When most people think about home staging, they think of arranging furniture just so, or adding fresh flowers to the dining room table. But another important part of home staging is making sure everything in you home is in good working order. Taking care of minor repairs can make a big difference in how your home looks to others.

One of the rules of home staging is that you have to “depersonalize” your house. For many people, some of the most personal decorative items they have relate to their religion or culture. Faith-based artwork, sculpture, even a Bible on display serve as daily reminders of the depth of their beliefs.

When it comes to selling your home, few areas get more scrutiny than the kitchen. Potential home buyers may be willing to give a little on their wants for living room design or bedroom size. But the vision they have for their new home’s kitchen is important and, in many cases, non-negotiable. You will need to concentrate your home staging efforts in the kitchen to ensure success.

Home staging is about making your house look clean and inviting. This is especially true when it comes to your bathrooms. Most people think of the bathroom as a place where they will be getting ready for their day. If your bathrooms look dirty or unsanitary, this could sabotage all of your other home staging efforts.

Is the money you spend to stage your home well spent? Yes, without a doubt. Here’s why. Home staging is not remodeling. Assuming that your home is already in livable condition, all you’re trying to accomplish with home staging is making sure potential buyers see your home’s best side. When your house makes a favorable impression on home buyers, then you stand a much better chance of getting the price you want.