Staging is the process of making your home look appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, increasing the odds of a quicker and higher offer. When properly done, staging will make your home look so good, they'll want to move in that day! Statistics from a study conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® in 2017 show that home staging not only made it easier for buyers to visualize themselves living there, but it also decreased the amount of time a home spent on the market. If you want a leg up on the competition in your market area, consider these home staging projects.

LIVING ROOM

If you only stage one room in your house, make it this one. You can start by rearranging your furniture into inviting conversation areas, rather than having everything shoved against the walls. Allowing for an unobstructed flow of traffic will make the room feel bigger. An overall neutral color scheme is sophisticated, with pops of color here and there in artwork and decorations to keep it from being boring. If your room has any interesting details like built-in shelves, a fireplace or a spectacular view, you'll want to draw attention to them. Two things, however, should be absent: family photos and clutter.

DINING ROOM

Whether your home has a formal dining room or just an eat-in area of the kitchen, you want it to be inviting to visitors. The best way to do that is to set the table with dishes, glassware, linens and decorations which complement the overall décor of the home with a slightly modern feel.

KITCHEN

The heart of the home, you want your kitchen to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Ideally, your cabinets and countertops will be updated with high quality materials, but if that is not possible, there may be a less expensive fix. Replace the backsplash, reface the cabinets and replace the handles for a fresh look. A clutter-free countertop goes a long way toward making your kitchen feel larger – so clear it off and only leave out a few deliberate items, like a bowl of lemons or a vase of fresh cut flowers before showings.

MASTER BEDROOM

This room, more than any other, should be a calming oasis. Quiet neutrals or soothing blues and greens are smart choices, along with soft fabrics. Clutter is the enemy when it comes to reducing stress, so eliminate it completely from this area. Un-stuff your closets and organize them attractively to amplify storage capacity.

"STORAGE" ROOM

Many people have a bedroom or even a porch which ends up being the catch-all for extra stuff. This is not good to show buyers, because it will seem like you've neglected part of your house. Before you put your home on the market, get rid of all that clutter and turn the space back into a useful room. Making it into an office or a reading area with comfy chairs, books and a lamp will make your home feel not only larger, but also more cared-for. And you want buyers to imagine themselves living in every room of your house.

Emotion plays a huge part in a home-buying decision. Any little detail which connects on an emotional level is good, because if buyers can envision their future lifestyle when they walk through, they'll likely make an offer. So before you allow a sign in your yard, give careful consideration to staging projects. They may just prove to be a worthwhile investment.