Sellers shouldn’t look at the cost of staging a home. Instead, they should
consider how much more it will allow them to make on their house, says
Peggy Selinger-Eaton, who has recently published a book and DVD
entitled, "Stage Your Home for Profit." Here are Selinger-Eaton’s
suggestions for do-it-yourself stagers:

• Remove clutter except for a few wisely chosen accessories (candles,
fresh flowers, crystal).

• Bedrooms should have beds: If you're a bed short, use an inflatable
mattress and some boxes to create a faux bed.

• Light and more light: Raise window blinds and remove screens from
windows to let in as much natural light as possible.

• Modernize fixtures: Replace boring or tarnished light fixtures. Trade in
old lampshades for new ones. Replace sink and tub fixtures with
modern, shiny ones.

• Deep-six shabby furniture. Selinger-Eaton recommends buying cheap-
chic replacements at Target.

• Create life: Set the table, leave on the big-screen TV, play background
music.

Source: Christian Science Monitor, Keith Rockmael (03/13/2006)
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