Viewing a house for sale requires buyers to visualize the property as a future place to call home. Would-be buyers often have to rely on their imagination for how they want to design the property as homeowners and what that man cave set-up in the basement could look like.

Staging your home before you put it on the market is a great way to impress potential buyers or create a living space that homeowners may prefer. Seventy-seven percent of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home, according to the National Association of Realtors®' 2017 Profile of Home Staging.

"Buyers want to be able to picture the home’s interior designs in the easiest way possible. Staging your home with even the smallest touches like new bathroom towels, drapes over the windows or flowers on a coffee table will liven up your listing and make a big difference to the buyer," said Crosby.

Staging your home can also put you ahead of the competition, no small feat in an unpredictable and high-cost housing market. "Over 60 percent of sellers' agents say staging a home decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market. With so many factors that play into what sells a home and what buyers are willing to pay, staging your home is an advantage that can mean selling faster or at a higher price," said Crosby.

Here are some simple staging tips that will help you spruce up your listing and stay ahead of the market:

• Declutter living spaces. It is a good idea to clear all unnecessary objects throughout the house, such as magazines on the coffee table and bathroom items on the sink. Also, take down magnets and pictures from the refrigerator and remove clothes you do not wear from closets to show a cleaner, more spacious area.
• Refresh your walls. Remove and rearrange artwork or photos and then patch and paint interior walls to give buyers a better visual of each room. "A new coat of paint can brighten up rooms and give the interior a facelift. Something as simple as refreshing walls can affect a buyer’s perception of the home’s value and potentially raise the price," said Crosby.
• Personalize spare rooms. Buyers will have different needs depending on family size, and it is wise to stage a spare bedroom based on your target buyers. "If you are putting a condo on the market, you might want to stage the spare bedroom as office space for young and single professionals. Make sure the room is comfortable, has overhead lighting, plenty of room for a desk and an area for filing cabinets," said Crosby.

By simply following a few staging guidelines, you can increase your home's value and help it sell more quickly. A Realtor®, a member of the National Association of Realtors®, can provide more information on staging your home and share advice about buying or selling a home in 2018.