10 STAGING TIPS ON A BUDGET

1. GO GREEN: if you have done-eco friendly updates or remodels on your home advertise those facts. It adds value.

2. EXPAND THE CLOSET: pack it up, if you do not need it pack it. De-clutter and remove close. Better to store neatly stacked boxes in the garage or basment.

3. PUT A LID ON IT: close all closet doors, toilet seats.

4. PICK A FOCAL POINT: de-clutter and put one bright, unique object in the focal point. It brings your eye to that are of the room. Too much stuff and a buyer can not picture their personal in the home. More is NOT better when selling. A good thing to do is take a picture of the room. Does it looks like the ones you see in the magazines? Take a look at a home book -- most of them are very empty rooms. NO CLUTTER!

5. ADD BATHROOM CHARM: buy new never been used white towel. Again pick a focal point, bring in a single object of color to pull your eye to that.

6. NIX PERSONAL PHOTOS: take them all down and out of the house. You are not selling your personal life, you want the house to sell itself.

PETS STINK - IT IS A FACT: Keep the smell out of the house. Get new dog beds, New litter box and keep it clean. You may not know your house has a smell. Ask your agent and be ready to do something about it. A buyer who does not have pets will walk away from a home if it has a bad pet smell.

7. BRIGHTEN IT UP: Change out all light bulbs in order to get the most light possible. Put in those 100 watt bulbs. You do not want the home to feel dark and we have a lot of dark days in Oregon. Lighten up paint, if you have a dark brown or red it makes too much of a statment. Go with cream, the room will look bigger and brighter.

9. FRONT DOOR & PORCH: This is the most important part of the home. Clean Clean Clean. Repaint porch (9 times out of 10 it needs it), get a new door rug (do not get cute kitties) keep it clean and simple, new light bulb and no bugs in the light, repaint the door a bright color and put a potted plant near the door. This is wear the client spends the most time!

10. YARD: mow, edg and add new dark bark -- again make it clean!