Need to sell your house fast? Find out how with some expert advice on home staging from the professionals.

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Home Staging: Everything you Need to Know

Ever heard the term home staging and thought, 'what it is?' If you're a fan of home-makeover shows then you'll already be familiar with how homes can be completely transformed in a just matter of days. For some people this a full time job, and we don't just mean the TV presenters!

Home staging, also known as property styling or property presentation, is the act of preparing a home to looks its absolute best, usually to help it sell fast and at the best possible price. Sometimes, even the most attractive properties can sit on the market for months with little interest, but a little home staging can go a long way in getting that bang for your buck.

According to UK property analysts, mouseprice.com staged homes can sell for up to 10-15% more than the competition - and it doesn't necessarily mean investing more than you can afford, as home stager Lynn Pick explains:

"In my experience properties always sell better after home staging... Even if you don't have a budget, if you have the time and ability something is always better than nothing!"

We spoke to the professionals to find out their top tips to transform your house in a weekend; and it doesn't just apply to homes on the market either. And even if you're not planning to sell up any time soon, why not use these tips t complete a mini-makeover.

Step 1: Clear the Clutter

Over time, we all tend to collect bits and bobs around the house that we don't really need, but when it comes to viewings it's important to present your home as a blank canvas. This allows the buyer to easily envision themselves living there. Try to get rid of anything that isn't absolutely essential, including large kitchen appliances, stacks of post, books or magazines, trinkets, toys and ornaments (except those which are strategically placed).

Although it may be hard, it's important to bear in mind that personal items such as family photos or children's drawings will distract buyers from your home too. The same goes for large, bulky furniture that makes a space feel smaller than it is. Aim to neatly pack everything away into the garage, attic or temporary storage until the viewings are finished.

"My advice for anyone wanting to stage their home is to stand in the doorway of each room and close your eyes. When you open them, see what you are drawn to. It should be a lovely focal point in the room. If your eye settles on an old Yellow Pages on the coffee table, you know something's wrong!" - Lynn Pick, Home Stylers Ltd

Tip: Learn how to turn every room into a haven of organisation with our guide, How to Organise Every Room in Your Home.

Step 2: DIY

Buyers will be on the lookout for anything that might add to their to-do list once they've moved. Resolving any little tasks will help to encourage others to focus on the beauty of your home, and not the leaky tap in the bathroom. Keep an eye out for some of the usual suspects such as bubbling or peeling paint, faulty plugs, loose doors or cupbards and holes or dents in the walls.

If you're stuck for time, why not hire a professional to come and take care of your DIY jobs? Often the cost of labour can outweigh the time and effort it would need to take care of it yourself.

"My top tip for sprucing up a bathroom is a grouting pen - you can buy these for £5-10 from most hardware shops and they work wonders on stained grouting. The end result is so effective, I've had clients mistake them for new tiles!" - Katie Jackson, Home Staging SOS

Tip: Ready to tackle some bathroom DIY? We've got a guide for that: How to Tile a Shower Wall Like a Pro, This is How to Remove and Install a Bathroom Sink and How to Install a Toilet.

Step 3: Cleaning

When it comes to preparing your home for the photographer and buyers, nothing but a deep clean will do. Be prepared to dedicate a weekend putting in some elbow grease and keep in mind that no corner can be left unchecked!

Don't forget the tops of cupboards and shelves, plant leaves, light shades and the insides of cupboards, and keep in mind that smells are just as important too:

"Always air the house out before a viewing and avoid using synthetic air fresheners, the home should smell clean because it is clean! Pet smells are a no-no and if you must use a room fragrance, stick to more natural scents such as soy candles and essential oils." - Suzanne Sutherland, Heatons Home Styling

Tip: Cleaned your home from top to bottom? Not until you've read this: Do You Remember to Clean These 13 Most Forgotten About Places?

Step 4: Décor

Of course, the grande finale wouldn't be complete without décor, but the key is to use furnishings to your advantage. Lifestyle and interior stylist, Ceril Campbell, knows a thing or two when it comes to dressing to impress - both in the home and out:

"I like to create an illusion of a real life being lived within the property, whilst drawing attention to the best features and detracting from the worst - in the same way as I would style a celebrity on the red carpet. Use decor and cleverly placed furniture to create focal points to enhance or hide aspects of your property - create light and shade with colour using artwork and accessories and add a mix of fake and real plants and floor lighting to difficult corners."

"Decide on a décor scheme for the entire home, not just one room; this way the viewers will easily remember the entire property, not just one aspect." - Lynn, Home Stylers Ltd.

Step 5: Curb Appeal

According to UK property analysts, mouseprice.com, 18% of viewers decide whether they will make an offer the moment they walk through the front door. Add to this to the fact that the majority of interested buyers will drive by before the official viewing and you've all the more reason to make sure your front of house is looking its best.

Remember to trim the shrubs and mow the lawn before viewings - if you're going the extra mile you can also plant flowering plants or extra foliage to ensure your entrance is looking its best. Least of all, it's worth giving the drive or pathway a good sweep, or a power wash if needed. Small touches like adding a new doormat and a potted plant by the door are affordable and effective ways to further enhance first impressions.

As well as keeping things clean and tidy, home stager Katie Jackson has some more tricks up her sleeve:

"Remove your car(s) from the driveway so buyers can get a feel for 'their' new parking place. If you have wheelie bins it helps to move them out of the way too - anything to create the impression of a clean, uncluttered entrance."

"Give the front door a lick of paint and spray-paint your door handle or letter box gold or silver - a can of spray paint will cost you under £10 from most hardware shops. For a final finishing touch add a shiny new house number on the door so buyers can easily spot your house." - Katie Jackson, Home Staging SOS

The Tricks of the Trade

Some top tips for ensuring that your home looks its best for your potential buyers:

• Not everyone is a cat or dog person and pet hair or smells can be difficult to keep in check. If you have a pet consider letting friends or family look after them for the day.
• Love hosting? Lay out some nibbles for viewers as they come round - if you make them feel welcome, they won't forget you in a hurry!
• Remember it's the little details that count - houseplants, fresh sheets, clean, fluffy towels and well-placed accessories such as candles and vases can go a long way in making a house feel luxurious yet homely.

Home Staging in Action

Find out how one couple sold their home fast with a little help from the professionals.

"We had a three-storey Victorian house in West Yorkshire that had been rented out for a number of years, but having moved from the area it had become a bit of a burden. We decided to sell.

The location was excellent, properties in the area rarely came on the market and it was realistically priced for a quick sale. Every room was re-decorated, a new carpet fitted throughout and the gardens were tidied. The house generated some early viewings but no offers and then it just stuck on Rightmove for about four months, going nowhere. The estate agent reported that the people he showed round just didn't "feel" it was the right home for them - nothing more specific than that.

We took the house off the market and called in Suzanne. Her vision and home-staging skills put a heart and soul into what had previously been just a clean, tidy but anonymous empty box. She "read" the problem; she stepped in the house and proposed a solution for each room. We agreed the concept and the budget and then left all the details and arrangements to her - the process was stress-free, quick and highly efficient, and the whole team she engaged and managed couldn't have been more helpful.

Within a day of going back on sale the agent fielded half a dozen enquiries. Two days later he had two second viewings - the first of which resulted in an asking-price offer which we accepted. Was the whole project value for money? Most certainly. Instead of having an empty house with all the associated costs and risks, and without needing to discount the sale price, we came out ahead taking into account Suzanne's fees and the furniture rental costs."