The housing market is on the rebound and many people are looking to (finally!) sell their home. With all of this competition, how do you ensure your home stands out from the crowd? Home staging is this answer.

Many people are hesitant to put work into a place they are planning on moving out of, but this could be hurting the chance of a sale. Here’s everything you need to know about staging and why you must get it done before your next open house:

Big Benefits   The benefits of home staging have been well documented. Realtors know that a staged home sells faster and for more money. This is because staging is designed to make the home appeal to as many people as possible. A larger audience means a better chance of selling the home. An impressively staged home also creates competition among buyers, resulting in higher offers.

Ask Your Realtor   Realtors know all of the benefits of home staging, so be sure to ask if this service is offered. They have an eye for detail and will be able to point out problem areas that need to be addressed before the open house.

Bring in the Professionals   If your home is in need of serious work, you can bring in a professional stager. Home stagers can assist with everything from arranging furniture to guiding you with big changes like painting or replacing carpeting. They know how best to prepare your home so that it will appeal to as many buyers as possible.

… or DIY   If you are looking to save some money and try your hand at staging, you can check out my guide to open house staging. Remember: buyers need to be able to visualize themselves living there. The key is to stop thinking of this as “my” home and start thinking of it as “their” house.

Be Receptive   Whether it comes from a realtor, a stager, or a potential buyer, it will be hard to hear negative comments about the house. It is important to look at these comments as constructive criticisms. Listen to what people are saying about the home and see if it is something you can easily remedy. Each negative comment is a chance for you to improve the home, making it more appealing to the next potential buyer.

Remember, the goal is to sell the home quickly and for the most money. By staging, you will appeal to as many buyers as possible and get that house sold!