Personalize Your Home Painting

Interior wall colors are not just about red, green or yellow. It is a sophisticated world of different shades that create a unique personality for every room. Wall colors and patterns influence the mood, style and appearance of your house.

In my opinion choosing the right colors, shades, or patterns is very important as it will give the whole place a special tone that is in harmony with your own character.

When we decide painting the interiors, we either rush to the paint shop and look for the latest shades, or paint the room with our favorite colors. There is hardly any thought whether this choice will suit the place or not. Usually we end up wasting money without getting the desired result. This can be very frustrating.
To spare you this, there are few aspects to consider; the utility of the room, the light it receives during the day, the style and colors of furniture, the size of the room, and finally the color strategy.

Which Room....
For each room there is a mood, and for each mood there is an appropriate color group. For living rooms, or any place to relax in it is preferred to use cool colors. These colors reflect a restful and relaxing environment.

While for a formal sophisticated space with a dramatic touch, use dark, rich colors such as deep taupe, or sapphire blue. In dining rooms deep reds will arouse appetite. Using warm colors in office spaces can be stimulating and energizing. But it is important to be careful as too much warm colors can be agitating for the work environment.

Primary colors like white, yellow, blue and red usually create playful environment for kids.

For kitchens, yellow is a very good choice as it gives a cheery mood, which makes cooking fun.

Finally, for bedrooms, the pastel colors are always a great choice. Pastes mainly promote romantic and dreamy surrounding for a peaceful sleep.

Furniture Style and Colors....
If your furniture, carpets, and floorings are colorful using Neutrals colors like taupe, beige, or grey can elegantly blend all the other colors. Otherwise playing with wall colors and scheme can emphasize the furniture beauty.

Lighting...
Rooms that receive direct sunlight are preferred to be painted with natural colors to give a fresh mood. Using bright colors for rooms with no direct sun light brighten up the room cheerfully.

Color and Size...
Pale colors tend to recede visually while deep and dark colors appear to visually advance. If your want your space to appear larger, use light the colors for walls and floor. Meanwhile to reduce the sense of space in one, or all directions, dark colors are very effective.

Color Strategy....
These strategies can be very tricky, yet if effectively applied, the outcome will be stunning.

1. Complementary colors; this is two colors that are in total contrast, for example, red and green, purple and yellow, and blue and orange, etc. The effect is always stimulating and dramatic. This is the scheme of choice for many schools as it induces an energetic and uplifting mood.

2. Monochromatic colors; these are basically one color with different shades ranging from light to dark. The effect of this scheme is very soothing and easy on the eye, especially with green and blue hues. Actually it creates harmonious flow which is very suitable for living rooms.

3. Analogous color scheme; which is using three adjacent colors on the color wheel. Usually one color is predominant and the other two are used to enhance the overall color scheme. This color scheme is used for dramatic highlights

Once you have considered these factors all together, you will be able to form a distinct look for every room and for the entire house all together. It is amazing how many things you can do with just a touch of color. All this power in a can of paint!

Preparing a Property for Selling

If you have a property for sale, you will want your house to look as appealing as possible to potential new buyers. There are some simple and cost-effective steps you can follow to ensure your house looks at its best.

The first place potential buyers will see is the exterior of your property; first impressions count so make sure your garden and the area leading to your front door are neat and tidy. Make sure you mow the lawn and keep the garden looking easily maintainable as buyers often look for an easy-to-manage garden. If you don't have time to do the gardening work yourself, you could hire a gardener to tidy things up for you. Adding a few new hanging baskets or plants near to the entrance of your home will definitely catch the eye of your viewers. Once you have your garden sorted, take a look at your neighbour's garden(s) - are they tidy? Buyers will look at neighbouring properties and if your neighbour's garden is filled with clutter it will put people off investing in your property. It might be worth having a quick word with your neighbour if their garden is a little messy and offering to help them tidy it (without offending them, of course). It's also a good idea to give your window frames a lick of paint if they need it and to give the gutters a clean. Quick, easy and cost-effective jobs like these can make a huge difference to the aesthetics your property.

A few hours before you know people are coming to view, you should open the windows to air out your house and eradicate any odours. Any little extra touches you can add are a bonus - fluffy towels in the bathroom, fresh flowers on the windowsill or an air freshener in the bathroom - all of these take minimal effort but are very effective in winning over potential buyers.

Make sure your kitchen is clean and sparkling, no one wants to look at a grease-laden oven or dirty fridge so make sure you thoroughly scrub all kitchen appliances. It is a good idea to de-clutter your kitchen, especially if small, to keep it looking spacious and orderly. It's always a bonus if buyers can imagine their things in space of yours so leave them the opportunity to do so.

Think about what you'd like to see in a potential home, if you were looking for a property to buy that was covered in dust and unclean, it would be a serious turn-off. Give your house a good spring clean, dust everything, give all carpets a thorough hoover, polish mirrors and wipe down windows and doors to get rid of any grubby finger-prints.

Finally, take a critical look at your home and fix any DIY jobs you've put off doing - fill in any cracks in walls, replace broken light bulbs and give the spare bedroom a paint. If you have any outlandish colours in your house it's best to replace them with neutral shades; not everyone will have the same taste as you so keeping everything neutral is the safest option. This will allow to the buyers to imagine their own colour schemes.

It's useful to get a friend to look at your house and give their honest opinion on what could do with changing, being replaced or being removed. Take their suggestions into consideration along with the above tips and you should find a prospective buyer in no time.

Ian Grainger is writing on behalf of Shepherd Gilmour, estate agents Manchester.

Features Buyers Are Looking for in Homes

Every home buyer has a pre-selected list of requirements for a home they're going to buy. That includes desired location, price range, number of bedrooms, preferably outdoor patio area, etc. But what else captures buyers' attention when they are shopping for a new place to live? Here is the list of things buyers will look at, that will influence their decision on purchasing the property.

1. Homes that are in move-in condition. Let's face it: not a lot of people want to invest their time and money into renovations. Messy rooms, inability to use the space, material and labour challenges - this all does not look attractive to anybody at all. Buyers think: "I'd rather pay a little extra for the house that's in a move-in condition upon purchase, rather than take money out of my pocket after I move in." Plus doing a renovation can be a real challenge to one's family relationship. So if you want to sell yr home fast and for top dollar you should at least make all those smaller repairs throughout the house that you neglected to do before and finish all the renovation projects before putting your home on the market.

2. Open concept homes. For the last couple of years we've seen a rising demand for smaller but more functional homes. Big houses with single purpose rooms and huge square footage are being replaced by well-organized multi-purpose open concept homes. This new approach dictates a new philosophy in organizing and decorating living spaces, which many interior designers, decorators and home stagers are successfully implementing in their work.

3. Updated fresh decor. Freshly painted walls, updated floors and tiles, modern backsplash - this all adds value into your home. Buyers want to feel that they are getting a new home, despite that it was built over 40 years ago. But if you don't plan to loosen yours purse strings on major renovations in this case new updated home accessories can do the trick. Modernize your home with new wall art, light fixtures, vases, decorative pillows and different knick-knacks. It will help you create a younger "spirit" of your home. A professional home stager will help you get the desired look with minimal investment.

4. Outdoor living spaces. A new trend of expanding the living space outdoors has been gaining its popularity more and more. People are looking for spaces where they can eat, relax or entertain their guests alfresco. Backyards are being transformed into fully fledged living and dining areas, beautifully decorated and multi-functional. This is why those who are planning to put their homes on the market need to pay extra attention to the outdoor space and show it at its best or at least show the potential hidden in the space.

5. Luxurious bathrooms and remodelled kitchens. Whether you want it or not buyers expect to see modern updated kitchen with high end stainless steel appliances, granite or solid surface man-made countertops and marble or glass tile backsplash. Coveted bathroom features include: double sinks, whirlpool tubs, separate shower stands with multiple showerheads, new vanities. You can get a spa-like feeling by displaying new white fluffy towels, candles, glass vases with sea shells and flowers.

6. Well organized storage system. With an increasing demand of smaller homes there's been an absolute need for a good storage. Either for a small or large walk-in closets, invest in a good built-in organization system. There are a several companies offering quite affordable and stylish systems, allowing you to customize it according to your needs.

Of course there are a lot of additional features that can be included in this list, but we wanted to highlight only those that make the most dramatic effect on the appearance of a home and, if improved, make the highest return on investment.

For more information and advise on staging a home for sale please contact Studio 74, Toronto area Home Staging and Redesign company.

Eve Rusakova is the owner and primary stager at Studio 74, a certified home staging company located in Toronto. Studio 74 offers occupied and vacant home staging, redesign, color consulting, space planning, interior decorating services. Please visit us online: http://www.stagingstudio74.com.

Home Staging Design Information

Home staging has now become vital for anyone selling a residential property today, your home is a valuable asset and a major investment. Sellers must understand the important role that home staging plays in the selling process. By having your home staged it will be presented competitively and at its best. Prepare your home in a way that maximizes your sale or rental potential by making your home appealing and attractive to your target audience, impressing your prospective buyers. Home staging involves the procurement and placement of furniture and accessories in order to illustrate the size, opportunity, functionality and livability of a home. Professional decorators are an integral and important part of the process allowing the vision of the agent and the seller to be illustrated to the potential buyers directly without the need to rely upon abstract or imagination. Home Staging is now generally recognized as an important and necessary step toward the successful sales strategy of any home.

While do-it-yourself home staging has become popular in recent years, competitive market forces have caused the cost of talented home staging professionals to come well within the reasonable reach of the average home seller. Sellers generally believe that the cost of a professional home staging artist is far more than covered by the increased price obtained as the result of the increased interest in the home that results from proper staging.

Interior design reflects our love of design, natural surroundings, quality, value, function and comfort. Whether traditional or contemporary, rustic or urban chic, it must be enjoyed, the visual importance of great furniture, accessories, art, and those must have finishing touches. Every client has unique needs and objectives. The success is built on taking time to understand these needs and delivering a personalized solution to enhance your environment. The focus of any interior redesign service is to make the space more beautiful and functional for the people who use it.

Depending on your needs and wants, we'll either use the furniture and accessories you already own or purchase additional new furniture and accessories to breathe new life and energy into your home. Whether you need one room done or your whole home, interior redesign will create a space that will be beautiful, functional, and more balanced for you and your family.

Every project undertaken, from full service interior design for residential or commercial premises for one-day decorating consultations and event design, each underlines the belief that a well designed room starts with a solid foundation, but only becomes livable when it embraces function and the unique personality of the people who will inhabit it within every element of style.

Buyers are responding more than ever to update homes they can move right into. Staging a home creates "perceived value", generates buzz and helps your home stand out from the competition.

While appealing design is always in style, Marketing directly to your buyer demographic is achieved by knowing what not to add to the decor. When staging a home for sale, less is more. The more space we show, the more value your home has to buyers.

Jonathan Tajo is a home staging expert. For more great information on home staging design, visit http://www.tipsonhomestaging.com

Real Estate Home Staging Services

Selling your home is easier said than done, right? Sure you can have your whole sale planned out with the price you want and the time frame you want to sell it in, but these things don't just happen by chance. A lot of work goes into selling a home - especially if you have specific goals in mind. A crafty real estate agent will delve into many different home selling techniques, one of them being home staging.

First off, let's discuss what home staging actually is. To put things in perspective, have you ever been to an open house that looks as if people live there, but everything just seems a little too "perfect". There may not be full arrangements in rooms, but rather accent furniture or complimentary accessories and décor. The art of home staging is done with one premeditated goal in mind - to sell a home. Agents may take advantage of the home's existing furniture for these services or bring in their own items. If they utilize the furniture that is already in the home, they will likely remove pieces and rearrange items. For example, hanging décor in 1's, 3's, and 5's, using drapery, minimalizing furniture, using inflatable mattresses, and drawing attention to focal points in a room are all the learnt methods of a home stager.

What effect does home staging have on a buyer? Giving the impression that a home is occupied makes the home feel warmer and helps buyers picture themselves living in the home. A minimal but key amount of possessions in the house allows the buyer room to breathe as they picture their own belongings inside. The items tastefully displayed by the real estate agent help spark ideas in a buyer's head...but they are not so demanding that they suffocate imagination.

Taking advantage of using home staging services is a much more sound decision than having an open house that is empty - especially if the furniture and knick knacks are attractive. I firmly believe that an astute home stager can "con" their viewer into feeling and believing that any home is both cozy and upscale. A bare home can feel empty and lacking of character.

Real estate home staging services are beneficial to any seller. Whether you are trying to sell within a time frame or are determined to get a high asking price, a home stager is prepared to woo viewers into a well-rounded sale.

Staging Bathrooms

Pretty cut-and-dried, isn't it? It needs to be clean - really, really clean with sparkling tiles, grout, and fixtures. It needs new towels. But it's a bathroom, right?

It certainly is, but there are still a lot of touches you can add to give it some pizazz! And I'm not talking about updating although that may be important as well. But if that money isn't in the budget or it makes more sense to spend it elsewhere, there are still some of the things you can do to make a bathroom a little less humdrum.

First, paint can make a big difference. Not only will that make the bathroom feel very fresh and clean, it can create interest in a space that doesn't have much. And while you don't want to choose a color that's totally wild, because it's a small space a more dramatic color may be okay. While it's usually still a good idea to stay in the neutral family, feel free to go darker than you normally would. Just make certain there is enough light so potential buyers can see the room. And keep the rest of the lines of the room clean and spare.

A rug on the floor is very important to soften all the hard, cold lines. But because the space is usually small, you don't want a lot of small, colorful rugs that will further break up the space. Add one rug in the largest size possible for the room. And choose a color that matches the floor. This will lessen the impact on the shze of the room while still adding softness.

Make the room pretty (and keep it from feeling too empty) with one or two well-placed accessories. A well-cared for plant, towels tied with ribbons, an attractive soap dish with a new bar of fancy soap, or a pretty dispenser with hand lotion are all nice touches. If there is room around the tub, make it feel like a spa with a basket of spa treatments such as soap, a towel, and a loofah.

There are also a few things you need to remove. First, all personal items should be either packed away or well-hidden in baskets with lids. That includes everything personal on the counter tops and in the medicine cabinet and linen closet. Even things like toothbrushes and toothpaste are unsightly and should be removed from counters. If you have a toilet seat cover, remove it. Any rugs other than the one larger one mentioned above should go.

As you stage your bathroom, think of a hotel bathroom. You want it pretty, but impersonal. Even though everyone knows you are using it if you are living in the house, potential buyers don't want to be reminded of it. Rather, they want a room that feels open, inviting, and fresh - ready for them to move right in!

Ann Anderson is the owner of Rooms Reborn (http://www.roomsreborn.com), a decorating, staging, and redesign business serving Connecticut. She is also the founder and Director of the School of Interior Redesign (http://www.schoolofinteriorredesign.com), a private occupational school teaching staging, decorating, redesign, feng shui, and working with relocating seniors. She is also the co-creator of the Ready2Sellin30Days system which is designed to help do-it-yourself home sellers prepare their homes for sale with less stress.

Home Staging Design

The market is stabilizing and property is not selling as quickly as it had in the past several years. Which is why you may be asking yourself then why in the world would I not stage a home? Isn't the idea to get top dollar for your home/client? In most cases staging a home costs less than your first price reduction. The important thing is that staging makes your listings look great and sell quickly with the greatest amount of profit and the least amount of effort on your part.

Home staging or the dream weavers of the real estate world. It can turn your home into another house in a matter of days.

10 Home Staging Techniques to Transform Your Home

1. Create curb appeal.
2. Repair and paint.
3. Clean and uncluttered your work and storage area.
4. Store your personal items and limit wall decoration.
5. Choose impartial colors.
6. CLEAN!!!
7. Rearrange your furnishing.
8. Uncluttered your home.
9. Preview what the potential buyer wants to see. Go room to room
10. See what they see.

Accessories Stagers Use:

* Mirrors
* Plants
* Silk Flowers
* Floor & Table Lamps,
* Area and Throw Rugs
* Small Love Seats
* Ottomans
* Afghans
* Pillows
* Inflatable Queen-Size Beds
* Baskets
* Plastic Tables & Chairs

How to Start a Home Staging Business:

Read About It - If you want to start a business of home staging, then you should first learn about it.
Practice - Before going out to decorate others homes, you have to practice the same in your own home. See whether or not you are capable of doing a proper job. Try and improve one section of your house everyday. If you practice well, you will do great in the outside world.

Talk to Others - Before you start your own business, you have to learn more about the business you are going to deal with. Talk to other people who are in this business. Learn how they do their job, learn who your competitors are. Also learn about the mistakes that the other home stagers have made, so that you do not make the same mistakes.

Know the Laws - Whenever you start a business, you always have to get yourself registered. Make sure that the business that you have set up has followed the laws and all the regulations of the area where you have started your business. The laws may vary from one place to another. Get a business license and also come up with a name for the business. The name should be attractive and interest the clients.

Create a Portfolio - The next thing that you have to do while starting a home staging business is creating a portfolio. Prepare a list of all the homes that you have decorated and the feedback that you have received. Do some jobs for free for a few clients so that you can not only show some sort of work experience but even these customers can give some good reference when you need it. They can also help with advertising the name of your business.

Advertise - Now after you have started your business, you have to carry out a promotional advertising, so that people know about it and they come to you for your assistance. You can either advertise in the newspaper, or any other form of advertising that gives you good exposure.

Luke Wright is a home staging expert. For more great information on home staging design, visit http://www.tipsonhomestaging.com

Informations About Home Staging

Home staging will be the method of setting up a home to give it universal buyer appeal. Home staging is not meant to be confused with decorating or interior design. Home staging requires all of that kind of stuff and even more. It's a huge undertaking which requires the assistance of all family members. And unlike decorating, there's a deadline and real pressure to produce a top-notch interior and exterior because home sellers like selling their residences for higher prices.

Home Staging still has the ability to elevate the experience potential buyers have of the property. Left to their own devices and assuming they listen to the suggestions you make to them as an experienced Realtor, many homeowners can muddle their way through staging their home to some effect. But with the fresh eyes and design skill of a Home Stager on their side, there are many more ways to showcase a property for quick & profitable sale for a minimal cost and minimal hassle which has great benefit for both you and your client.

One of the common concerns I hear from Realtors is that despite all the positive potential offered by Home Staging, it costs a fortune to get a property home market ready using a Home Stager, which is a legitimate concern. Pricing is really important so here is what you can expect from resourceful redesigns.

The bottom line for you as a Realtor is that the majority of resourceful redesigns projects involve working with what clients already own, encouraging them and even assisting them in packing up some of their stuff for storage during the time their home is listed, re-arranging/redistributing furniture and occasionally bringing in rental art and accessories to tie the new look of the rooms together. The sum effect of this way of home staging is that I highlight the selling features of a home and draw attention away from the flaws.

Nine out of ten times a resourceful redesigns home staging project will be complete in a day and the client's life isn't turned upside down, nor is their bank account.

The excess financial resources from the sale of your house will help you get settled in the new house, and also the additional money might even make it into your emergency savings account. Home staging can offer up to a 300% profit of expenditure.

That's a huge return. Home staging expenditures often don't grow because everything is precisely planned right from the start. There can be no space for splurging or impulsive buying when you're staging your home because you have a fixed budget and you can't go against the things you have primarily planned.

If you've got a lot of gear to relocate out of your house, hire a storage unit as soon as you can to help you begin hauling out and storing the non-essentials found in your home. Non-essentials are furniture and personal items that you won't need on a everyday basis. This includes additional clothes, picture frames, trophies, medals, unused home equipment, etc. Shift these out as soon as possible to open up the spaces at your residence.

Hire a home inspector so you have a comprehensive list of possible repairs and replacements. Most homes should be precisely checked out for cracked electrical wiring, faulty pipes, trouble plumbing, dangerous mold, etc. Such trifles need to be dealt with prior to your own home can be put in the marketplace.

Put aside a few days every week for strategizing. In case you have the money, make use of a specialist stager so you have the benefit of the stager's knowledge working on your side.

MM Borja is a home staging expert. For more great information on home staging information, visit http://www.tipsonhomestaging.com

Myths Vs Facts

Misconceptions abound among home sellers and real estate professionals about the value/cost/importance of staging homes to sell. Do you know the FACTS?

Myth #1: The house is beautifully decorated so it will sell quickly and for top dollar.

Truth: It may be decorated very nicely... but in the home owner's taste. More often than not, their style/decor will not appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers. Buyers' tastes are so varied it is better to start with a neutral palette and work from there.

Myth #2: It is better to sell the house vacant because it looks roomier in the buyers' eyes.

Truth: Most buyers are more confused by empty homes because they have difficulty visualizing how the home could look with furniture...'Would my sofa fit here? Not sure my bed will fit in this bedroom." Take all doubt from their mind... SHOW them.

Myth #3: Most people cannot afford to stage their home to sell.

Truth: They cannot afford NOT to stage their home. Staging brings back a 300% ROI according to HomeGain's latest statistics. And the cost for staging will never exceed the first price reduction.

Myth #4: Most sellers do not need a stager, they can do it themselves.

Truth: Some people may be able to stage their home effectively, but MOST sellers cannot have an objective eye about their home. A stager CAN have an objective eye because there is no emotional attachment and they can view the house as a commodity that needs to be sold as quickly as possible for as much money as possible.

Myth #5: The exterior of a house is not as important as the interior.

Truth: Curb appeal is HUGE. Did you know that most buyers will do a drive-by before even contacting the realtor/owner? What they see outside will either entice them to come inside or cause them to drive on to the next home.

Myth #6: Staging is not needed in a hot market.

Truth: Generally speaking, staged houses in a hot market will sell for more money than a comparable unstaged house. Also, often they are listed at a higher price.

Myth #7: The price is the only thing that determines if a house sells or not.

Truth: In one way this is true... lower the price enough and ANY home will sell. The three things that determine the 'sellability' of a house is location, price and condition. Obviously the location cannot be changed, but the price and condition CAN be changed... and one is directly dependent on the other. Better condition, higher listing and selling prices, poor condition means lower listing prices and lower selling prices.

Cathy Tarrant is a Canadian Certified Professional Stager (CCSP) serving St. John's, NL, Canada. HOMESTYLING BY CATHY specializes in preparing homes for the market so that they sell quickly and for top dollar. Cathy will work within your budget and time line to help you meet that goal. HOMESTYLING BY CATHY is competitive in pricing and committed to a job well done. Call or email Cathy today to set up an appointment and check out her website http://www.homestylingbycathy.com.

Phone: (709) 341-7115
Email: info@homestylingbycathy.com

Tips For Selling Your Home

Preparing for a home staging is like creating a resume. The goal of resume writing is to create a concise document that highlights all your skills, previous accomplishments and references. You do not want it filled with useless information that does not pertain to the position you are applying for. You want the reader to be impressed by the first scan and satisfied with a deeper read.

The same characteristics apply to home staging. You want your house to look its best when it is shown. You want your home's best architectural features to shine. When a potential buyer wanders through your home, you want them to focus on the rooms themselves, not the items in them (they have their own furniture). You want the buyer to be impressed with the details and excited with the larger view.

To create that personal excitement, it is important to format your home for public viewing.

Here are a few quick tips for home staging preparation:

1. Paint

Fill all picture holes, scratches and cracks with putty. Then paint your entire wall. If you only have a budget for touch-ups, have a professional*match your wall colours.

2. Hire a handyman/woman

Have them fix all those small issues you have been neglecting. Have the faucet fixed and the step repaired.

3. Improve the Lighting

Install modern fixtures and increase the wattage in your bulbs.

4. Spruce the Exterior

Have the grass mowed, the leaves raked and the bushes trimmed.

5. Clean Everywhere

Vacuum, dust, polish, wash and scrub every corner of your house. You need it to shine! Appliances often get overlooked. Stainless steel looks great on the counter-tops, so put your old coffee maker away and bring out the stainless steel food processor you never use.

Make all of the beds with fresh, clean sheets. Try to eliminate all offensive odours. Lightly scented candles are an easy quick fix.

Maintain this atmosphere.

6. Neutralize Your Home

Remove all religious or political symbols. Borrow or buy some neutral pieces of art. Put your family pictures in storage.

7. De-clutter

Remove all unnecessary items and put them in storage. Do not stuff them in your closet. Every nook, closet and crawl space is fair game; so if you need to, rent a storage locker to hide all your excess clutter.

8. Open the Windows

No one enjoys walking through a stuffy house, open up windows to make clear air routes.

9. Have a Friend Do a Walk-Through

Ask them where their eyes naturally travel. Use this information to re-organize your space.

10. Flowers

It's an oldie, but a goodie. Fresh flowers are a sign of vitality and growth. Place a large bouquet on the living room table. Make sure to replace them every few days.

For more selling tips, speak with Vancouver real estate agent Anthea Poon, http://www.antheapoon.com

Staging Master Bedrooms

You may think that, by the time they've reached the master bedroom, potential buyers have already made the buying decision. Of course, by the time the potential buyers get to the master bedroom, they've seen a lot of the house. But that doesn't mean this room isn't important or won't make a difference in the purchase decision. And the reason is simple.....we are all looking for a sanctuary. Sure, the comfort of the living/family room is important. You want your buyers to picture themselves spending quiet evenings at home with their families. Or entertaining during the holidays. But you also want them to picture a space where they can go when they need quiet time. Like somewhere to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a long day. Or to read while enjoying a cup of tea when there's a noisy football game on the family room television. And that room can definitely be the master bedroom.

To stage the master bedroom effectively, think of a bed and breakfast. Remember how the bed looks when you first open the door? It's usually positioned opposite the door so it's the first thing you see. And it's dressed in beautiful linens that invite you to come in and rest a while. There's also a small sitting area - or at the very least a comfy chair. Just the place to enjoy the first cup of coffee in the morning, or that glass of wine in the evening.

That's the vision you want to create in the master bedroom of a house on the market. The bed and the bedding should be pretty but not overwhelming - just inviting. Put a cozy comforter and a few fluffy pillows (don't overdo it)on the bed. Find room for an upholstered chair, if possible. Add a throw to it for maximum effect. Place lamps on either side of the bed and turn them on. If there is a window, open the curtains to let in the light and the view (unless it's bad). If the floors aren't carpeted, add an area rug that's large enough to fit under the bed and extend on each side. (Smaller rugs will break up the space, making the room feel smaller than it is.) Declutter bedside tables, leaving only a vase with a single stem or perhaps a candle.

A beautiful master bedroom will help buyers forget other possible concerns about the house. Make sure yours is a knock-out!

Ann Anderson is the owner of Rooms Reborn (www.roomsreborn.com), a decorating, staging, and redesign business serving Connecticut. She is also the founder and Director of the School of Interior Redesign ( www.schoolofinteriorredesign.com). a private occupational school teaching staging, decorating, redesign, feng shui, and working with relocating seniors. She is also the co-creator of the Ready2Sellin30Days system which is designed to help do-it-yourself home sellers prepare their homes for sale with less stress.