Spring is a time of new life and new beginnings. Springtime is when the real estate market comes to life as buyers look to begin their new lives in new homes. Sellers on the other hand,  start delayed projects to prepare their homes for sale. Home prices have been on the upward trend and are expected to continue increasing this year. Incorporating a couple spring staging ideas when preparing your home to sell will surely help increase your home value.

Ditch the Dirt and Declutter

Spring cleaning is pretty commonplace each year. This is especially important if you are preparing your home to list for sale. First, declutter as much as possible and clean out cabinets and closets. It's time to purge the household items you do not want or use anymore. Donate, sell or give them away. The Buy Nothing Project on Facebook is "a movement led entirely by volunteers creating a worldwide network of local gift economy communities." You can simply find your local Buy Nothing Project group, post the items you want to "gift away" and the members of your group express interest and pick them up.

When you are finished going through everything, start packing the items you are going to keep. You have to start packing at some time, so it's a good idea to get a jump on it before you list your home. The goal is to clear countertops and the tops of tables, shelves and dressers as much as possible. Make rooms look bigger by removing bulky or extra furniture. Then, clean your home from top to bottom. Be sure to include cleaning your light fixtures and washing your windows. Have your carpets professionally steam cleaned. You want your home to sparkle.

Wake Up the Walls and Change the Carpet

If your walls have outdated paint colors or are in need of a fresh coat of paint, you may want to consider freshening them up. A light gray or a gray and beige mixed color are trending right now. You may choose to go with this year's Behr Color of the Year, Breezway, "a relaxed and uplifting sea glass green expressing peace and tranquility for forward movement." If your carpet is stained or has heavy traffic areas, consider replacing it. You may even want to replace it with today's trending luxury vinyl plank flooring instead of carpet.

Dominate Decor

Simple and elegant decor is in. Strategically place healthy, green plants around the home. Add some pops of Veri Peri, Pantone's Color of the Year 2022 to your home. A couple ideas beyond walls for Veri Peri are colored blankets and throw pillows here and there or set your dining room table using Veri Peri colored napkins. Add an accent rug or two as well.


Add Fragrance with Flowers

Place a few vases of fresh flowers around your home. Fresh bouquets on your kitchen counter and dining room table are good spots. Bud vases in bathrooms are simple, yet eye-catching. Consider incorporating the Color of the Year to your bouquets. Fragrant flowers such as lilacs will make your home smell amazing.

Conquer Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is what your buyers see when walking up to your home. You have one chance to make a good first impression. Get outside and give your exterior a fresh, clean look.  Power wash your siding, porch, deck, patio and walkways. Place fresh ground cover, such as mulch, in your landscape beds. Trim trees and bushes. Mow and fertilize your lawn. Get rid of pesky weeds in your landscaping beds and grass. Add fresh flowers to your pots. Replace your old, worn-out welcome mat.

These simple spring staging ideas will be sure to give you the added home value you deserve. Taking some time to prepare your home before you list it for sale will be advantageous in the long run.