The list for preparing your home to sell can seem like it goes on and on – cleaning, painting, staging – what do all these mean? When we are talking about staging, it involves repairs, paint, decluttering, and setting the scene. Here are four staging tips that are so easy they may not have even crossed your mind:

Decorate for the potential buyer. When you moved in, you probably didn’t have a ton of extra cash to redecorate. You can get more bang for your buck when painting with today’s neutral color and leaving the pops of color to your decorative items like throws and pillows. Touching up the trim and doors is also a crowd-pleaser. It gives the impression that the house is fresh and clean.

Declutter. If you’re busting at the seams, you don’t want the potential buyers to feel the same way! Emphasize your space by thinning out closets (nothing on top of the shelf and nothing on the floor), clearing off your kitchen and bathroom counters, and packing up large items from your kitchen cabinets.

Make repairs. Is your deck in bad shape? What about that dingy bathroom grout or leaky sink faucet? These things will stand out to buyers, and come up on a home inspection. Making those repairs prior to going on the market can save you time to sell, and help keep the deal together after inspection.

Hire a cleaning company. You can find some relatively affordable options, and this will help you stay stress-free throughout the process. Once it’s clean, all you have to worry about is keeping it that way!

Focus on the small accessories. Small things will stand out to potential new homeowners. Is your shower curtain covered in mildew? Are your trash cans grungy or our bathmats stained and have pulls? Replacing these items makes a big difference in showings and the impressions the buyers get. Not to mention, you’ll be glad to take a fresh new shower curtain or trash can with you to your new home.

Use your nose. Again, take a tour of your home, but this time focus on what you’re smelling. A better option might be to find a friend or family member who can volunteer to do this for you—someone who doesn’t live with you or isn’t over all the time. Identify the sources of odor in your home and figure out a solution. The last thing you want is for a buyer to come in and quickly be hit by an unpleasant smell.It could be the pet food, fish tank, or the inside of a trash can (and don’t forget the garbage disposal!)

The cleaning and decluttering should help with this, but there are other things you can do to ensure your home is a breath of fresh air:

• Open up the windows! Let your home air out for an hour or two.
• Light some vanilla candles to freshen up the rooms.
• Bake a cake or some cookies right before a potential buyer comes over. Some people say this – I think it’s cliche and if you leave them in too long, you’ll have a burnt smell instead. No smells are the best smells!

Staging can be easy if you just put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. It is, however, more than just moving around furniture and putting away the excess items. Think back to the tour you took yourself before buying this home. What stood out to you—both good and bad? Think about how it all impacts the senses. Of course, trends change, but the overall feeling of clean and tidy is always the first thing people notice. And customizing your home with some easy staging tricks can make a big difference!