Home staging is sometimes known as home fluffing or home primping. The goal of home staging is to make a house look better so that it sells for the highest price in the shortest amount of time possible. Home staging has also become a very lucrative occupation for people with an eye for design and good organizational skills. If you are considering starting your own home staging career, or if you would simply like to stage your own home before putting it up for sale, here are five tips you should follow:

1. Consider first the curb appeal.
This refers to how the front of your house appeals to the tastes of the potential buyer the minute he parks his car in front of your house and looks up at it. At the very least, your lawn should be mowed every now and then for as long as the house is still for sale. Rake out all the leaves and do some hard-core shovelling during the winter. Make sure that trash bins are put away, clean your porch and give the paint a touch-up if needed.

2. De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter.
Do this in a single area at a time. Start with the living room, moving on to the kitchen, the bedrooms, and the other rooms in the house. You don't have to throw the stuff away; you can put it in storage until you move out or simply give it away to charity. Once you have gotten rid of all the clutter, you'll find that it is easier to breathe and move around the house. Plus de-cluttering helps to de-personalize your house, which makes potential buyers able to imagine themselves better in the space.

3. Repair everything that needs it.
If you have not yet found the time to call the plumber to fix up the little leak in the kitchen sink, then now is the time for him to come over. Anything that does not work well, including door handles that fall off, cupboards that will not close properly, and the toilet that clogs occasionally, will surely bother any potential buyer who walks through your door. Find someone, a friend, a family member, or a partner, who can fix these things for you to reduce your costs of repair.

4. Allow for some light and air.
Opening the windows is the best and least expensive way to do this. A bright and airy room is certainly more appealing than one that smells like food odors or smoke. Consider also the color of the rooms. Rooms painted with darker shades are naturally dimmer than rooms with bright colors, such as yellow, white, and cream. You may want to consider re-painting and investing in some new lighting.

5. Clean everything.
Hire a professional cleaning service and have everything deep-cleaned to the core. Carpets and couches must be removed of all stains and must smell clean and fresh. Appliances must be sparkling and all counter tops, table tops, and sinks must clean and shiny.