Selling your home requires staging, decluttering and neutralizing to create mass appeal. It also takes a bit of swallowed pride. Here are five secrets to selling your home:

Declutter

Nothing opens a space up more than a complete decluttering. The trick is to first neaten and then start editing. Keep things simple, neat and inviting with these tips:

• Go Spare, not sparse: Keep the room basics such as a sofa, coffee table, side chair, and shelf. You want the home to look lived in, not deserted.
• Get Ruthless: When it comes to items such as magazines and books be ruthless and clear it all away. 
• Counter Attack: Keep those kitchen and bathroom counters completely clear of items. They should shout plenty of space to potential buyers.
• Wall Watching: Edit walls covered in art and photo collections to a few neat clusters.
• Lose the Collections: All collections should be stored away – think of it as early packing.
• Edit Pillows: Pillows add interest but too many make people nervous. There should be no more than three per couch or bed.
• Store: Store everything neatly in closets. Anything that doesn’t fit should be taken away when showing the home. You don’t want people opening closets that are overstuffed and messy. It will make them think you lack storage space.

Simple Decor

Once you have edited your space it will need some decorative touches. Make sure there are some pictures hanging on walls. Add areas rugs to warm up hardwood floors. Place lamps on side tables to make things cosy for evening showings. Hang a new, sophisticated shower curtain with new towels. Stage your bedroom with a crisp white sheet over a tired old duvet. Add some throw cushions to the bed and sofa. Create a feeling that will make people see themselves living in the space with little to no effort.

Tiny Upgrades

Add some tiny upgrades. Think affordable, but impactful to take away from less attractive aspects of the home. Fresh paint on walls and trim will work wonders. Look at the kitchen and consider new countertops or a lick of paint on worn, unattractive 80’s cabinets. Steam clean carpets throughout the home to remove stains and freshen the room. Hire a professional cleaner to scrub your kitchen and bathrooms. Install modern light fixtures and replace worn faucets in the bathrooms and in the kitchen. These are small details, but oddly they are details people often notice.

Neutralize

When making your upgrades use neutral colours to allow the natural highlights of the room to shine. People will see past the cosmetic headache of having to paint the entire home and see ready to move in space. Neutral colours allow people to see themselves living in the home. They will be able to visualize their own belongings in each room. Wallpaper is a definite no; if possible peel it or paint over it. Keep curtains open to allow natural light to make rooms appear bright and airy.

Calming Aromas

As a final touch prior to a viewing, create the perfect welcoming ambiance with calming aromas. Consider baking an apple or pumpkin pie or chocolate chip cookies. You can also simmer cloves, cinnamon sticks and ginger on very low heat in a large pot of water. It is best to avoid burning scented candles as they can be offensive to some potential buyers. They can also be dangerous when left unattended.

Creating a clutter free home with notable upgrades will help sell your home without delay.