Initial impressions are everything!
Once the decision is made to list and eventually try to sell a house,

we've got to "spiffy up" the place.
This is sometimes called a "shoe shine" or a "staging".
The Realtor must work with the owner (or seller).
But not necessarily with a contractor or professional stager.
A contractor is only necessary if major work needs to be done just to get the house presentable.
We're talking holes in the roof or falling down decks or plumbing leaks or dangerous electrical problems.
In any of those cases, a reputable, licensed contractor should be called in and the work should be done to code and with warranties.
Professional Stagers?

Yes, they can make a big difference and actually make or break a sale.
But, in most cases, staging is just "fluff" and, with a little imagination, it's not difficult to just do it yourself.
You can get ideas from visiting other open houses that have been staged.
I've seen things like wine corks in a glass vase, or scarves thrown over a sofa table, or colorful throw rugs in an otherwise drab utility room.
Most people can just do that stuff on their own.
But, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Paint, paint, paint first!
A fresh coat of paint works absolute wonders!
Inside AND outside.
The color should be neutral, but interesting.
For the exterior, I like low-luster color.
Low-luster is between flat (boring) and semi-gloss (too shinny).
It has a nice sheen and looks great when the sun hits it.
Don't be afraid of colors...light blue, barn red, or just brown or charcoal.
I would shy away from green exteriors.
It competes with landscaping and shrubbery and doesn't usually look good.
Be aware that darker colors make the place look smaller.
This is true for the inside as well.
The very best neutral color for interiors is a simple "bone white".
It goes with absolutely anything and even takes on a gray, or green tinge when light hits it at a certain angle.
Carpet!
Where there's carpet, it should look new.
If it is fairly new, it should be professionally shampooed.
Where it's worn out, replace it with "staging carpet".
Any big carpet retailer will know what you're talking about.
Kitchen floors and bathroom floors should be new as well.
An alternative to vinyl or tile is a laminate floor.
They come in large tiles and can look just like Italian marble...very nice!
Hardwood!
This is a big selling feature. People LOVE hardwood floors!
But to get the nice reflective effect, they have to be refinished.

And then, no throw rugs.
Appliances!
If you can get the owner to spring for new stainless, great!
Otherwise, just leave it up to the new owner's taste

Explain that, and buyers will understand.
Furniture!

Why spend money to have all the furniture moved out and stored and then, rent “staging furniture” and have that moved in only to move it out after the house sells and then, move in the new owner’s furniture? Now doesn’t that sound ridiculous?

Most people have a few good quality pieces of furniture. Just leave those pieces in place and move everything else out. The less, the better and remember, smaller pieces make rooms look bigger!

Chotchkies!
Get rid of them!
Get rid of all clutter and nick knacks!
And NO personal, family photos...buyers don't want to see YOUR family.
They want to picture THEIR family living in this house.
Well, that's all the hard stuff.

Now have fun with imaginative stuff...

Staging the interior to create that WOW effect!
And don't forget those wine corks!