will concentrate their time and attention. Make sure lighting is adequate - utilize natural light when at all possible. Arrange furniture so that it looks like a place to enjoy other people - not the television. (Sure, most people arrange each seat to have a good view, but the TV won't be on while buyers are coming through. You'll want them to feel like this house can be their 'safe harbor home'.) Leave only a few family photos out... remember, you want them to picture themselves in the home, not you. Utilize houseplants, candle groupings, and clear glass bowls filled with potpourri on tables. Organize clutter and limit the number of knick-knacks. Place a few nice magazines by a reading chair.
If you have an extra room or space, stage an office setting if you don't already have one. Many people work out of a home office or just like to have a work space for themselves or children. If you already have one, be sure to keep it neat and tidy and make sure 'confidential' materials are hidden away.
Pay particular attention to the kitchen. Put away dish towels and rags. Clear counter tops of unnecessary clutter like recipe boxes, barrels of cooking utensils, blenders, mixers, toasters, etc. If the cabinets are showing age, clean them up and consider putting on new knobs. Take all those magnets and pictures off the refrigerator! Organize the pantry, cabinets and drawers (yes, people do look through them). Eliminate much of the contents of cabinets. If they are crammed full, it will appear that there isn't enough storage space. (Keep this in mind with all of your closets throughout the house as well.) Keep fresh fruit in a bowl out at all times. Clean everything in the kitchen... then clean it again. After you finish cleaning, clean some more...... Did we mention you should clean?
Remember the bathrooms too. Much of what we said about the kitchen applies to the baths too. Especially that part about cleaning! They need to be absolutely spotless. Make them sparkle! Buy a new shower curtain and separate liner. Wash the liner often if mold is a problem. Add complete sets of towels that coordinate with your new shower curtain. Get all your cosmetics off the vanity. If you have a cabinet over the toilet, consider taking it down and putting nice piece of artwork in it's place.
Make the bedroom a safe haven - comfortable and warm. Remember to keep "personal" items out of sight at all times. Buyers will look in the closets but they won't open dresser drawers or containers so hide those items there. Arrange clothes neatly in the closet and minimize the amount of items there. You want the closets to look as large as possible. If you have a king size bed in a small room, clear it out now. That bed makes the room look too small and the buyer will take thousands of dollars off their offer to make up for it. As in other parts of the house, maximize natural lighting. Don't leave heavy drapes covering the windows. And one final word of caution - clear out the things under the bed, someone might decide to look there.
And finally, make the entrance inviting. First impressions are lasting impressions. The impression buyers get when they walk up to and through the front door will continue throughout their tour. A simple wreath on the door or flower by the door outside and a small console table with mirror over it in the foyer makes a nice entranceway. Make sure this space is well lit day and night. And place adhesive under rugs so buyers don't slip and fall.
Don't decorate with inexpensive silk flowers. You've probably gotten used to seeing them and don't even notice that they are way past their prime. Throw them out - they'll be a distraction to the home buyer.
Don't use the family dishes for the pet's food. Buy pet appropriate bowls and keep them clean. Or better yet, keep them hidden. And, please don't let the kitty litter get 'stale'. We know you love your pet but some people don't or they have allergies. We've seen pet odors and dander turn off more buyers than almost anything else. Don't give buyers that excuse not to buy!
Don't leave old, worn, dingy window treatments up. In fact, the less treatments, the better. Today, less is more when it comes to window dressings and they must be clean, fresh and light. And the layered affect of heavier drapes over sheers is "out". You're moving out so don't worry about what you like... think about what buyers want.
Don't skimp on the lighting. Replace bulbs that are burned out and use high enough wattage bulbs to provide good lighting. Sure, you've been saving money on utility bills with those low-watt bulbs but poor lighting can cost you a bundle when that offer comes in low just because the home didn't 'show' well.
Don't assume that everyone loves your wallpaper. Wallpaper is like artwork - everyone's a critic. If your paper is more than a few years old, strip it down and paint. Oh, by-the-way borders are 'out' too.
If you need to paint, avoid bold colors. You may love the deep reds and purples and greens (we do too) but you're far safer using warm neutral colors. People tend to either love the deep colors or hate them. Don't take the chance that your buyer hates them. Light taupe seems to work well as most other colors work well with it. People can visualize their own colors with it.
Finally, don't forget to clean, clean, clean and then clean again. Clean today, clean tomorrow and clean every day until your house sells. Oh, and that goes for the windows too... did we mention the importance of lots of natural light?