First impressions make a significant impact on a buyer's decision-making process!

Once your home goes on the market, it becomes a product. Home Styling or Staging simply allows you to highlight the best of your home and de-emphasize its flaws. It's not about decorating, but actually turning your home into a model, to appeal to the broadest range of prospective buyers. The goal is to make people feel like they could live there, and the best way to do this is to "neutralize" the surroundings, However according to Oprah's decorating Expert Nate Berkus, The home still must have character and sometimes to accomplish that you may need to be a little more creative with certain color schemes without using overly bold or loud paint.

When a prospect comes to look at your house curb appeal is vital. Your front lawn and other landscaping should be neatly trimmed and mowed. Walks and steps should be swept or shoveled. The front door must be clean with the doorbell in working order.

Try out these helpful styling tips taken from Setting the Stage - REALTOR® Magazine Online. They've compiled the best tips from stagers and real estate pros—things you can do for little or no expense—to put a home in prime showing shape.

The Sweet Smell of a Successful Sale

Scents and aromas can have a dramatic impact on people’s emotions. Don’t ignore the power of fragrance when showing your home. Smoke, pet odors, and cooking smells can each dramatically impact how potential buyers feel about your house. If your potential buyers never form an emotional connection to your home, chances are that they will remain just that – potential buyers. Don’t allow smoking in your house for weeks leading up to showing it, find a pet-sitter for a few days, and clean, clean, clean! Once you’ve removed any aromas that might be off-putting and freshened the air in your home, you can actually use scent to your advantage. Consider doing some baking prior to showings. The scent of fresh apple pie is hard to beat when it comes to creating the atmosphere of a welcoming home! TIP: In a pinch, a mixture of water, vanilla extract, and brown sugar in an oven on low heat can be used to create the pleasing aroma of fresh baking. To a certain extent, buyers make purchase decisions based on their emotional response, so it’s important to make it easy for them to fall in love with your home. Pleasant smells are one more way to do so.

• Let the sun shine in - Open the drapres/blinds. Clean the windows to show buyers how cheerful and bright your house is.
• Clear out closets and clutter—sellers can give away or pack up toys, linens, and small kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly tucked away in a garage or basement.
• Focus most on the most visible areas—the foyer, kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and family room.
• De-personalize the home by removing photos, momentos, and dated items.
• Use plants in colorful pots or inexpensive wicker baskets to fill in empty spaces.
• Look to home catalogs for little details on beautifying the home. For instance, group books, pictures, and objects on bookcases.
• Try angling one or two pieces of furniture slightly and move furniture 4 inches to 6 inches from the wall to create more interesting room spaces.
• Little things mean a lot - Check and repair any loose doorknobs or cabinet pulls, sticking doors and drawers, wobbly hinges and stuck windows. All of these seemingly minor flaws detract from the value of your house.
• Don't be a drip. Fix leaky faucets - dripping water suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Discolored or rust stained sinks are also warning signs and should be properly cleaned. Check your water pressure on all faucets, most buyers always check this.
• Bathrooms sell homes. Make bathrooms sparkle! make sure that towels and area rugs are clean and that all light fixtures are in working order.
• Put away large collections— porcelains, plates, and so on.
• Remove valuables, prescription medicine, collectibles, and breakables.
• Safety first. Keep stairways and corridors clear of clutter. In addition to being unattractive, clutter can cause major accidents. 
• Trim trees, prune shrubs, and make sure the lawn is mowed and watered regularly.
• In summer, turn on the sprinklers for five minutes, 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.
• Refrain from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor, such as fish, garlic, or cabbage.
• Hire a professional service to clean the home, including the carpets and the windows.
• Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.
• Arrange fresh or silk flowers throughout the home.
• Light a fire in the fireplace in fall and winter.
• A mirror in a pretty frame can make a small room feel more open.
• Use as much natural light as possible. Add extra lamps in dark rooms or corners.
• Put fido outside. Dogs may be a man's best friend, but not when showing your house. Keep all pets out of the way.
• Avoid Crowds. Potential buyers will feel like an intruder and want to hurry through the inspection of your house if there are too many people around. Vacate your home entirely for showings.
• This is not a garage sale. Don't try to sell any furniture or furnishings that you don't want to potential buyers. They haven't even bought your house yet and that could foul-up the sale.
• By appointment only! Never let strangers into your home! If someone knocks on your door and ask to see the house, refer them to your agent. The agent will make sure they are safe, pre-qualified buyers.
• Be available to your Realtor. Quick, satisfying sales can occur with buyers in a hurry. Be sure your agent can reach you.
• SILENCE IS GOLDEN. Never,Never,Never discuss details of failed offers with friends, family, or associates. You could damage your ability to negotiate the best offer. You don't always know who knows whom....
• Bring in another pair of eyes—even if it’s not a professional stylist. The person may see problems you may have missed.
• 450 Ideas to help your home sell faster!