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Amy Hoak's Home Economics

10 home staging tips from a TV designer

RESA/RealEstateMakeovers.ca/Leah J. ArmstrongStaging shows buyers the property's true potential.

CHICAGO (MarketWatch)--Worried about trying to sell your home in this buyer's market? Adopting some simple staging tips from the pros can help your home sell faster.

The effort may be well worth your time, according to the Real Estate Staging Association. The group studied 174 homes that had been on the market for an average of 156 days before homeowners hired a professional home stager. After staging, they sold an average of 42 days after re-listing.

But there's not always a need to call in a professional for this job. "Keep that money for yourself," said Thomas Rouse, who was a lead design producer at "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and has worked on other home television programs. As long as you have a friend with a strong eye to give you a second opinion, staging a home for sale is often something owners can handle on their own, he said.

Many real-estate agents agree. In a recent HomeGain survey of 500 real-estate agents, cleaning and de-cluttering, lightening and brightening rooms, and staging were among the top five low-cost, do-it-yourself home improvements suggested for people getting their homes ready to sell.

Professionals often say staging goes beyond just basic de-cluttering and painting, focusing on the arrangement and mood of rooms, said Louis Cammarosano, general manager of HomeGain, a provider of online programs connecting real-estate agents with home buyers and sellers. But all are important to making a home presentable before listing--not after the home has languished on the market.

"If the place is a mess and people look at it, and many people have been turned off by it, it's viewed by the market as damaged goods," Cammarosano said. Generally, the longer a home stays on the market, the lower the price it will fetch, he added.

Here are Rouse's top tips for home staging on a budget.

1. Put on a fresh coat of paint.

It's one of the most obvious and inexpensive upgrades, but fresh paint on the walls and trim will give home sellers a lot of bang for their buck, Rouse said. Stick with a neutral palette for the walls, and consider giving the exterior of the home a fresh coat as well, if you have the extra cash.

2. Don't leave a room empty.

Furniture helps buyers visualize living in that space. Try to avoid furniture with patterns, Rouse said, and use pops of color through bright throws and pillows.

3. Use the TV as artwork.

A flat-screen TV, mounted to the wall in a size appropriate for the space, can function as a piece of art in a living room or other common area, he said. A TV is "the modern-day family hearth," so use it to your advantage: Play a simple, silent slide show of nature images. Don't include pictures of people, which can be distracting to buyers, Rouse said. And keep TVs out of bedrooms.

4. Fill up dead wall space.

A lack of wall hangings can make a home feel cold, so add framed artwork, photography or mirrors. If using photos of people, choose prints that are black and white or sepia, which is less distracting. But don't be afraid to mix it up, Rouse said; hanging reclaimed wood or plates on walls are creative options.

5. Add window treatments.

A blank window can make a house feel sterile. A simple curtain rod and drapes in a solid color will cozy up the place. Curtains also frame the view to the yard, Rouse said.

6. Maintain the yard.

"People think they're selling the house, not the property, and it doesn't have to be something great, Rouse said. "But at least keep it maintained, cutting the grass before the buyer shows up."

7. Choose flowers wisely.

Live plants and fresh-cut flowers add life to a home, but keep it simple. A bunch of store-bought flowers of the same color, placed in a simple glass vase on the dining-room table, will be appealing without being a distraction. Don't use fake plants, trees or flowers. They will make your home appear dated, Rouse said.

8. Tidy your bookshelves.

Remove protective covers from books on bookshelves. The books' solid colors will turn your personal library into a more decorative focal point.

9. Keep the bedroom gender-neutral.

Avoid gender-specific elements in the master bedroom. Bedroom color palettes should be neutral, and simple white bedding can make a room feel fresh.

10. De-clutter the entire house.

Remove personal items from rooms, including family photos and some of your collectibles. Cutting down on clutter will make your rooms appear bigger and cleaner. A simple test to see if you've removed enough: If you stand in the back of the room and no item stands out too much, you've done your job, Rouse said. In the kitchen, clear small appliances off countertops, Cammarosano added. Straighten up and organize the food items in your cupboards and tidy up closets.