| With the proliferation of decorating tips, through | | | | sure your home is spotless. Then declutter—get |
| television, magazines and online, you've probably | | | | rid of all the extra junk that's been accumulating over |
| heard something about staging. Las Vegas is the city | | | | the years. This has an added bonus of getting you |
| of stages and it's no surprise that this practice is | | | | organized before your move. Your home should |
| taking off here. Staging is essentially preparing your | | | | appear spacious and should definitely feel like |
| home for its big debut: you want to appeal to | | | | someone lives in it, but don't make it too |
| buyers, catch their eye and their hearts. By making | | | | personal—you want the buyer to imagine it as |
| some basic cosmetic changes, your Las Vegas home | | | | their home, not get caught up in your memories. |
| can steal the show. | | | | That said, every room should have furniture in |
| Staging is all the rage at the moment, and there are | | | | it—this gives the room a sense of scale and |
| a a few good reasons for this—the main one | | | | makes it feel homey. |
| being sales. Studies suggest that staging your home | | | | Lighting is essential—the lighting can make a room |
| can increase the sale price by seven to ten per cent. | | | | appear warm, spacious or sophisticated. When |
| The other main reason is time: on average staged | | | | showing your property, opening the curtains and |
| homes sell faster than unstaged homes. Market | | | | turning on lights can make the space appear bright |
| factors should be considered of course—if homes | | | | and airy. Sometimes adding a few additional lights is a |
| in your neighborhood are selling like hotcakes you | | | | good idea—no one wants to live in a cave. |
| probably have less work to do than in a slower | | | | Little things can make a big impression—basic |
| market. But even in a place like Las Vegas where the | | | | touches like plants and candles can make your home |
| market is good, it never hurts to give your home the | | | | seem more appealing. Pay attention to the |
| competitive edge it deserves. | | | | temperature when showing your home. In colder |
| If you want to go the professional route there are | | | | climates a cold home will put off the buyer, but in |
| many companies and designers that can help you | | | | warmer places like Las Vegas homeowners need to |
| with an overhaul—they are trained in choosing | | | | be careful the space doesn't feel stuffy. |
| colors and textures and will rearrange your furniture | | | | Nourish all the senses—especially smell. That |
| to best suit the space. They may even suggest | | | | means no smoking in the house when it's for sale. |
| additional pieces or minor renovations. But if you don't | | | | Litter boxes should be changed, and other odor |
| have a budget for that, or if you like doing things | | | | causing issues taken care of. To make your home |
| yourself, there are some basic things that any | | | | feel especially welcoming boil some cinnamon sticks in |
| homeowner can do. | | | | a pot of water on your stove top before showing. |
| The first thing challenge is to start thinking like a | | | | This will give your home an irresistable smell. Leave |
| buyer, not a seller. You want to make it easy for a | | | | some cut flowers or freshly baked cookies in the |
| buyer to walk in and see themselves living in your | | | | kitchen to welcome your potential buyers. |
| home. You don't want them to be thinking about all | | | | There are so many resources available for more |
| the work they need to do to make it livable. The | | | | staging ideas. With a little effort your home can |
| easiest and most obvious place to start is by making | | | | sparkle like the Las Vegas strip. |