If you're getting ready to put your home on the market, every little detail can make a huge difference in its marketability. Not only is it vitally important to make a great first impression on prospective buyers, but you also want those good feelings to linger after they walk out the door. Although homeowners generally don't need to concern themselves with the marketing aspects of selling their property, there is one sales principle which is well worth keeping in mind: More often than not, people make buying decisions based on their emotions and subconscious feelings, rather than on concrete facts and rational thought. It's only after they've made their emotion-based buying decision that they attempt to justify it with facts and logic. So "gut feelings," intuition, and emotions can play a central role in how and why people choose to buy one home over another. Easy Home Staging Tips That's why it can be beneficial to have the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee, cookies, cinnamon buns, or homemade bread wafting through the air when prospective home buyers visit. It can help put your visitors in a positive state of mind, and cause them to associate your home with those enticing aromas and good feelings. Unfortunately, the opposite effect can also come into play during a house showing. For example, offensive odors in the air could raise questions about the cleanliness or desirability of your house. If pet smells, stale tobacco smoke, or dirty laundry odors are among the recollections that linger in the minds (and noses) of would-be buyers, you can be sure they'll be less likely to make an offer. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to counteract unpleasant odors and keep your home smelling fresh and inviting for real estate showings. Two other key things to consider when preparing your home for potential buyers are lighting and clutter. When one or more rooms look cluttered, it creates two negative impressions in the minds of prospects:

1. It makes the living space look small and confining, which detracts from the perceived value of your home.
2. It also creates an impression of chaos and disorganization. Whether that's a description of your family's lifestyle or not, you definitely don't want to convey that to prospective buyers.

Lighting Sets The Tone Lighting can be a tricky thing to get just right, because there's a thin line between soft lighting and gloomy lighting. Also, if the lights are too low, people might be wondering what flaws you're trying to hide. Harsh lighting can also have a negative effect on how people perceive your home, so if you notice visitors squinting or shading their eyes when they enter a room, it may be time to install a dimmer switch! Get an Expert Opinion In most cases, home sellers need input from a real estate agent, Realtor, or experienced home staging consultant to be able to show their home to its full potential. A professional can help you focus on specific areas in need of improvement, and can often provide cost-effective suggestions for making it more appealing to buyers. If you've been living there for a number of years, it's almost impossible to be objective about what needs to be changed, repainted, rearranged, or replaced. A seasoned real estate professional can look at things from the perspective of a potential buyer, and make recommendations that could help improve your curb appeal, present your home in its best light, and sell it faster and for the best possible price.