I’m Ilyce Glink with expertrealestatetips.net.

Have you ever been in a home that’s packed full of stuff? It can be overwhelming. Imagine what it’s like for a home buyer to come in and have to try to see beyond your junk to what the bones of the house actually look like.

One of the best ways to cut the clutter and sell your home faster is to stage it.

Staging homes has become, to use a Paris Hilton phrase, “hot.” But there’s a reason for that. Staging works.

Making your home look more open and less cluttered helps buyers see what their belongings would look like in a home. It keeps them focused on the home instead of the stuff. Clearing out a room will make it look bigger.

As you stage each room ask yourself these questions:

Is this room overcrowded?

Do I feel tired just looking at it?

Can I remove one piece of furniture from this room?

Which piece would have the greatest effect?

How can I make the room feel bigger? Can I move around furniture?

Moving a sofa a few feet can make a big difference. My mother-in-law, Marilyn, once moved her sofa from the middle of the room to the wall. It created more space for guests in her living room.

Now, let’s look at artwork. Do you have enough space around artwork on the walls? Ideally there should only be one or two pieces of art on each wall.

You should also take a look at your plant collection. Do you have too many plants in a room? While it can give your house that “greenhouse” feel, it can be overwhelming to a buyer.

You can store extra furniture or art in your basement or, if you don’t have room and don’t want to clutter up that space, rent a storage locker. It’ll be worth it when you sell your home faster and for more money.